Lincolnshire this week.

A new report claims the proposed Boston Flood Barrier will encourage tourism in the town and aid regeneration. As well as reducing the flood risk the report states that river levels through the town, on the tidal Haven stretch will be deepened meaning boat traffic will be able to approach the new Black Sluice lock at all states of the tide. At present the river reduces to not much more than a trickle at low tide. The Black Sluice lock opens up the possibility of travel through from Lincoln, with its connections to the Trent and the Humber, to Ely and Peterborough, eventually.


We’ve had damage to Lincolnshire roads by severe winter conditions, now local authorities in the east, including Lincs, are petitioning the government for help towards damage caused by drought conditions. The affected roads are in the Holbeach , Spalding, Boston and Bourne as well as surrounding areas and a joint approach, to pay for repairs over and above wear and tear is to be made by Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire County Councils and Peterborough Unitary Authority.

Royal Air Force and Royal Navy pilots have held a joint training exercise over the skies above RAF Waddington in preparation for the Olympics. Exercise Taurus Mountain 2 involved tracking a suspicious aircraft and dealing with the threat. Air traffic control from the station were involved as were Typhoons, Sea King surveillance aircraft, Puma and Lynx helicopters and air defence missile systems.

In a sad sign of the times, two long established shops have closed in Boston. Millets, on the Market Place have closed their door for the last time. Part of the Blacks company which was bought out by JD Sports Fashion, Millets was closed as the group ended trading at underperforming stores. In the same week local electrical business Yates and Greenhough ceased trading having closed other shops in Lincolnshire previously. The locally owned business could no longer compete with internet sales and supermarkets.

Lincolnshire swimmer Chloe Hannam is hoping to secure a place in the GB Olympic team. The 15 year old from the South Lincs team told Look North she has qualified for the 400m individual medley and the 200m backstroke in the forthcoming trails at the London Aquatic Centre:-

"It's going to be really exciting and also really nerve-wracking but I'm trying not to think about it too much or I'll get really really nervous,"

"I've surprised myself how far I've got, so I just keep working hard and South Lincs [club] have been really supportive."

Gainsborough born author Margaret Dickinson has returned to the town to sign copies of her new book, Jenny’s War. Readers queued out of the door of W H Smith to get a signed copy of the tale of a young girl evacuated to Lincolnshire from the East End of London. Margaret continues to write despite having already had published more than 30 novels. She told the Gainsborough Standard:-

“I grew up in Beckingham until I was about seven but I’ve always come back to Gainsborough to see relatives here. I can just about remember back to the floods of 1947 when I was five,” she added

“You don’t just write a book, and it gets published. It’s not that simple, and I’ve got seven novels in the loft, which have never been printed.”

“I would just like to thank everyone in Gainsborough for their interest and loyalty. I hope they enjoy the book, and they enjoyed coming to the signing, and all being well I will see everyone again next year.”

A much loved but now sadly underused attraction in Skegness, the boating lake is to be partly closed. The feature, which had become neglected and of limited appeal is to be partly reborn as a wildlife area. This is part of a £600000 revamp of the foreshore by East Lindsey District Council. Skegness Mayor Steve Kirk said:- "I can remember plenty of people having a fantastic time down there - good wholesome fun but times have moved on.

"Times are a-changing and as a result we need to change with them.

"This will be an additional attraction. It's taking a bit of the boating lake which is under-utilised and making it something which people who are into wildlife can enjoy.

That’s it for another week. Hope the weekend will float your boat wherever in the world you yellowbellies are.