Parking in Sleaford’s council-run car parks will be free on Friday and Saturday April 11 and 12 whilst new parking machines are installed including the town council’s Eastgate carpark and coincides with an Easter family fun day taking place in the town on Saturday The 11 new payment machines replace those which have become unreliable and in recent months have frequently been faulty all existing machines will be covered and put out of use until replaced commissioned and brought into service ready for charges to apply again from 8am on Monday April 14 When in service they will continue to offer payment options by card the new APCOA Connect app and by SMS text messaging and phone call – using information posted on the machines – with charges remaining at the same low-cost rates as have applied for six years North Kesteven District Council’s Assistant Director of Environment & Public Protection who has oversight of parking said: “We recognise the inconvenience and frustrations caused by faults and connection failures with our current machines and thank customers for their patience and perseverance.  online and text payment options that have proved very popular and successful over the past four months we are further enhancing a service that responds to the needs of all users whether or not they have cash or card with them.  expansion of dedicated provision for blue-badge holders creation of additional spaces and continuation of our long-term low tariffs Easy-to-use step by step guidance for using APCOA Connect app plus the number to text or call to make payment for customers without smart phones or not wanting to use the app will continue to be posted on the parking machines This allows low-cost parking to be sorted within seconds even if you don’t have cash to pay with.  text or call-managed payment is that you can easily manage extended stays meaning that there’s no need to be dragged away from a café or to rush about if you get delayed or want to enjoy your leisure for longer.  The APCOA Connect app should only be accessed and downloaded from a trusted source like the App Store or Google Pay No transaction fees or additional charges for using the app are passed on to customers meaning that parking charges remain unchanged Station Road and Brydone Way (off Grantham Road) car parks charges generally apply from 8am to 6pm Monday to Saturday Bank Holidays and all evenings currently free The Lafford Terrace car park becomes free for public use after 4.30pm on weekdays and on Saturday Parking charges start from just 50p for two hours at the Brydone Way car park off Grantham Road All drivers are reminded that regardless of preferred payment method all parking must be paid for and so it is good practice to have a little loose change available in the car just in case If a machine doesn’t accept payment the advice is to try an alternative if there is one in the car park To see all of the Sleaford parking locations and standard tariffs go to the parking webpage on the Council's website For more information about the APCOA Connect App see: www.apcoaconnect.com For the latest news on North Kesteven District Council visit our council news pages or contact us directly by online form or email Sleaford Mods and Hot Chip have united for a collaborative seven-inch single featuring new tracks Nom Nom Nom and Cat Burglar The songs are available on limited 7″ released by Bristol label and record shop Friendly Records in aid of charity War Child The artwork for this unique release has been created especially for the project by influential and acclaimed British artist David Shrigley Pre-order the single and stream the tracks HERE The collaboration came about when the London five-piece invited the Nottingham duo down to take part in one of Abbey Road’s innovative and groundbreaking Lock In Sessions. Inviting talents to come together to create something new within the iconic studios’ walls, each session is fully documented and a short film capturing the ‘Hot Mods’ – as the bands nicknamed themselves – at work can be watched HERE Lead track Nom Nom Nom blends both acts best characteristics creating a suave yet edgy groove that is as happy on the dancefloor as it is in the mosh-pit “On the day we went in cold and just handed ourselves over to it Nom Nom Nom is a lyrical continuation from our album UK GRIM over Andrew’s keyboard riff built on by Hot Chip and finishing up with an excellent chorus from Alexis,” explains Sleaford Mods’ Jason Williamson “Cat Burglar is a weird prog rock meets B52s jam that explores the narrow corridors of modern human experience.” Hot Chip add that the sessions represent the results of a truly a free and encouraging exchange of ideas and music between the two groups which meant both songs were written and recorded at Abbey Road in just a matter of hours “Making these songs over the course of one day at Abbey Road was a great experience,” the band explain “We arrived without a plan but quickly began working together in a harmonious way with lots of improvisation and very little ego We are very grateful to Sleaford Mods for joining us and very proud of the result.” Realising they had made something special together Sleaford Mods decided the tracks would be perfect when Friendly Records approached the duo to take part in their project with War Child providing Nom Nom Nom and Cat Burglar with the perfect home Join us at Sleaford’s Market Place across Saturday December 21 and Sunday December 22 for WinterLight – an enchanting weekend of FREE activities to celebrate Christmas It will be the first event of its kind in the new space reconfigured to make it easier and more attractive to hold community activity at the heart of the town A community lantern procession will illuminate the town centre on Saturday December 21 Local community groups and crafters have been invited to create a variety of lanterns in the weeks leading up the event The Hub will be hosting four lantern making sessions over the weekend of their Christmas Contemporary Makers Market on Saturday November 30 and Sunday December 1 Bookings for these sessions can be made through the following link: hub-sleaford.org.uk/events/lantern-making-with-lumo-workshop a drop-in lantern-making session will take place at St Denys’, providing a chance for everyone to create their own lantern to carry in the procession.  Participants will gather from 3:30pm at the Hub and walk along Southgate to the Market Place participants will be greeted by carolling from the Sleaford Concert Band As the procession makes its way to the Market Place there will be another session of carolling and entertainment into the evening There’s also opportunity to decorate a jar lantern which will be placed in front of St Denys’ over the weekend Keep an eye on the Council’s social media channels for more information on where drop-in craft activities will take place Fun for all ages awaits on the synthetic ‘ice’ rink open from 2pm-7pm Saturday and 11am-4pm Sunday Free 30-minute slots will be available across both days and no booking will be required With most activities taking place on the Saturday the skating sessions on Sunday should offer a quieter experience for individuals with additional needs St Denys’ will feature a festive projection in place for a limited time over the weekend which will add a special glow to the space Additional highlights for the Saturday include free face painting a dance performance and Santa’s Sleigh photo booth The event invites residents and visitors alike to come together for a weekend filled with festive fun and family friendly entertainment leader of North Kesteven District Council said, “Sleaford really comes alive during the festive period to welcome everyone to experience it with a weekend of free activities for all ages in this new space It’s a wonderful opportunity to celebrate Christmas and support local businesses and see the potential for the Market Place to host events of this kind more easily and safely.” On this day and every Saturday in December there will free parking in Sleaford in any North Kesteven District Council-run car park this festive period to further encourage shoppers and visitors into Sleaford to enjoy the free activities Free parking continues every evening and Sunday Local businesses will have festive specials available throughout the weekend and many will be opening into the evening on Saturday 21 December some of the businesses in Bristol Arcade will be open on Sundays from 10am throughout December offering an additional day for people to do their Christmas shopping and enjoy more of Sleaford all weekend This includes Beautifully Handmade Gift Shop WinterLight is funded by the Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund being delivered by North Kesteven District Council in partnership with local businesses and creatives including the Hub Get the date in your diary now and look out for more on North Kesteven District Council’s social media channels @northkestevendc and @heartoflincs drivers using Council-run car parks in Sleaford will be able to pay to park through their mobile phone These new options of using a smartphone app messaging or voice call have been advanced for the eight car parks locations in response to intermittent but recurring difficulties in making card payment They sit alongside continued cash and card payment options The APCOA Connect app can be downloaded onto phones now in readiness from a trusted source like the App Store or Google Play With easy-to-use step by step guidance posted on the parking machines low-cost parking can be sorted within seconds A further benefit is that extended stays can be easily managed through the app too Payment can also be arranged via a call or SMS messaging to the numbers provided or APCOA Connect’s website There will be no transaction fees or additional charges passed on to customers choosing to use the app Cllr Mark Smith whose District Council Executive Board oversight includes car parks said that introduction of the app and phone payment options brought parking provision in Sleaford in line with standards already enjoyed by shoppers visitors and residents in most other places “We recognise and thank everybody for their patience and perseverance during the inconvenience and frustrations caused by faults and connection failures with our current machines but by bringing forward these new modern and familiar payment options we are sure that we are providing a service that meets the needs of all users “Steps have been taken to have new cash and card payment machines in place by the end of February; and together with this new phone option our long-term low tariffs and further investment across our car parks I am confident that people will value the level of provision within Sleaford.” Charges generally apply from 8am to 6pm Monday to Saturday Throughout December there is free parking every Saturday in all seven North Kesteven District Council-owned carparks (but not in the town council’s Eastgate car park) Currently the split of customers choosing cash or card payment is roughly equal but it is known that as people generally carry less cash phone payment options are increasingly popular.  