Local Democracy Reporting Service

Business bosses in Lincolnshire say jobs still hang “by a thread” in the county due to the coronavirus pandemic and lockdowns, however they say there is “some light at the end of a very dark tunnel”.

Image source, Google

In December, research suggested 218 businesses in Lincoln were at immediate risk of failing as they run out of cash.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is due to announce details of his spring budget next week, where he is expected to extend the furlough scheme until at least May.

That follows the Prime Minister’s announcement yesterday focusing on the way out of the coronavirus lockdown.

Simon Beardsley, chief executive of Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “Even with the new roadmap, the future of thousands of firms and millions of jobs still hangs by a thread.

"Many hard-hit businesses simply don’t have the cash reserves needed to hold out several more months before they are allowed to reopen.

“We will continue to lobby to see that all the key support schemes for business should be extended – through the summer and wherever possible throughout 2021 – to ensure that as many viable organisations as possible can make it to the end of this pandemic and on the road to recovery," he added.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Lincolnshire health bosses say they're "very optimistic" coronavirus lockdown restrictions will be eased on time, as outlined by the prime minister on Monday - but they warn “this isn’t over yet”.

Boris Johnson announced his roadmap out of the third lockdown yesterday, which will start with schools opening on 8 March and non-essential shops open by 12 April.

Lincolnshire County Council’s assistant director of public health Andy Fox praised the government’s planned five-week gap between each eased restriction as "intelligent".

However, Mr Fox added: “This isn’t over yet. It’s great we’ve got a roadmap for getting out of lockdown, but we still have to make sure that at every stage we are following the lockdown restrictions.”

East Lindsey currently has the lowest Covid-19 infection rate in Greater Lincolnshire, with 49.4 cases per 100,000 people.

Over 7,000 Covid tests were carried out in the district in the last seven days, the second highest number of tests in Lincolnshire before North Kesteven, which carried out 8,000 in the last week.

Mr Fox put this down to a “couple of factors”.

He said: "One is that they have an ageing population, compared to other areas in Lincolnshire. We think those people are often very willing to just stay at home and to follow the lockdown measures.

"But more importantly, you might just be starting to see the impact of vaccination coverage."

BBC Weather

Staying dry throughout the day today, with mostly cloudy skies, although there may be some sunny spells this morning.

The winds will also be quite breezy at times.

It will continue to remain dry through this evening and tonight, with cloudy skies.

The winds will also remain blustery, but it will be a mild night:

Special constables in Lincolnshire are to get a reduction in their council tax bill, it's been confirmed.

A total of 132 special constable will get a discount of 25%.

Lincolnshire's Police and Crime Commissioner, Marc Jones, has described the move as a "small thank you".

He added it was an incentive to recruit more to the volunteer roles.

It will be a dry night in Lincolnshire.

Here's the latest forecast:

Weather: weather_eastyorkshire.avi

BBC Weather

Overcast at first today with some spells of rain edging east and clearing.

In the afternoon, it will brighten up with spells of sunshine breaking through.

Gentle to moderate south-westerly winds.

The evening will be dry with long clear spells.

Turning chilly. Into the night, southerly winds will become moderate and cloud will tend to increase from the west, although it will remain dry:

Breaking news, sport, travel and weather updates from across Lincolnshire.

Exeter City's League Two game against Grimsby is postponed because of a waterlogged pitch at St James Park.

Lincolnshire's Just Jane Lancaster bomber might be the world's largest WWII aircraft kit - but is definitely not a toy.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

A 4.98% council tax increase for 2021-22 has been approved by North East Lincolnshire Council – with 3% going towards adult social care.

Image source, PA Media

Council leaders approved their budget for the upcoming financial year in the authority’s full council meeting.

It will see a £1.52 per week increase for a Band D property – £79.04 annually.

The budget will see council tax income rise by £1.4m from £64m, with the adult social care precept rising from £6.5m to £8.8m.

Last month, North East Lincolnshire Council leaders predicted “black holes” in the authority's budget due to the impact of Covid-19 on finances.

An increase in the council tax hardship fund was also announced to provide additional support for households in some of the most vulnerable parts of the area.

Phillip Jackson, leader of North East Lincolnshire Council, said: “We’re acutely aware of the impact the pandemic is having on our residents and businesses and we’re determined to ensure the area is in the best place it can be to flourish as we hopefully come out of the challenges it has presented us all.”

BBC Weather

This evening and overnight it will remain cloudy and breezy.

It will, again, remain mostly dry but the odd spell of light rain cannot be ruled out.

