News :cleethorpes

Europe’s biggest defence contractor reports record earnings of £3.32bn for 2025, up 12%

Stripe OLT has offices in Bristol, Manchester and London, and will become part of Littlefish Group

British Steel has created 23 jobs as part of the contract and also resumed round the clock manufacturing

Progress on the scheme has slowed since a decision by owner Anglo American to cut investment in 2024

Administrators confirm the Goole-based emergency vehicle manufacturer has shut down after more than 30 years

The North Yorkshire coffee company has shipped beans to the Outer Hebrides as part of growth which has seen its reach quietly expand

Homes, businesses and farmland across the Isle of Axholme will continue to be protected from flooding after North Lincolnshire Council agreed £1.1m of funding for the Internal Drainage Board.

The investment ensures vital drainage infrastructure continues to operate, reducing flood risk, protecting livelihoods and keeping one of the most productive areas of the country safe and viable.

Cllr Tim Mitchell, cabinet member for sustainability and transformation, said: “This is a significant investment, but a necessary one. The Isle of Axholme depends on effective drainage – without it, homes, businesses and farmland are at risk.

“We are making a clear choice to protect communities, support local economies and honour a responsibility that goes back centuries. This funding ensures the system continues to work, not just today, but for the future.”

The commitment to water management stretches back exactly 400 years this year, to the original drainage of the Isle of Axholme by Dutch engineer Cornelius Vermuyden.

North Lincolnshire Council’s decision reinforces that long-standing duty: maintaining the pumps, channels and systems that make daily life and economic activity on the Isle possible.

Cllr David Rose, cabinet member for environment and strategy, added: “The Isle of Axholme exists because of drainage, and it thrives because that system is maintained. This decision is about protecting people and places – plain and simple.

“Flood risk is not abstract here. It’s real, and it’s constant. This funding helps ensure the infrastructure is there to manage it properly.”

The funding was agreed at a board meeting of the Isle of Axholme and North Nottinghamshire Water Level Management Board on Monday, 26 January. It is responsible for managing water levels across the area – a role that remains as critical today as it was four centuries ago.

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A new episode of the News Direct podcast – Inspiring People – sharing real stories from across North Lincolnshire, shines a spotlight on Rachel Stephenson, Headteacher of Holme Valley Primary.

In the episode, Rachel reflects on growing up locally, her own school journey, and the moment she was told she might not achieve the grades needed to become a teacher.

Rather than being deterred, she describes how determination and resilience shaped her path – from classroom teacher to school leader – and how those same values now underpin her approach to education.

Podcast host Cllr Rob Waltham said: “Rachel’s story is a powerful reminder that great leadership is often forged through challenge. This isn’t just a conversation about education – it’s about resilience, belief, and what happens when someone is given the space to prove themselves and make a difference for hundreds of children and families.”

Rachel talks candidly about the realities of modern teaching, the growing complexity of pupils’ needs, and why strong relationships with children, families and staff sit at the heart of a successful school. She also shares what it was like stepping into headship unexpectedly, the responsibilities that come with leading a large primary school, and the importance of building a strong, values-led team.

The episode forms part of News Direct’s ongoing series highlighting people who grew up locally, care deeply about the place, and continue to make a positive impact in their communities.

The full episode is available now on YouTube and podcast platform Spotify.

The post From being told “you’re not good enough” to leading an outstanding school appeared first on North Lincolnshire Council.

A busy junction used every day by families, cyclists and commuters is getting a safety upgrade this spring. 

The new crossing will be built at Brumby Wood Lane and Rowland Road roundabout, making it safer and easier to cross on foot or by bike. 

Cllr Rob Waltham, leader, North Lincolnshire Council, said: “This is about making everyday journeys safer and simpler for people. 

“Where we see busy junctions being used by families, cyclists and pedestrians, we act. Improving crossings like this reduces risk, improves confidence and helps people move around their communities safely. It’s a practical investment that delivers real benefits.” 

Work is expected to start in mid-March and will take around three weeks. The money used for crossings like this is specifically set aside for road safety and cannot be spent on potholes or general road repairs that teams are working on every week across North Lincolnshire. 

Cllr Neil Poole, deputy leader and cabinet member for highways, North Lincolnshire Council, said: “We know roadworks can be frustrating. That’s why this job is short, focused and planned to keep disruption down. 

“The result is a safer crossing at a junction where people use it every day.” 

To carry out the work safely, the road will be closed at the crossing while construction is underway, access to nearby businesses will be maintained, and pedestrians will still be able to get through. Diversions will be in place and clearly signposted. 

The post Safer crossing to protect families and cyclists at Brumby Wood Lane appeared first on North Lincolnshire Council.

One of the world’s most influential contemporary artists has arrived in Scunthorpe.

Jenny Holzer – renowned for her bold, provocative work across the globe – is the focus of a major, free exhibition at 20-21 – North Lincolnshire’s premier arts gallery.

Presented as part of ARTIST ROOMS, in partnership with Tate and National Galleries of Scotland, the exhibition brings internationally significant contemporary art to North Lincolnshire.

Cllr John Davison, cabinet member for safer, stronger communities (urban) at North Lincolnshire Council, said: “You don’t have to travel to London or Edinburgh to see world-class art.

“This exhibition brings internationally renowned work right to the heart of Scunthorpe, free for everyone to enjoy – and that says a lot about our ambition for North Lincolnshire.”

Holzer is best known for using words as her medium. Her short, striking statements explore power, politics, equality and truth – challenging how language influences what we believe and how we behave. Her work has appeared everywhere from city streets and billboards to some of the world’s leading galleries.

The exhibition brings together works spanning more than five decades of her career. Highlights include Truisms – the short, often contradictory statements that first appeared as posters and stickers across New York – presented through illuminated LED works.

Ceri Lewis, Senior Curator for ARTIST ROOMS, said: “Jenny Holzer challenges our expectations about art: what it is, where we see it, for whom it is made, and what it can do in the world. She chose language as her medium for its power to reach people, wanting to make art ‘that’s understandable, that has some relevance and importance to almost anyone inclined to look’.

“For five decades her provocations around power, equality, politics and social justice have sparked debate.  We hope that her art and her activism will resonate with a new generation though this collaboration with 20-21 Visuals Arts Centre, which brings our national collection to new audiences in the communities of North Lincolnshire.”

At the heart of the exhibition is Blue Purple Tilt, a dramatic, large-scale LED installation programmed with hundreds of Holzer’s texts, flooding the gallery with colour, movement and message.

The exhibition is free to visit, removing barriers to access and giving local audiences the rare chance to experience world-class contemporary art on their doorstep – while also attracting visitors to Scunthorpe from across the UK.

Cllr Davison added: “This is about ambition, access and pride in place – bringing world-class art to North Lincolnshire and making it free for everyone.”

Visitor information

Exhibition: ARTIST ROOMS: Jenny Holzer
Venue: 20-21 Visual Arts Centre, Scunthorpe
Dates: 31 January – 13 June 2026
Opening hours: 10am–4pm, Tuesday to Saturday
Admission: Free

Image Information

Jenny Holzer BLUE PURPLE TILE 2007
ARTIST ROOMS Tate and National Galleries of Scotland
Photo © Tate / Artwork © 2026 Jenny Holzer, member/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

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