Cllr Smith thanked partners Lincolnshire County Council and APCOA which holds the area’s parking enforcement contract and so it is good practice to have a little lose change available in the car just in case When a machine doesn’t accept payment the advice is to try an alternative if there is one in the car park there will be some disruption and reduced capacity at Money’s Yard due to a programme of repairs scheduled to last one day only To see all of the Sleaford parking locations and standard tariffs go to: www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/parking  Families searching for Easter fun can hop into Sleaford for free outdoor activities including a trail with the chance to get a Cadbury chocolate egg – all for free.  A special Easter garden will be in the main square of Sleaford’s Market Place from 11am-4pm on Saturday April 12.  you can pick up a leaflet and embark on the Easter trail by finding all 10 town centre businesses and venues displaying the special window stickers shown Return your completed trail leaflet to the Easter garden to claim a free Cadbury egg – while stocks last one egg per child or adult showing their completed trail leaflet Each completed trail leaflet is also entry for one child into the Easter garden itself, where the fun continues From creating Easter cards to crafting masks there’s plenty within the garden to keep little ones busy Seasonal decorations and selfie spots for photographs at the garden will also create memories for everyone Please note that these activities are all planned to take place outdoors.  There’ll also be free children’s face painting with the exact location for this to be confirmed every completed trail leaflet handed in at the garden will be entered for the chance to win a Nintendo Switch in a prize draw open to all.  This Easter event is funded by the Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund it’s the first to be supported by an additional year of UK Shared Prosperity Fund monies for North Kesteven with more events to be shared as details are confirmed North Kesteven District Council Assistant Director of Economy Tony Mabbott said: “This free event is a great way to celebrate Easter with a unique and interactive experience including free crafting activities and face painting for children and photo opportunities for everyone “It’s a fantastic chance to support local businesses too – whether the Easter trail leads you to discover a new place you love or re-discover a business you know – and it’s easy to extend the fun with great food and drink the scenic River Slea and more all within the town centre or easy reach from it.“A full year of events will bring more opportunities to enjoy activities like these while continuing to grow pride of place and our local economy – which in turn helps encourage people to visit more of the venues events and attractions available across North Kesteven and to discover the great place it is to be.” Remember to save the date also for this year’s RiverLight Festival in Sleaford, with fringe events taking place between June 14 and June 20. Its grand finale day on Saturday June 21 will once again include a community-led parade in the town centre, entertainment, music and more. Follow @RiverLightFestival on social media to see the latest updates The Easter activities follow two heart-themed events on February 15 and 22 which joined a love heart seat installation that month supported by local businesses which hosted heart tags for people to collect and helped to shape and publicise it and the WinterLight celebration last December which welcomed people back onto Market Place following the regeneration works It included a community lantern walk as well as refreshments available from St Denys’ Church and nearby businesses To see more about the event and trail, and any other fun Easter activities or offers, follow @northkestevendc and @heartoflincs on social media. You can also discover many more fun and unique events taking place across North Kesteven, at Easter or anytime, at the Heart of Lincs events webpage To stay up to date with other UKSPF projects, you can sign up for e-newsletters at www.n-kesteven.gvo.uk/stayconnected  Forgotten heritage features are being uncovered and buildings being restored thanks to funding to preserve historic shopfronts in Sleaford town centre North Kesteven District Council is working closely with commercial property and business owners to wind back the clock by repairing and reinstating historic features using funding through the Council’s Sleaford Shopfront Grant Scheme.  More than £380,000 of UKSPF funding from the scheme has been allocated across 12 projects with up to 90% of the total cost of works awarded as a grant.  By the end of the scheme in March 2025 the town centre will be transformed with 15 different shopfronts in Eastgate Northgate and Boston Road being restored or having existing features repaired The properties all fall within the town centre conservation area with more work due to start in the coming weeks and months however the transformations are already revealing beautiful features and restoring historic details.  Property owners and businesses are funding the remaining costs of their respective projects and working together with the Council and Heritage Lincolnshire in partnership through the scheme the funding has enabled them to go beyond what they had originally planned themselves Sarah Graves is owner of the popular Appetites Sandwich Bar & Coffee Lounge in Sleaford The white render on the Appetites building has been carefully removed and the red brickwork underneath revealed once more An arched feature within this brickwork has also been uncovered as part of this process and there’s been new leadwork above the shopfront the building has benefitted from £30,000 from the grant funding Sarah said: “We were so excited when we saw the brickwork appear from under the render and the arch in the brickwork is such a beautiful feature I think it’s very important to do this from a historical point of view and the history in this building is just amazing There is a horse’s yard and we know there were maid’s quarters on the third floor “There’s such a lot of history in Sleaford and we’ve had some great comments from customers since the works I hope that it demonstrates what can be done to help preserve our historic buildings in Sleaford We also used local companies to do the work Nathan Bradford is owner of a heritage property at 12 Westgate. It contains two flats along with a commercial unit on the ground floor which is home to the business Dog Grooming by Agnes The building has a grant of £39,694 from the scheme and this has helped see all the windows replaced with traditional wooden frames re-painting and re-rendering of the exterior new entrance tiles and even a hand-painted sign He said: “It was a friend who sent me a text message about the grant I followed it up the same day with the Council and you could say the rest is history! I’d always wanted to do the work and the grant meant we could more or less start to restore the building straightaway It’s taken 18 months to do this with the grant rather than the five years it might have been without it. “I just loved the character of the building there are the original exposed internal wooden beams three safes that must be over 100 years old along with some very quirky features in the flats I have a full 300-year history of the building built many properties in and around Sleaford including some down Westbanks and it’s nice that I can do something for Sleaford too Other improvements through the Sleaford Shopfront Scheme include:  Council Leader Cllr Richard Wright said: “The Sleaford Shopfront Grant Scheme has been very popular Originally it was a fund of £150,000 which we have since increased to more than double to help restore as many shopfronts as possible through it The fund has now been fully allocated and all of the grant works are due to be completed by March 2025 “I’d like to applaud all the building owners and businesses who are undertaking works as part of the scheme Many are not only utilising it to do important repairs and preservation but are also going above and beyond what they might have originally planned in order to reveal more of our shared heritage in these buildings and show real pride in Sleaford I’d also like to thank Heritage Lincolnshire which is working closely with our team including our Conservation Officer and with all those taking part Together we will remain on hand to assist and help see each of the projects through to completion “It’s also positive that the majority of the works – worth around £285,000 or 75% of the total grant funding from the scheme – are being undertaken by local contractors based within North Kesteven following the thorough tender process which took place for each project It means that this money is going directly to those businesses and supporting their specialist skills The remaining contractors are also all based in Lincolnshire.”The scheme is being supported by Heritage Lincolnshire which along with the Council’s Planning team and Conservation Officer has been advising businesses and building owners and helping to identify historic features to reinstate or repair Along with benefitting the town’s conservation area the works often also require the use of specialist heritage skills when it comes to things like replacing leading said: “It’s amazing to partner with North Kesteven District Council in delivering town centre improvements for Sleaford especially as we are based so nearby in Heckington These improvements to Sleaford’s high street are pivotal in maintaining and reviving the local economy historic buildings and small businesses and will build momentum for Sleaford’s historic town centre to keep growing in the future!” This project is additional to the Partnership Scheme in Conservation Area (PSiCA) scheme that ran from 2015-2021 in which 12 shops benefited from an investment of £330,000 part funded in partnership with North Kesteven District Council Historic England and Sleaford Town Council which again saw frontages improved in the Market Place The final section of paving at Sleaford’s reconfigured and pedestrian-friendly Market Place is now complete Contractor Smith Construction has been back onsite since early January to finish a remaining section of paving around the main entrance to Market Place Completion of this section had been delayed by sub-zero temperatures late last year and then paused until after the Christmas and New Year break. Its team has also now installed the remaining benches around the perimeter of Market Place and completed the installation of new cycle hoops including extra repointing in some small areas and a final clean of the space.  