Lincolnshire this week.

Lincolnshire has a new Chief Constable. Deputy Chief Constable Neil Rhodes will step up to the role of Chief, on a temporary basis when present boss Richard Crompton retires on 31 March. The policing situation in Lincolnshire was rather shrouded in mystery when, no sooner had the deal with G4S to take over much of the police’s responsibilities been sealed than Chief Crompton announced his retirement from the force. Hopefully things will settle down now with Mr Rhodes now in charge until March 2013.


A seven figure bid for the Lawn Complex has been made by Jonathan Pass, the owner of the adjoining Charlotte House Hotel. The bid envisages turning the building into a hotel and conference venue. The plans would also include revamping the Joseph Banks Conservatory:-

"I'm really passionate about Lincoln and believe this city has huge potential," said Mr Pass.

"The Lawn could be the third jewel in the city's crown alongside the castle and the cathedral.

"It is a fantastic building with a rich heritage and we want to turn it into Lincoln's stately home.

“The experience I’ve had transforming Charlotte House Hotel from a derelict building into a thriving business demonstrates an understanding of the site and the potential of The Lawn.

“We hosted over 150 weddings last year, the location proving ideal.

“I am hopeful we will be successful.

“I really want to see the building play its part in the city’s economic growth rather than be turned into flats.”

The Lindongate scheme has hit the headlines again after Lincoln City Council granted planning permission for the shopping and transport project. The first phase would see a new footbridge over the railway although this will not immediately solve the High Street level crossing log jam. The bridge will include lifts though which will assist prams and those with mobility issues. The development includes a department store but it is not known which one and a transport hub which will do away with the eyesore that is the present bus station and link train arrivals with buses seamlessly.

Troubled Lincolnshire hospital, the Pilgrim, Boston has finally had some good news. The Care Quality Commission has re inspected the Pilgrim, which serves the community in the south of the county and declared it much improved. The hospital has had a series of calamitous reports and even had student nurses withdrawn as a result of poor standards at one stage, culminating in the CQC issuing a damning appraisal of the Pilgrims failings in a report out last year. Now the commission has visited again and pronounced the hospital much improved although there is still work to be done:-

Jennie Negus, Deputy Director of Patient Services at United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "We are extremely pleased by the findings of the latest CQC report.

"We recognise there is still more to be done and we will continue to work hard to address all the issues raised by the CQC to ensure the care we deliver is of a consistently high standard across all our hospitals."

A Lincolnshire swimmer has again defied the odds to land a place in the GB Olympic team. Kate Heywood has booked her place but there was heartache as Lizzie Simmonds missed out. The pair were competing in the British Championships which double as the Qlympic trial.

Popular Lincoln boozer, The Strugglers has scooped the CAMRA best pub in Lincoln accolade for the second time in three years. The real ale Shangri-la beat off competition once again to claim the award. Landlady Anna, obviously so famous she has no need of a surname said:-

"To win this award again is absolutely tremendous, it is a wonderful accolade,"

"Our success is down to the interest that our staff and myself give the customers when presenting them with beers from local breweries.

"We also get ales from further afield – for example we had a beer from the Orkney Islands recently.

"It is lovely just to be able to bring in different beers for people who can't get further afield to try them."

"As a landlady you have to have an interest in what you are doing and love the ales.

"That comes from my team of staff too who love working here.

That would appear to be as appropriate a spot to say farewell for the week as any so I’ll say cheers for now and enjoy your weekend whatever watering hole you may find yourself in.