On what a year! July to December 2020

The second half of 2020 saw visitors returning to the coast.
Punters welcomed the re-opening of pubs in July.Punters welcomed the re-opening of pubs in July.
Punters welcomed the re-opening of pubs in July.

JULY:

Punters were pleased to see pubs re-open after weeks in lockdown.

Skegness pubs closed early to avoid anti-social behaviour on the first night out for many people in weeks.

A heatwave brought thousands of visitors to the coast in August, blocking roads in Anderby Creek.A heatwave brought thousands of visitors to the coast in August, blocking roads in Anderby Creek.
A heatwave brought thousands of visitors to the coast in August, blocking roads in Anderby Creek.

However, the rush for a pint saw some unwanted incidents in the town. The Marine in Lumley Road called time around 9.30pm on Saturday night after a fight broke out and a riot van and two ambulances were called to the Suncastle on North Parade.

Other pubs in the town closed to avoid the backlash from customers looking for somewhere else to go.

Lincolnshire Police thanked officers for working over the weekend during what was described as "the latest in a great line of challenges" since lockdown began.

AUGUST

In September the near-30 year restoration of a small diesel locomotive on the Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway was shortlisted for  two national awards in the 2021 'Railway Oscars.'.In September the near-30 year restoration of a small diesel locomotive on the Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway was shortlisted for  two national awards in the 2021 'Railway Oscars.'.
In September the near-30 year restoration of a small diesel locomotive on the Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway was shortlisted for two national awards in the 2021 'Railway Oscars.'.

Thousands of trippers headed to the coast for what was said to be the hottest day of the year.

Traffic was seen backing up from the town to Poppy's cafe on the A158 by 10am, as shoppers battled with day trippers to get to the centre.

An accident took place just after noon near the Southview Leisure Park and involved three cars, close to the spot the spot on the A158 where a woman pedestrian in her 20s died the previous month.

Coun Adrian Findley launched a campaign to make that stretch of road safer. : "Sadly, I’ve read there has been yet another accident on Burgh road near Southview.

The high street had another blow in October with the announcement Peacocks was one of a number of shops facing closure.The high street had another blow in October with the announcement Peacocks was one of a number of shops facing closure.
The high street had another blow in October with the announcement Peacocks was one of a number of shops facing closure.

"I know there have been numerous discussions and debates of exactly what is needed along that stretch of road.

"If you actually look at everything along there, such as the circus and Poppy’s restaurant to the Winthorpe/Croft junction, it’s so busy it needs to be managed far better.

"I know it’s a costly project and LCC are responsible but we need to take action to save unnecessary accidents or better still save lives."

There have also been reports of a massive amount of traffic causing problems further up the coast at Anderby Creek.

The Environment Agency was forced to do more work along the coast after late Spring tides left deep gullies on the beach and left it covered in rubble.The Environment Agency was forced to do more work along the coast after late Spring tides left deep gullies on the beach and left it covered in rubble.
The Environment Agency was forced to do more work along the coast after late Spring tides left deep gullies on the beach and left it covered in rubble.

Cars were parked along the coastal road from Chapel Six Marshes to Sandilands and both sides up to the beach.

"People are parking in the 60mph limit on the road," said parish councillor Graham Fisher. "There is going to be an accident. I've already seen a Mexican stand-off between two cars and neither would budge."

SEPTEMBER:

The near-30 year restoration of a small diesel locomotive on the Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway was shortlisted for two national awards in the 2021 'Railway Oscars'.

It is the third consecutive year in which the railway in the Skegness Water Leisure Park has been shortlisted by the Heritage Railway Association for an award.

It was a joint winner with neighbours, the Lincolnshire Wolds Railway at Ludborough near Louth, for its achievement in reopening in 2009.

There was good news in the high street in December with the announcement a new shopping plaza would open in February 2020.There was good news in the high street in December with the announcement a new shopping plaza would open in February 2020.
There was good news in the high street in December with the announcement a new shopping plaza would open in February 2020.

The LCLR was the very first heritage railway in the world to be built by enthusiasts on a greenfield site when it opened on August 27, 1960, on its original site, linking the bus terminus at Humberston, south of Cleethorpes, with the local beach and The Fitties holiday camp.

OCTOBER:

After losing so many weeks business due to lockdown, it was announced the holiday season was to be extended to help businesses recover from impact of Covid-19.

East Lindsey District Council’s Executive Board approved a Local Development Order for the East Lindsey coast, which will allow holiday parks and seasonal accommodation to open from March 1 to January 5 for holiday occupancy.

The LDO was to work by identifying an area for the development of specified uses and types and removed the need for the submission of a planning application.

The area covered by the Coastal Zone was defined in the adopted East Lindsey Local Plan 2018, including the settlements of Addlethorpe, Anderby, Chapel St Leonards, Croft, Ingoldmells, Mablethorpe, New Leake, North Cotes, North Somercotes, Saltfleetby All Saints, Saltfleetby St Clements, Saltfleetby St Peter, Skegness, Skidbrooke cum Saltfleet, South Somercotes, Sutton on Sea, Theddlethorpe All Saints, Theddlethorpe St Helen and Trusthorpe.