It all means that dedicated Blue Badge holder only parking can now commence at Sleaford’s Market Place on set days each week starting on Tuesday January 28.Blue Badge holders only can park on Sleaford’s Market Place on Tuesdays There is two hours’ maximum stay and no return within one hour Parking attendants will be onsite to help engage with anyone who is unsure whether they can park and bollards will prevent parking on the remaining days of the week Arrangements have been made directly with businesses so they can accommodate deliveries throughout the week with up to 30 minutes loading on Market Place anytime for permit holders. Similarly St Denys’ Church will be able to provide specific Blue Badge access for church events and services taking place on non-parking days agreed on an individual basis directly with the church and in advance including for weddings and funerals. Access on to Market Place will also remain all week round for wedding and funeral cars needing to reach St Denys’ Church again by prior agreement with the church. Local emergency services still have the ability to access Market Place anytime for emergencies It means that Market Place can remain free of parked cars on market days and weekends so that more people may enjoy the space and freely move between its businesses and venues and it is readily available to host community events and activities Look out for news soon on further UKSPF-funded activities in February following on from the WinterLight weekend of free activities held in December to officially welcome people back onto Market Place The new sandstone setts lighten up Market Place and better reflect the historic features surrounding it the Bristol Fountain and the beautiful buildings around its perimeter Two raised planters with benches provide a place to sit and introduce some greenery in addition to new flower beds under the existing trees A new defibrillator has also been installed in partnership with Shock Sleaford in a prominent place should it be needed in an emergency Some improvements are also planned for the bus shelter There is enhanced CCTV now covering Market Place via one of four new CCTV units installed last year (at Eastgate Green and Market Place) in Sleaford with £17,500 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund along with seven existing CCTV units in Sleaford enhanced at the same time with Safer Streets funding create a larger and upgraded CCTV network for the town Meanwhile the number of disabled parking spaces in the bay next to Sleaford Library will increase from two to three very shortly Smith Construction is installing dropped kerbs next to the spaces and is expected to finish these new dropped kerbs by the end of this week. This will be followed by work later by Lincolnshire County Council to carry out the line marking works which will create the extra space.  An extra Blue Badge space was installed at nearby Church Lane Car Park and another at Money’s Yard Car Park Money’s Yard Car Park has also recently undergone some essential resurfacing works It was closed for just over 30 hours last week from 8am on Wednesday January 22 through to 4pm on Thursday January 23 Motorists can now use the APCOA app to pay for parking using their phone at all Council car parks in Sleaford if using the app and you need more time on your ticket work is underway to arrange the replacement of the current ticket machines with new cash and card machines People will soon be able to experience the historic Slea Navigation for themselves on a new narrowboat which itself pays tribute to the town’s history.  For many years Sleaford Navigation Trust has held the aspiration to run a trip boat on the River Slea in Sleaford The team have seen the success of similar boats elsewhere in providing an enhanced visitor experience and at the same time making the case for further restoration of the waterway in question.  The Trust is delighted that this aspiration for a trip boat is now becoming a reality with support from North Kesteven District Council utilising the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund the Trust has been able to commission the build of a new 30-foot steel narrowboat shell by HD Narrowboats near Foston and which has now been lifted into place on the River Slea managed carefully by the Sleaford Navigation Trust team.  the narrowboat has been named Benjamin Handley in honour of this historic Sleaford figure and father of Henry Handley who himself is commemorated in the Handley Monument The narrowboat will now be fitted out internally by the Sleaford Navigation Trust team together with volunteers and when fully complete will carry twelve passengers at a time between The Hub and Cogglesford Watermill It’s hoped the first trips on the narrowboat can take place in spring the boat will remain moored securely near The Hub while the internal woodwork lighting and seating are installed from August through to October.  Public response to the narrowboat has been encouraging and several people have already expressed interest to the Trust in being involved in both the internal fit-out of the boat and in its operation. Anyone interested can find more on the Sleaford Navigation Trust website or email sleaford.navigation@ntlworld.com  Chairman of Sleaford Navigation Trust Chris Hayes said:  in Sleaford and we look forward to being able to welcome people on board next year." North Kesteven District Council Leader Councillor Richard Wright said:  "The narrowboat will offer an entirely new experience; allowing people not just to enjoy part of the Slea by boat but also to hear all about the ways in which the Slea Navigation brought prosperity and growth to the area after it originally opened in 1794. "The trips will require the lifting bridge to raise for the boat to pass underneath It’s also an invitation to explore nearby Navigation House – an original canal company office thought to be the only one of its kind still in existence – and to delve even further back into local history at Cogglesford Watermill where stone milling is powered naturally by the river. "After disembarking there’s of course food and drink history and more in Sleaford town centre to complete your visit and the narrowboat also opens up opportunities for community and educational use led by the Trust." It’s hoped that the boat can also be utilised for organised school or group trips to take in all of the heritage along the river as one joined-up experience The trips are not about making a large profit rather just enough to sustainably manage the maintenance costs while bringing visitors to the river and into the town The UKSPF funding also provides for training for the boat’s crew and clearance in autumn of an excess of silt and vegetation along the route increasing the flow of the water which better supports fish to spawn A new landing stage will also be built at Cogglesford Watermill The boat will be going at a very slow pace and will operate only within set times – initially just on the weekends and in warmer weather – to avoid disturbance to the river and the wildlife along it He was the father of Henry Handley who is commemorated in the Handley Monument and was a highly regarded banker in Sleaford As Treasurer of the Company of the Proprietors of Sleaford Navigation for over 30 years had actually loaned money from his own resources without charging interest and had even run the company’s finances through his own personal bank account Perhaps not an acceptable banking practice today His bank was in the building currently housing the Sleaford branch of Lloyds Bank in North Gate the venture may never have been successful He was sufficiently influential to be able to involve Sir Joseph Banks and William Jessop in the project and significantly advance the cause Banks helped to ensure the Enablement Act to create the Navigation was passed by Parliament in 1792 while Jessop’s expertise was put to good use in the detailed planning of work to adapt the waterway a solid silver cup with engraved waterway scenes was presented to Benjamin Handley shortly after the opening of the Navigation The Handley Cup was a testament to the regard in which he was held by the Company of the Proprietors of the Sleaford Navigation it was presented to Sleaford Navigation Trust on the death of a life member No-one is certain as to how or why it travelled to South Africa as Mrs Graham was not aware of any family connection with Benjamin Handley the Trust was delighted to receive it from Mrs Graham’s daughter and son-in- law who brought it back to Sleaford For more on UK Shared Prosperity Fund projects in North Kesteven, see our UK Shared Prosperity Fund webpages and sign up for the Council’s Levelling Up e-newsletter  You can also follow @northkestevendc and @sleafornavigationtrust on social media where you can see more about the boat and track its progress It’s only a short boat trip between the Hub and Cogglesford Watermill – what will make it worthwhile? The boat will offer a new experience for visitors and it is hoped that the information given while they are on board will increase their understanding and awareness of the history and heritage of the waterway it is not uniquely so and the trip will also occasion the