Lincolnshire this week.

Today is supposedly black Friday, at least in America but no doubt in a year or two we’ll all have adopted it here as we usually do. Not black news on the roads just for a change as a section of the newly dualled A46 between Car Colston and Saxondale opens. For the uninitiated this is part of work to complete the dualling of the road between Newark and Widmerpool, just outside Leicester which eventually will mean a dual carriageway all the way from Lincoln to the M1 bringing the motorway system nearer in terms of journey times and meaning that Lincoln is not quite as remote as we once were. Indeed, for journeys to Heathrow, West London etc not to mention Nottingham, Leicester and more distant destinations, Oxford, Northampton we are in great danger of no longer being the country bumpkins everyone thinks we are.


A proposal to create a rail-freight hub to enable food producers in the South of the county to get their produce to market by rail rather than road has been retained in the face of objections from locals who asked that the scheme be re examined. South Holland District Council voted to reject the request at a meeting on Wednesday and will press on with Deeping St Nicholas as the preferred site. A spokesman for South Holland, Councillor Howard Johnson said:-

“We believe there is a solid and compelling case that a rail freight interchange will bring jobs and businesses to South Holland”

Staying in the South of the county BBC Lincolnshire’s Scott Dalton donned his wellies to report a planned mass tree planting this weekend at Wyberton, just outside Boston where thousands of trees which will be enjoyed by future generations will be planted by local children.

In Lincoln preparations are going ahead for the Christmas Market which begins on Thursday. The weather forecast is for rain which isn’t brilliant but better than the very heavy snow we were buried under this time last year that caused the market to be cancelled. Everyone hopes to make up for the losses and the heartache which got Christmas off to a bad start then.

In Boston the Christmas lights are on, this year turned on by the Mayor in a proper ceremony unlike last year when an electrician simply threw the switch and they were on. They’re new ones too and the local traders are hoping for something of a reprieve from the bad economic outlook and, locally the work to repave the market place which is causing more than a little disruption.

Caistor has won the award for Best Kept Market Town in the East Midlands for the third year in a row. Not only that but the competitors for the prize were Market Deeping, Holbeach and Spilsby, all in our fair county. Recognition that Lincolnshire has much to offer. The judge's report said:-

"A pleasure to visit such a progressive town where things happen to enhance community life. Well done to all concerned and also for your Arts & Heritage Centre and the television documentary. We, of course, took advantage of the excellent cafe."

This is Lincolnshire we’re talking about? Lets hope all this doesn’t lead to an influx into Britains best kept secret.

Finally an album of photographs showing the worlds first tanks which were developed in Lincoln have been sold at well above their guide price. The collection of about 50 black and white pictures of the First World War weapons were expected to reach between £200 - £400 but they sold for a whopping £4600. The pictures illustrate the war machines which were produced at the William Foster factory in Waterloo Street. The novelty comes from the fact that there were limited opportunities to photograph the secret weapon, consequently they are extremely rare.

Have a good week, wherever you are reading this.

                                        Lincoln Christmas Market. Not long to wait now.