Milder than last night:

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Lincolnshire is on a “downward trend” despite a Covid-19 infection rate spike in Boston, according to the county's health boss.

Image source, Reuters/Paul Childs

Boston currently has the highest infection rate in the county with 191 cases per 100,000 people as of Thursday evening - above the England average of 137.8 and ranked 56th nationally.

Up to 16 February, nearly 5,000 rapid Covid tests have been carried out in Boston, with 129 positive results in their district.

Professor Derek Ward, director of public health for Lincolnshire County Council, said people should be looking at a seven-day rolling average of infection rates for increased accuracy and, therefore, Boston isn’t currently a concern.

He said: “We’ve got to keep an eye on the general direction...If you look on a daily level, you’re always going to be seeing the numbers bounce around."

In Lincolnshire, as of 18 February, there have been around 17,700 lateral flow tests in total, and over 250 positives - a positivity rate of 1.5%.

Professor Ward added: “We are on a downward trend, but I think overall as a county, our key message is that the infection does seem to be in our working age adults."

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Nearly 203,000 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine have been administered in Lincolnshire, latest NHS figures show.

The weekly data released on Thursday shows 202,799 jabs have taken place between 8 December 8 and 14 February - up by 36,828 on the previous week.

It breaks down as 199,652 first doses and 3,147 second.

However that figure is 1,537 fewer than the previous week’s 38,365, and continues the drop from 40,206 recorded doses the previous week.

The data includes the new vaccination centre at the Lincolnshire Showground which aims to do over 1,000 doses a day.

The Showground centre is the second largest in the county, with the one at Princess Arena Sports Centre in Boston able to handle over 1,500 vaccines per day.

The figures show show 154,294 people under the age of 80 have received their first vaccination and another 1,551 have been given their second.

Some 45,358 people aged over 80 have received their first dose, with a further 1,596 receiving a second jab.

This means 97.5% of all over-80s in the county have received the first dose of a Covid vaccine.

Around of 31.7% of the Lincolnshire population in total has received a first dose of the vaccine.

BBC Weather

This morning it will become increasingly cloudy and breezy. Winds will be quite strong through the day. It will stay mostly dry, but the odd spell of rain cannot be ruled out.

This evening and overnight it will remain cloudy and breezy. It will, again, remain mostly dry but the odd spell of light rain cannot be ruled out. Milder than last night.

Through this evening, any isolated showers will die away, leaving a dry night with clearing skies and easing winds.

It will be quite chilly with a touch of frost possible in places.

BBC Sport

Lincolnshire referee Darren Drysdale will not referee Southend's game with Bolton on Saturday after being charged with improper conduct by the Football Association.

Image source, Matchday Images Ltd

He has apologised for locking heads with Ipswich player Alan Judge during Tuesday's draw against Northampton.

Drysdale moved his head towards Judge in the 90th minute and briefly appeared to square up to him.

The official has until 4 March to reply to the charge and has been replaced by Declan Bourne for the League Two match.

In a statement released by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited, Drysdale said he "did not maintain his composure" in the incident.

Lincolnshire County Council says it's disappointed the government has cut the amount of money it's getting to spend on the county's roads.

Image source, Google

The Department for Transport announced this week Lincolnshire's roads would receive £12.3m less funding this year compared to last.

The county's capital maintenance grant for 2021-22 is £38.7m compared to £51m for the previous year - that's a reduction of almost a quarter.

Councillor Richard Davies, executive member for highways, said: "For such a vitally important service to be cut so drastically is frustrating and disappointing.

"We operate as efficiently as we can, and ultimately the limit to how well we can maintain and improve our roads is based on how much money we can invest in it. This funding cut will mean less road resurfacing, fewer potholes filled."

Coronavirus infections in parts of Lincolnshire are rising, the latest figures show.

Boston, West Lindsey and Lincoln have all seen an increase.

Boston's rate is currently 188 infections per 100,000 people - which is above the national average of 137.

The number of infections in South Holland is also higher than the England average, but has seen a fall.

Meanwhile, East Lindsey continues to have the lowest rates in the county.

Here are the full details:

• Boston: 188.1 infections per 100,000 people
• South Holland: 165.2 infections per 100,000 people
• West Lindsey: 133.8 infections per 100,000 people
• North Kesteven: 124.0 infections per 100,000 people
• Lincoln: 117.8 infections per 100,000 people
• South Kesteven: 108.8 infections per 100,000 people
• East Lindsey: 71.3 infections per 100,000 people

Joel Ajewole is serving a nine-and-half year jail sentence for rape and sexual assault.