lifting of the bridge for the boat to pass underneath This will certainly add another dimension to the activity This different mode of transport may well encourage people to visit Cogglesford Watermill while the insight into the history of the Sleaford Navigation could be an incentive to find out more in Navigation House It is hoped that it will be possible to include the boat ride in an organised group experience where time is shared with those two sites This could be offered to groups of people drawn from a wide range of ages from school pupils to the retired How will you minimise any noise and disruption while the narrowboat fit-out takes place?There will be a certain amount of noise while the fit out takes place (some sawing drilling etc) but Sleaford Navigation Trust will ensure this is kept to a minimum. The fit out will be limited to daytime hours only when it’s open?The narrowboat will carry a maximum of 12 passengers The boat will be skippered and crewed by trained volunteers Passengers will be able to embark and disembark at the existing landing stage at The Hub and also the new landing stage that is being built at Cogglesford Watermill.Will the boat be used year-round?Consideration has to be given to the training of volunteers and availability of people to help run it SNT envisage the boat will initially run over weekends during the warmer weather between the hours of 10am and 4pm. Once the boat is more established they will look at providing more pleasure trips on weekdays They will also be looking to hold some seasonal themed events such as Halloween and Christmas and will it be noisy?The boat will have a diesel engine The Sleaford Navigation Trust did explore using an electric engine but due to costs this unfortunately wasn’t possible at the time The engine is new and will be going at a very slow pace Have you considered whether there will be any environmental impact from the project?The Navigation Trust commissioned an Ecology Survey in April 2024 to ensure the project has minimal impact on the wildlife on that section of the River Slea they have also consulted with the Environment Agency and have worked closely with them in connection with several projects on the waterway which have incorporated ecological enhancements They have also liaised with some similar trip boat operators and are happy that the craft are run in synergy with the wildlife in those areas.  Will the Navigation Trust be charging for the pleasure trips?The boat trip experience is not about making a large profit rather just enough to sustainably manage the maintenance costs and also bring visitors to the river and into the town The pricing and the options for single/return ticketing is still being refined by SNT Have you considered security for the boat and risk of any anti-social behaviour?When not in use the boat will be moored up at the landing stage by The Hub and additional security measures including removable metal window-protection are fitted. New CCTV cameras have been installed on the walls of the Hub providing 24-hour monitoring as part of a wider upgrade of the town’s coverage via another UKSPF project After lots of careful preparation and groundworks paving is now starting to be laid at Sleaford's Market Place The paving is being laid from the outside of Sessions House to begin with It's hoped that the Heras fencing there can then gradually be moved back by contractor Smith Construction as the paving in this section is completed The paving is sandstone and has a textured surface for good grip underfoot.  Some of the taller hoarding which faced Northgate and Eastgate and along some of the businesses around the main square of the Market Place has also now been swapped for Heras fencing to allow for better visibility of it and the businesses. Please do continue to visit the businesses at Market Place - there's a path around the works which maintains access to all of them. Along the front of the site there are also some smaller planting beds which are now complete with the landscaping here designed to include a range of plants with different heights flower and leaf colour. Like any new planting scheme it will take time to fully establish and settle in.  A landscaping maintenance plan has been agreed with a contractor, for both the upkeep of these flower beds and the two planters also being created. The works are still on track to complete all being well by mid-December. We'll continue to share updates here on our website, and via our social media channels @northkestevendc  As work enters its final stages to reconfigure Sleaford’s Market Place as a more pedestrian-friendly area arrangements are being explored to bring the weekly markets back into the space The new-look will be in place for the Market Place’s first major event WinterLight on Saturday December 21 and Sunday 22; paving the way for the weekly market to return to its historic setting in the New Year.  As discussions continue between the District Council and the Town Council which has run the markets for almost 20 years stalls and pedestrians when the market operated within a car park the government-funded programme is also delivering on mutual aims to improve the Market Place so that the market can flourish and grow in size and popularity and a publicly-endorsed vision within concurrent Sleaford Masterplans to restore it as the town’s central public square Council Leader Cllr Richard Wright said: “Through use of our UKSPF funding allocation we were able to prioritise a scheme acting on a widely-held aspiration for improving the Market Place’s safety access and functionality and reinvigorating its appeal for the weekly markets and new events “We believe that it is now a much more appealing events space at the heart of the town where a market can flourish free of the conflict that previously existed in its dual use as a car park “Within just a few weeks it will be available once more for Sleaford Town Council to resume and grow its three weekly markets the aspiration of most of the town just as much as it is of ourselves partners and funders of the UKSPF programme for restoring community pride “With onsite power sources and now limited vehicular access accessible trading and its integrity as a historic meeting place for communal activity is restored,” he said It is for the town council to decide whether they wish to continue operating the town’s market under the scope of a negotiated licence in this improved location; as would any other operator proposing market-type activities.  with a synthetic-surface ice rink in place and lots of festivities across the two days including carolling WinterLight will showcase the potential of the regenerated area to incorporate outdoor seating for surrounding businesses places to sit and enjoy the setting and giving better visibility to square’s historic architecture Sign up to our free email alerts for the top daily stories sent straight to your e-mail Thank you for subscribing!We have more newsletters "I’ll post again about any future plans soon once I’ve started to come to terms with losing the business I’ve worked so hard to create over the last ten years Luckily I was the only one in the studio before classes and noticed smoke coming through the walls and got out with the help of one of my lovely ladies alerting me to the roof being on fire "I love you all , and I’ll be back." Following the incident her daughter, Ellie, created a Go Fund Me page with the goal of raising £3,000 to help her mum restore the business my name is Ellie and I am fundraising for my lovely mum she lost her beautiful fitness studio due to a fire at The Courthouse in Sleaford Market Place She has lost her livelihood which she has worked so hard for." She continued: "Sally created her studio from scratch 10 years ago and since it has been a place where people of all ages come together to move laugh and connect across over 16 different classes weekly it has been a lifeline for both physical fitness and emotional well-being "Any donation will be greatly appreciated Thank you for helping us to try and restore this essential part of our community." Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right said: “This project will give the B1518 Northgate in Sleaford a major overhaul from a highways perspective “The main part of the works will see a half-mile stretch of the B1518 fully rebuilt from its foundations up This will mean digging up all of the existing carriageway and replacing it with over 2,600 tonnes of road-building material “As part of this massive infrastructure scheme we’ll also be giving the traffic signals outside of Tesco a major refurb including a brand-new overhead camera detection system to help improve traffic flows “We’re also taking the opportunity to fully rebuild the footways along the B1518 between Jubilee Grove and The Drove which will include laying new tactile paving and putting in new guardrails we’ll be doing some work at Galley Hill Bridge including resurfacing parts of the footbridge and replacing all of the guardrails on the main bridge black guardrails which will look far nicer that what’s currently there “We'll be doing everything we can during the works to keep disruption to a minimum including maintaining access for residents and emergency vehicles during our working hours.” Some early works will be carried out in the coming weeks ahead of the main project starting including vegetation strimming along Galley Hill bridge These works will be carried out under temporary traffic signals after 9am along with some works near Lidl to be carried in the day and night Monday 22 July for up to eight weeks (subject to weather and other unexpected occurrences) New traffic signals – B1518 Northgate junction with Tesco Road reconstruction – between Jubilee Grove and Church Lane Footways – between Jubilee Grove and The Drove There will be three separate phases of traffic management throughout the main works:   B1518 Lincoln Road (northwest) to Holdingham Roundabout / A17 (east) to exit at Rugby Club junction / B1517 East Road (south) / Carre Street (south) / Boston Road (west) / B1517 South Gate (north) / B1518 Northgate For up-to-date information about this and other roadworks, please visit www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/roadworks.    