A robust Flood Risk Assessment and Evacuation Plan was needed to be submitted by applicants for their particular park to assess the level of flood risk within that area and assess the steps required to ensure that any residents of caravans can be evacuated safely during a period of flooding.

***

Closing down sales began appearing all along the high street in Skegness - but along with the sadness that people were losing their jobs before Christmas comes hope of an new opportunities emerging.

Ponden Home, Edinburgh Woollen Mill and Peacocks stores,in Lumley Road - all part of national chains owned by billionaire Philip Day - were the latest businesses making tough decisions due to the impact of Covid-19.

This followed the closure of the department store Beales earlier than expected at the start of the Spring lockdown.

Fashion giant M &Co, which went into administration in August, was trading but with a closing down sale.

Steve Simpson, Edinburgh Woollen Mill Group chief executive: commented on the decision which will affect hundreds of members of staff across the country: "Like every retailer, we have found the past seven months extremely difficult," he said.

"Traditionally, EWM has always traded with strong cash reserves and a conservative balance sheet but these stories and the reduction in credit insurance – against the backdrop of the initial lockdown, current local lockdowns, and the second wave of Covid-19 reducing footfall have made normal trading impossible."

NOVEMBER:

Skegness paid tribute to a former Skegness RNLI coxswain, Richard Watson, who died suddenly at the age of 57.

During a career spanning more than 32 years, he was involved in saving 246 lives.

His funeral brought the RNLI family together from across the country to honour the local hero - in the presence of his devoted wife, Sandra.

It was an emotional scene when the funeral cortege for 'Watty', as so many fondly knew him, stopped outside the Lifeboat Station in Skegness for a few minutes so friends could pay their respects.

The town's RNLB Joel and April Grunnill Lifeboat, on which Mr Watson had served before he retired last year, was brought out of the station, with members of the volunteer crew standing on deck in silent tribute with 'caps off'..

***

A spike in Covid-19 cases across East Lindsey saw a u-turn in plans to extend the season and the hopes of caravanners wanting to stay over Christmas and the New Year were dashed.

However, there was better news for residents on one of the parks who pay rates to the authority to stay longer than the normal season which ends in October.

Government guidelines for the second lockdown which started on November 5 stated no-one could stay at a second home or caravan, hotel, or any other accommodation.

Thousands of people were forced to leave East Lindsey's sites and go home - and for many with nowhere to go it was a very worrying time.

Coun Steve Walmsley, of Ingoldmells Parish Council, lives on Priory Park and had been liaising with both site owners Blue Anchor Leisure Ltd and East Lindsey District Council over the matter.

Three days of worry were finally ended for the caravanners who said had 'nowhere to go' when they were told they could stay after all.

***

Tons of sand were moved along the Skegness coast to repair beaches ravaged by late Spring tides.

Just weeks after the completion of a £7million beach replenishment project by the Environment Agency, the tides left deep gullies and piles of rubble further south around Winthorpe.

The state of the beach underlined the power of the sea and why residents along the coast remain at risk of more than just a pandemic.

The problem of how to evacuate thousands of residents and visitors in the event of a flood was why Lincolnshire County Council and the Environment Agency opposed East Lindsey District Council's Local Development Order to extend the season.

Flood warden Mr Gabbitas was insistent caravan parks should remain closed.

"We are coming up to the worse time of the year for tides and the threat to the coast from flooding," he said. "I have never seen so much devastation to the beaches at this time of the year as with the recent spring tides.

"This shows the power of the sea and we have the worse to come."

DECEMBER

Shoppers were given a sparkling welcome back to Skegness when the Christmas lights were switched on to coincide with the re-opening of shops after lockdown.

Unlike previous years, when hundreds of families gathered outside the Hildreds Centre for the big countdown, this year it was a 'soft switch-on' to avoid crowds.

The Christmas Market was also cancelled this year - but that hasn't stopped shop owners going all out to make shopping as festive as possible.

Steve Andrews, manager of the Hildreds Centre, said footfall was up by 52% on the previous week.

"Trade has been really buoyant," he said. "We are looking forward to confidence returning to the high street and hope our local customers support us in the lead up to Christmas."

***

There was some positive news when exciting plans for a new shopping plaza were announced to breathe much-needed life into the high street in Skegness.

The £400.000 development inside the former Beales department store is due to open in February 2021.

All three floors of the original building will showcase the Lumley Shopping Plaza, offering something for all the family - and dogs are welcome, too.

There will be 35 individual boutique-style retail units of varying sizes, selling a range of quality goods including clothes and footwear for all the family, electricals. mobile phones, cosmetics, confectionary and gifts.

Negotiations were also taking place to reinstate the Post Office on the second floor and expand on the services offered.

On the top floor will be a garden centre featuring a number of departments including Yankee candle, a man cave, cosmetics and a pets section. There will also be spacious restaurant area and an events space where there could be pop-up shops on special craft weeks, pumpkin carving during Hallowe’en and other attractions over the different holidays during the year.

The Standard was invited to meet the man behind the vision for the Beales building, Asa Cripsey, to see how the ambitious venture is progressing.

“For me lockdown has brought an opportunity to bring Lumley Road into the 21st century and create something special - a real hub for families,” said Asa.

“This is what I love, ripping things out and building something really smart.”

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