All content © 2025 Lincolnshire County Council. All Rights Reserved. A Grade II listed former courthouse has been severely damaged by a huge fire Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service were called to Market Place in Sleaford shortly before 5.30pm on Wednesday Flames were seen coming from the roof of the former magistrates' court building which now houses a fitness studio and a restaurant Residents were advised to stay away from the area and to keep doors and windows closed Drone footage recorded by a Lincolnshire Police drone showed the damage to the roof of the building 10 appliances and an aerial ladder were sent to tackle the blaze Two appliances remained at the scene on Thursday morning to damp down Northgate in the town centre remained closed and Eastgate was down to one lane while the clean-up continued The fire service thanked residents for their patience while road closures were in place The cause of the fire is being investigated According to The Sleaford and District Civic Trust the building dates back to 1755 and ceased to be a court in 2008 It was then taken over and turned into a commercial premises The Sessions House was built in 1831 by the local architect H E Kendall in a Gothic Style Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know Will you join us for a community litter pick this Sunday to tidy up Nags Head Passage in Sleaford We're so pleased to have members of Plastic Free Sleaford and the Rotary Club of Sleaford already set to take part We'll be assembling at the Sleaford Station car park in the corner area just through the pedestrian gate Please bring gloves sturdy enough to pick up litter (gardening gloves are great for this) and a litter picker if you have one We'll provide the bags and the offer of a free hot drink afterwards at Cogglesford Watermill The Council's waste team is supporting by picking up the bags of litter collected afterwards There are also some graffiti and weed removal works planned for a slightly later date Sleaford town centre is now protected by expanded and improved CCTV coverage following the completion of a project to upgrade it.  Seven existing CCTV units in the town centre have been upgraded using £58,000 of Safer Streets funding achieved in a joint bid together by the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner Marc Jones and North Kesteven District Council and the footage provided is also of much higher quality after upgrading the technology that the cameras use.  A wider area in the town centre is now covered by CCTV thanks to four additional units installed using UK Shared Prosperity Fund monies These extra CCTV camera units have been installed in key locations based on data assessments by the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner North Kesteven District Council and with the support of partners including Sleaford Town Council which contributes towards ongoing CCTV monitoring.  It creates an upgraded network of 11 CCTV units in total with each one made up of four cameras and all providing much better quality footage than before It makes a total of 44 CCTV cameras available across the town centre for operators to use in the event of an incident or emergency and to help maintain community safety The cameras are monitored 24/7 on behalf of North Kesteven District Council by operatives based at Boston Borough Council and are just one way that partners including NKDC work together to support safe communities in North Kesteven.  North Kesteven District Council Executive Board Member with oversight of  Community Safety Councillor Mrs Sally Tarry said: “Sleaford is a very safe and welcoming place to be and that’s also demonstrated by its low crime rates historically.  “These CCTV enhancements will certainly help in the event of any crime or antisocial behaviour that does occur thanks to the increased coverage and improved quality of footage across all of the cameras It’s also about ensuring our communities can keep thriving day-to-day assured that they are protected in this way in addition to other ongoing efforts and partnership work across the District.” Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Lincolnshire Sara Munton said: ““We are delighted to see the Safer Street funding being used to make a real difference in communities across Lincolnshire “These new cameras will be a significant step forward in keeping the people of Sleaford safe and maintain the town as a low crime environment to live and do business “Working with partners to secure additional national funding is an important part of the work done by the PCC and we will continue to work hard to be successful in those endeavours.” The four new CCTV units are installed at Eastgate Green funded with £17,500 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund The project has been delivered by North Kesteven District Council’s Community Safety Team with the technical support of AESG consultants and supplier Videcom Security For more on UKSPF projects in Sleaford and across North Kesteven, visit www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/ukspf or sign up for newsletters at www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/stayconnected  The Council’s Community Safety Team works across North Kesteven to help ensure issues such as antisocial behaviour and noxious odours don’t impact on the lives of people everyday in our communities while also supporting partners including police on tackling crime and other issues affecting people locally.  are logged on a shared system with police and local partners and appropriate actions are sought Some of these actions are behind the scenes aimed at tackling the cause of such issues while others are more visible such as applying to court for Closure Orders where problems continue to centre around a specific property As part of the Community Safey Partnership the team also works on the root causes of crime alongside the Council’s other teams and countywide partners as well as building awareness of modern slavery It is understood ten appliances and the aerial ladder platform attended, whilst residents in the area were told to keep their windows and doors closed due to the smoke. Ozkan Nacar, known as Ozzy, is the owner of Anatolia, the restaurant and bar located in Sessions House. He said: "We don’t know how it happened We were just inside the restaurant doing some work and some people came rushing inside the restaurant "They told us that there was smoke coming from the roof We came rushing out and had a look and then we went back inside and got everyone out of the restaurant." He explained that there were no customers in the restaurant at the time and everyone was able to get out safely who launched the business 11 months ago in March 20204 continued: "We got everyone out and the fire brigade got here and then at that point we stayed away from the incident We are like everyone else waiting to find out what the cause is what the issues are and what the repairs are "It’s obviously been a devastating incident The public have been really supportive since last night." He added: "We have had other businesses message us wishing us the best of luck with everything that is going on "We just want to say thank you to everyone who had been with us and putting their wishes and hopes and good thoughts into this." The Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service remained at the scene until after 10am on Thursday and the road is understood to have reopened again around 9am A cordon remains in place around the building A man from Sleaford who did not want to be named said: "You can't see much damage from here The Move Forward Fitness studio based in the centre shared an update last night about the blaze. The owner stated: "This is so hard to write right now but I’m devastated to tell you that we’ve lost our beloved studio and everything in it, to a fire …. I can’t answer your messages right now so please accept my apologies, the classes you’ve booked are obviously having to be cancelled and I’ll organise any refunds in due course She was the only one in the studio as classes had not started yet and she got out after noticing smoke coming through the walls Other organisations in the town have been offering their support to the businesses impacted Prestige Nursing and Care Sleaford shared a post on Facebook stating: "It has been a difficult night for our lovely little town the fire at the old courthouse is devastating we send all our love to our neighbouring businesses that have been affected I hope you can rebuild and come back stronger if there is anything we can do our door is always open "To the emergency services, you are all incredible, but a special shout out to my fire family, you are above and beyond, there's nothing quite like you I hope you all get time to rest after such a tough night." The Tablez Cafe Bistro in Sleaford also shared an update It stated: "We would like to take a moment to deeply sympathise with the individuals and their businesses involved in last night's Sessions House fire A heartbreaking loss to the heritage and people's livelihood Our thoughts are with those involved and an extraordinary emergency services" Three people have been arrested after a man was assaulted and held against his will in Sleaford March 2 between 6am and 12pm in the Boston Road area of the town Officers are now appealing to the public for help. An update was shared to Sleaford Police's Facebook page shortly before 2pm on Wednesday It stated: "If you were in or around the Boston Road area of Sleaford between 6am and 12 noon on Sunday (2 March) can you help our investigation into an incident in Sleaford where a man in his 30s is reported to have been assaulted and held against his will "Did you witness any people coming or going in that area either on foot or in a vehicle who may have stood out or caught your attention for any reason Did you hear or see an altercation between several people?" The post continued: "Have you heard anything coming from any property which might have seemed unusual Do you have mobile phone or other footage of that area around the time of the incident "Any information no matter how small could assist our enquiries and we would rather hear about something you think might not be important than miss a key detail that helps us form a bigger picture." The force confirmed that three people have been arrested in connection with this incident A 30-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of actual bodily harm (ABH) and remains in police custody where he will be questioned by officers A 54-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of ABH and being concerned in the supply of class A drugs He has been released on police bail while investigations continue A 17-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of false imprisonment Anyone with information should call 101 and ask for the duty Det Sgt at Grantham Alternatively you can email NSKCID@lincs.police.uk or call Crimestoppers anonymously on calling 0800 555 111 A new mosaic dedicated to the River Slea will flow through Sleaford’s Monument Gardens following a refresh of the space starting soon – and your help is needed now on another important aspect of the works.The Monument Gardens project is expected to start in early September and take around seven weeks to complete or go to Sleaford Museum and choose via the board on display there.  The re-painting of the Wyvern Barrier will be done as a final touch to compliment the completed public realm improvements at Monument Gardens The project to renew Monument Gardens is being carried out by North Kesteven District Council The plans have been shaped and agreed together with stakeholders including Sleaford Town Council as the landowner and Sleaford Museum which is directly next to the gardens. A survey last year also asked residents how they would like the garden to be used in future and what they thought to its public realm facilities as they are now “Monument Gardens is one of the first things people see as they come into Sleaford town centre from Southgate Sleaford Museum and the shops and businesses there It’s a great place to find some calm while shopping but it is under-utilised and the project looks to change this by making it more welcoming and enjoyable “The repaint of the Wyvern Barrier will be a finishing touch after the improvements at Monument Gardens are completed to ensure all of the area is refreshed and looking great for the town I’d encourage everyone to take the survey or pop into Sleaford Museum to choose their preferred paint colour option for it.” The new mosaic within the gardens will be installed towards the end of the seven-week construction phase and more will be shared on this as it progresses Local artist Vikki Buss has been commissioned to design and create the mosaic. Vikki is already well-known locally being the artist and owner behind PIX Glass Design and its shop in Navigation Yard in Sleaford It offers beautiful stained glass gifts to buy and classes so that people can learn how to make their own stained glass creations “I’ve taken lots of reference photos of the Slea in preparation walking up and down it and noting details like the plants growing along it the fish that are in the water and even how the ducks are behaving and thinking about how I can translate all of that life and movement into the mosaic from a bird’s eye view. “The sound of water and watching it flow is naturally very inspiring and the mosaic will use glass within it to create that impression of water and movement I’ve also been tumbling my own glass – I call it ‘Slea’ glass – which will help change the aesthetic of the mosaic when it rains.“There will be individual panels which together will make up the mosaic and I’m using a special technique to make it safe level and hard-wearing on the floor as well as beautiful to look at I have now started on the first of the panels at my workshop and when they are all ready they will be transported to site and installed later in the project.“One of the things I really like about Sleaford is the amount of stunning mosaic art it has including a trail that you can follow to see all of it I’m so honoured to be creating this mosaic and adding a new piece to the artworks across town which make Sleaford such a creative and enjoyable place to be.” Access to the museum will be maintained during the Monument Garden works and no disruption is expected to the surrounding businesses To maintain everyone’s safety and ensure the works can be completed efficiently and to a high quality the gardens and the public footpath next to them and the WC next to Sleaford Museum will be closed however for the seven-week duration The pedestrian crossing nearby will remain in use Also taking place at Southgate is a refresh of the space around Handley Monument. For more on UKSPF projects in Sleaford and across North Kesteven, visit www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/ukspf FAQ What’s happening to the current flowerbeds?The current garden beds use lots of room and block sight of the museum hexagonal beds will be spread more evenly across the space to create a more open and welcoming area and there’ll be a diverse range of new plants The overgrowth that’s being removed will be composted wherever possible.  We’re working closely with Sleaford in Bloom who currently maintain the planting scheme on behalf of Sleaford Town Council and have already removed the plants they wish to retain for use elsewhere. What will happen to the current benches at Monument Gardens? These will be removed which will decide on the most appropriate use for them going forward. Why can’t you use the pavers from Market Place as part of this project?The materials being used for the new flowerbeds have been chosen to blend in with the existing paving at Monument Gardens that’s getting cleaned as part of the project.  Some traffic restrictions remain in place in Sleaford following a large fire last night. Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue crews were called to a blaze at the Market Place at 5.23pm on Wednesday Ten appliances and the aerial ladder platform attended the three-storey building and it is understood three crews and the platform remained at the scene overnight Residents in the area were told to keep their windows and doors closed due to the amount of smoke The fire has now been put out but there are some traffic restrictions in the area whilst the emergency services continue work at the scene The B1518 Northgate remains closed in both directions and one lane is closed on the B1517 Eastgate The most recent update by Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue states: "Update this morning- we have 2 appliances still on scene with our ALP Crews from Skegness and Stamford have taken over as relief crews and are now dampening down hot spots Northgate remains closed and Eastgate is down to one lane (Westgate is open)." Sleafordian Coaches posted an update to its Facebook page this morning warning customers of the closures It stated: "Please be aware that all Sleaford School routes are running as scheduled this morning however due to a road closure on Lincoln Road Tennyson Avenue and Sleaford Market Place bus stop remaining closed for fire engines access we will be unable to serve bus stops at these locations "If your child currently gets off the bus on Lincoln Road or Market Place they will be dropped off at an alternative location in Sleaford Ashfield Road - this bus stop is used for many of our routes already We have liaised with the three local secondary schools." The Sleaford Medical Group has also warned patients to allow extra time to get to appointments this morning It stated shortly after 8am: "Morning everyone - just a heads up that you might need to allow more time if you have a face to face appointment with us today as the road between Tesco and the market place is still closed." Lincolnshire Co-op’s Lincoln Road Food Store and Post Office in Sleaford has reopened with a fresh new look and an expanded range of services As well as undergoing a significant cosmetic makeover the shop’s hot food-to-go options have expanded and the store’s sustainability has been improved Customers can also continue to access pre-existing services shoppers can find products from Hawkens Grantham Gingerbread and Stokes Coffee Representatives from Kumar’s Curry Club will be at the store a week on from the store’s reopening on Thursday 13th February between 1pm and 6pm They will be providing free samples of their products and promoting a limited edition offer; a meal for two for just £19.75 Manager Lincoln Road Food Store in Sleaford said: “We’re delighted to reopen our doors to the Sleaford community with a fresher and more modernised look to the store “Our customers are beyond pleased with the transformation of both the shop and post office and to also have a wider selection of services on their doorstep.” Additional sustainable solutions have been incorporated including CO2 refrigeration and insulated door curtains in refrigeration rooms LED lighting and sustainable signage continues to be in place This refit is part of the society’s cyclical refresh plan which will see work take place at around 40 Lincolnshire Co-op trading outlets each year requiring an estimated investment of £5 million annually Chief Operating Officer for Lincolnshire Co-op said: “We are gathering lots of feedback across the business This is helping us to create an investment plan for each of our outlets so that we can continue to provide valued services for our local communities “We’re planning to grow our food business significantly with an anticipated 30 new sites set to open in the next 3 years If our ambition is to be truly customer-led it’s important that customers have a consistently positive experience in all outlets when visiting us; this plan will help us deliver that.” Grocery Trader is the bi-monthly magazine for the UK multiple grocery industry It is distributed in both printed and digital formats to named senior buyers and trading directors within the UK supermarkets Co-ops and convenience store chains and other key grocery organisations © Grandflame Ltd - All Rights Reserved Terms & Conditions Sleaford Mods are set to headline Bristol’s Friendly Festival 2025 – and it's the only chance UK fans will get to see the post-punk duo live this year The one-day music extravaganza, in aid of War Child, will take place on Saturday, May 10, hosted by award-winning Lost and Grounded Brewers at their Whitby Road brewery in Bristol Organised in collaboration with Friendly Records with more special guests yet to be announced Friendly Records co-owners Tom Friend and Scott Hendy said: “We are so pleased to be able to join forces with our friends Lost and Grounded to put on what will be a brilliant day of music and more with the aim to raise as much money as we can for the brilliant charity War Child they need our help more than ever with their important work with Sleaford Mods closing the day with what will be their only UK live show this year!” the festival will feature sets from guest DJs Full details of traders and additional acts will be announced in the coming weeks Tickets are priced at £55 plus a booking fee with all net profits being donated to War Child which supports children affected by conflict by helping to protect More details and ticket information can be found at Lost and Grounded Brewers and Friendly Records. Reading"David Shrigley reveals sleeve..." More fromWork Contact Advertising Opportunities Newsletters Insights + Opinion Creatives + Projects Advice + Resources Culture + Lifestyle Nicer Tuesdays The View From... POV Forward Thinking Review of the Year Jenny Brewer Olivia Hingley Ellis Tree Elizabeth Goodspeed Liz Gorny Extra Search the artwork explores identity and the “many different versions of ourselves” Artist David Shrigley has created the cover artwork for a collaborative release from Hot Chip and Sleaford Mods – or the Hot Mods Created for the tracks Nom Nom Nom and Cat Burglar the artwork depicts a character in profile with many iterations of the same character crammed and fighting for space within their head Shrigley tells It’s Nice That: “I was maybe thinking about identity: That identity is a complicated thing and that perhaps we all have many different versions of ourselves and each can be quite different That seemed somehow relevant to this project: Two different identities coming together to produce something unexpected and great.” He adds in typical dry-humoured Shrigley fashion: “Or maybe I just thought it was an interesting picture to put on a record cover.” What he loves about Sleaford Mods is how “they manage to be both angry and funny at the same time I’m from the same part of the world as them so perhaps that’s why I feel that somehow I understand where they are coming from.” The artist who has a long history of making his own music says Hot Chip “remind me I love melodic pop” and Sleaford Mods “satisfy my need for hard beats” Shrigley adds: “I think it’s a really interesting collaboration and it works really well.” The Hot Mods release is part of Abbey Road’s ongoing Lock-In series in which bands and musicians collaborate on a new project at the famous studio Sleaford Mods describe the track Cat Burglar as “a weird prog rock meets B52’s jams that discusses the narrow corridors of modern human experience” as having “lots of improvisation and very little ego” Friendly Records is pressing 1000 copies of the 7’ vinyl release of Hot Mod’s Nom Nom Nom and Cat Burglar, with all profits going to War Child, as part of the ongoing Friendly Records x War Child initiative. You can buy and stream the release here Hot Mods (Copyright © Abbey Road / Friendly Records David Shrigley: sleeve artwork for Nom Nom Nom/Cat Burglar by Hot Mods (Copyright © David Shrigley / Friendly Records / Abbey Road Further Infowww.davidshrigley.com Jenny Brewer Jenny is the online editor of It’s Nice That She was previously It’s Nice That’s news editor Get in touch with any big creative stories Fancy a bit of It's Nice That in your inbox Sign up to our newsletters and we'll keep you in the loop with everything good going on in the creative world Instagram TikTok LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Pinterest About Careers at It’s Nice That Privacy Policy Insights Residence Creative Lives in Progress If You Could Jobs © It’s Nice That 2024 · Nice Face Logo © It’s Nice That sweat and solidarity of musical subculture Claire’s approach to graphic design questions (and subverts) traditional graphic design methodologies London-based creative embraces an enchanting interplay between medium and message Out of the Void curates the entire back catalogue of the record label’s releases The limited edition book is a time capsule of a fascinating era for independent artists the studio developed a raw and adaptable design system The designer’s retro-style portfolio celebrates a tactile visual engagement with the world of sound The Lisbon-based creative’s two passions – graphic design and electronic music – collide in a fusion of form and fantasy As part of a comprehensive reimagining of the platform Buck strategically repositions the brand as the go-to for event-going The renowned charity record sleeve auction is back with an extraordinary lineup of world-renowned artists including artworks for vinyl by: Antony Gormley With nods to street culture and albums inspired by Dragon Ball Z the French art director seeks to visualise the unique soundscapes of the artists she works with The New-York-based designer found his feet in design after downloading Photoshop to make visuals for his record label Marking the electronic music festival’s 15th anniversary the rebrand turns Field Day’s identity into one that represents its genre and community Devin and his brother go for a walk (an eight-mile hike through the mountains actually) to see what they can make using only nature and their imaginations SuprOrdinary is presented by It’s Nice That in association with BUCK this creative set herself on commemorating the commonplace in clay curiosity and an open heart steer Margherita Sabbioneda and Barbara Nassisi’s creative practice the furry competitors in the world’s largest dog show appear all the more adorable and comical Our obsessions might temporarily tilt us off balance between work and life but they can take us to unexpected places creatively So how do we know if we should follow them Co-founder of The White Pube Zarina Muhammad took to the Nicer Tuesdays stage to outline the narrative behind the duo’s debut book Poor Artists – a story about making art under capitalism The writer and art critic gave us an insight into the early days of the The White Pube and how this led to the making of a Penguin-published book the filmmaker and director talked us through the process behind his video for Jme’s track TMNT which saw a miniature version of the grime artist take over a tiny model train village replica of London Walking us though some of the city’s iconic grime history at table top scale with a lot of train puns along the way Will delved into all the tiny details that built the ingenious short Born in Thailand and raised between New Zealand and Portland Laney’s lively artwork is laced with humour and an adventurous approach The Brazilian illustrator and animator’s recent exploration of grumpiness in women has left her revelling in creating characters that are “visibly pissed off” The monthly series welcomes animators and filmmakers with wildly different processes and practices aiming to bring fun and fresh perspectives to the travel sector With images from the photographer’s archive of web-surfed screenshots the pair’s new artist book takes us on a bizarre tour of secondhand delights Will Corry and Josh Cooper wanted to make a film all about love The result is a slice of life in South London on Valentine’s Day with all the quirks of British temperament on full display www.davidshrigley.com The Hot Mods release is part of Abbey Road’s ongoing Lock-In series Friendly Records is pressing 1000 copies of the 7’ vinyl release of Hot Mod’s Nom Nom Nom and Cat Burglar, with all profits going to War Child, as part of the ongoing Friendly Records x War Child initiative. You can buy and stream the release here Taiwanese artist is painting her surreal memories and soft dining table scenes to “stay attuned to the little details that shape the world” Blending biological and botanical influences the illustrator has developed an intricate new style making ethereal drawings that sit miles apart from his previous marks With a colourful career as a poet-turned-artist Glen Baxter’s offbeat work has continued to enamour and amuse Sticking to the medium she made art with as a teenager the LA-based artist is cutting up magazines and found ephemera to explore “the richness of diasporic Black expression” About Contact Advertising Opportunities Newsletters Insights + Opinion Creatives + Projects Advice + Resources Culture + Lifestyle Nicer Tuesdays The View From... POV Forward Thinking Review of the Year Jenny Brewer Olivia Hingley Ellis Tree Elizabeth Goodspeed Liz Gorny Instagram TikTok LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Pinterest Careers at It’s Nice That Privacy Policy Insights Residence Creative Lives in Progress If You Could Jobs Lincolnshire Co-op’s Lincoln Road Food Store and Post Office in Sleaford has reopened with a fresh new look and an expanded range of services following a major redevelopment the store now offers expanded hot food-to-go options Customers can still access familiar services shoppers can enjoy products from local suppliers such as Hawkens Grantham Gingerbread and Stokes Coffee Representatives from Kumar’s Curry Club will visit the store on Thursday offering free samples and promoting a limited-edition meal deal for two said: “We’re delighted to reopen our doors to the Sleaford community with a fresher and to have a wider selection of services on their doorstep.” The refurbishment includes additional sustainable features such as CO2 refrigeration and insulated door curtains in refrigerated areas and sustainable signage remain in place to further reduce the store’s environmental footprint This refit is part of Lincolnshire Co-op’s cyclical refresh plan which involves annual investments of around £5 million to upgrade approximately 40 trading outlets each year This helps us create investment plans for each outlet to continue providing valued services for our local communities with 30 new sites set to open in the next three years it’s essential that customers have a consistently positive experience at all our outlets This plan will help us deliver on that ambition.” Final arrangements are being made ahead of works to make Sleaford Market Place a useful space to hold markets details on the work schedule are being shared with stakeholders and nearby businesses Advance signage will also be installed to forewarn of the closure of the Market Place as a car park from July 19 followed by further signs to say that the businesses around the Market Place are open as usual to give information on alternative car parks and direct people to the temporary location of the market and Farmer’s Market at Eastgate Car Park Some final onsite checks will then take place before the groundworks begin at the end of July running through to an expected completion in mid-December The project will see the Market Place repaved with sandstone setts to lighten up the space and better reflect the surrounding buildings and features Two raised planters will provide greenery and shade along with three hardwood benches within the design of the planters and a further seven hardwood benches around its perimeter.  The war memorial will benefit from up-lighting and the bollards which protect it will be retained while resin-bound gravel will highlight the area around it with the parking attendants who used it relocating to the North Kesteven District Council offices New lighting under the trees and an information board will also be installed Time-limited Blue Badge Holder parking will be available on the Market Place three days a week when it reopens in addition to arranged access for church events and services in agreement with the church wardens Market traders will also benefit from an enhanced environment that being free of moving vehicles on market days will give customers more confidence in moving around it safely It also allows more space for additional potential stallholders along with better visibility for those existing traders Operation of the market continues to sit with Sleaford Town Council who will be able to provide and promote a market that meets the aspirations of residents North Kesteven District Council Chief Executive Ian Fytche said:  "We’re committed to ensuring that the scheme supports the continued success of the town centre; by enhancing the Market Place as a space where people can freely move through its historic setting and shop without the current conflict between pedestrians and lots of moving cars where the markets can trade more visibly as a key feature of Sleaford and where community events can take place more readily and in enhanced surroundings we are sharing more information on its phasing with individual stakeholders including the ways we’re working together with our contractor to keep disruption to a minimum This includes maintaining pedestrian access to shops and businesses as much as possible throughout the works and ensuring access is maintained to St Denys’ Church." Civil engineering and construction company Smith Construction is appointed as the contractor to carry out the works It’s a local business founded in 1979 as a family building firm and headquartered in Heckington and prides itself on its high standard of work Much of its staff are also local to the area.  Hoarding will be put up facing Eastgate and around the main rectangle of Market Place with pedestrian access to the surrounding shops businesses and St Denys’ Church kept via the footpaths which will be left accessible It’s hoped there could be an event for young people whereby the hoarding is decorated.  The exception to this is limited periods where work needs to take place directly outside a premises These works are planned where possible around their opening times and they also won’t take long to complete for the most part limiting access for only a day or so during those closed hours To limit noise or other impact during the Remembrance weekend no works will take place during any events on 10 and 11 November.  The al fresco seating next to Sessions House will need to be packed away while repaving takes place there from early August until mid-September It’s hoped the hoarding there can then be removed while the bulk of the works continue in the main rectangle of the Market Place The temporary relocation of the market to Eastgate Car Park is for the duration of the works only While the Market Place is owned by the District Council the market itself is operated by the Town Council under a licence agreement which is subject to ongoing renewal discussions. Mr Fytche added:  "The temporary relocation of the market is a necessary step during the works and ultimately we hope that everyone will continue to show their support by visiting it in its temporary location there Mindful of the historic integrity of the market to Sleaford we continue working with the Town Council to ensure its ongoing success and hoped-for growth where we anticipate it being more visible and vibrant in the refreshed Market Place." The project is being delivered using the UK Shared Prosperity Fund Join in with free activities in the town centre across two separate events By NOTICEBOARD · 13 February 2025 A heart-themed installation in Sleaford’s Market Place will invite everyone to shout about someone or something they love and to join in with free activities in the town centre across two separate events People will be able to take selfie-style photos at a love heart seat (pictured above and below) on Market Place The heart seat will be available for photos through the day and in the evenings As part of the installation, heart-shaped tags will be available from nearby businesses People can collect a tag from one of these locations and write a message to someone they love or shout about something they feel makes Sleaford and North Kesteven a great place to be Businesses nearby which would like to host heart tags for people to collect, can email ecodev@n-kesteven.gov.uk The businesses hosting tags so far include Market Square Café & Restaurant Bellissimo Boutique and The SOLO Bar in Sleaford’s Market Place From Poland With Love opposite the Market Place and Ruth Burrows Art Shop & Studio in Navigation Yard Follow @northkestevendc and @businessnk on social media to see further businesses participating All of Sleaford is sending love to Sessions at the Courthouse with Move Forward Fitness which was due to host the heart tags there also and to Anatolia at this difficult time following last week’s devastating fire On Saturday, February 15, a Valentine’s themed day of free fun activities around the heart seat will follow at Market Place The following Saturday, February 22, there’ll be a healthy heart event from 10am to 2pm on Market Place and inside St Denys’ Church Hall including: said: “It’s good to see the heart seat installation return to Sleaford after it was first shown at the Riverside Precinct in 2023 and I look forward to seeing everyone enjoy it in the historic setting of the Market Place “This time we’re excited to be delivering two days of free community activity around it “The Valentine’s Day themed celebration on February 15 - including live performers photo portraits and more - and the day of healthy heart and fitness on February 22 both promise to be enjoyable and provide even more reason to visit the town centre and make a day of it which in turn supports the surrounding businesses “Don’t miss your chance to pick up a heart tag from the participating businesses and dedicate a message on the heart seat to someone dear to you or aspect that you love about Sleaford and North Kesteven.” LoadingDaily Email Updates {{contentTitle}} With three of Sleaford’s central car parks currently closed or set to be withdrawn shortly residents and visitors are advised that there are still hundreds of low-cost and free off-street parking spaces available nearby A privately-owned and operated temporary car park on Southgate has now closed by order of a planning inspector that it should no longer be used for parking; an unscheduled temporary suspension of parking at Westgate is ongoing pending repairs or demolition to an unstable privately-owned building; and parking will end at the Market Place from July 19 there will be localised short-term work at Church Lane and Money’s Yard to increase the number of disabled parking bays there Together with the new specified provision being included in the Market Place scheme this will create up to ten more dedicated blue-badge spaces centrally in NKDC-operated car parks.   Across the seven other council-operated car parks there remain almost 500 places available; 33 of them currently designated as disabled bays At weekends this increases to 650 when the Lafford Terrace spaces become available – for free Additionally a further 550 spaces are provided privately at Jermyn Street and at the two supermarkets for their customers.  The privately-owned Southgate site was permitted as a temporary car park from 2009 after an economic downturn stalled the developer’s approved scheme for shops The position was reviewed periodically and in 2017 the owner was advised that due to changes in policy and strategic expectations it was likely that this would not be renewed Consent for continued use was refused in 2019 which ended with a planning inspector saying car parking had to cease by June 8 There is though no requirement to prevent pedestrian access or to block the footbridge Those actions are at the owners’ discretion Additionally the Council has never insisted that there must be public liability insurance in place which is a matter for the landowner.  Car parking charges in Sleaford remain low at 70p for an hour in most council-run car parks – or free for the first hour at the town council’s Eastgate Car Park – and as little as 50p for two hours £1 for four and £2 for longer at Grantham Road Sunday and Bank Holiday parking is free in all car parks.  North Kesteven District Council’s Assistant Director of Environment & Public Protection said: “We recognise and acknowledge the inconvenience that having these three central carparks simultaneously withdrawn causes to residents But with hundreds of additional spaces located throughout the town Sleaford remains well-served with both regular and dedicated blue-badge provision.  “The unscheduled closure of Westgate cannot be helped but we are all working hard to resolve Southgate was never designated for parking but permitted temporary use that a planning inspector agrees is no longer appropriate.  shared aspirations to reconfigure the space as a more successful public square where pedestrians and market customers are no longer in conflict with moving vehicles and where markets and events The cumulative effect is a loss of 117 spaces 16% of the 715 off-street public parking spaces that have been available on weekdays to date the impact of the two closures will be a 12% reduction in availability.   Information relating to the locations and tariffs of the council car parks in Sleaford can be found at: www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/carparks