Latest news with #Mablethorpe
BBC News
4 days ago
- Science
- BBC News
Marine expert explains jellyfish 'influx' on Lincolnshire coast
A marine expert has explained why masses of jellyfish are washing up on Lincolnshire on Sea Beachcare, a litter-picking project, said there had been numerous sightings of blue, moon and compass jellyfish from Mablethorpe to Skegness in recent Bulgakova, a data analyst at the Marine Conservation Society, said "warm waters and abundant food" can lead to a population increase, with onshore winds washing them group has asked for jellyfish sightings to be reported to them to help with its research. Lianne Havell, who runs Sutton on Sea Beachcare, which is run by Keep Britain Tidy and Anglian Water, said she had seen a "real influx" of jellyfish along the coastline over the past said people had reported sightings in Huttoft, Saltfleet, Mablethorpe and Sutton on Sea."There have been hundreds, literally hundreds," said Ms Havell."It's more unusual to see the blue ones, we don't see them that often. Ms Bulgakova added: "Large jellyfish strandings like this one in Lincolnshire happen most years, though their timing and location vary. "Warm waters and abundant food can lead to jellyfish blooms, and if combined with onshore winds, they can find themselves stranded on the shore."Ms Bulgakova said jellyfish are "key indicators of ocean change" and reporting sightings helps to monitor ocean health and support research about "our changing seas".She also advised people to observe jellyfish from a distance. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
BBC News
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Mablethorpe amusements turn 100 despite storms, war and Covid
Amusement arcades are a staple of the great British seaside but their trade body warns they are under threat as never before. Family-run Jackson's of Mablethorpe tells of the decades of joy, trauma and struggle, as it celebrates 100 years of trading. Jack, the Laughing Sailor, keeps watch from his antique cabinet in the corner; an ever-present reminder to the family to stay cheerful, even when life chucks you a storm."It was the first machine my family bought after losing the lot back in '53," says Gareth Cammack, 41, the current owner of Jackson's Amusements, which overlooks the is referring to the great storm of January 1953, which brought devastation to the east coast of England and claimed more than 300 lives, including 43 in Lincolnshire. "My dad, Peter Cammack, told me how, aged eight, he was wrapped up in a blanket by my grandad Bill Cammack, and then popped on top of a wardrobe," says Gareth. "The family lived on site and my dad remembered being petrified as the water kept on rising."Grandad went off to sweep water out of the arcade. He tried to salvage some of the machines. But it was too late. Everything was lost. The family had to rebuild the business." Bill Cammack was husband to Audrey, the daughter of Billy Jackson who founded the business in 1925. But unlike the merry sailor, Gareth has endured sobering moments."I was only in my mid 20s when I lost both my parents within months of each other," says Gareth. "It was a very tough time."His mother, Valerie, died of cancer in 2009; his father Peter of a broken heart. "Due to my mum's cancer, and wanting to look after her, my dad took his eye off the business. Looking back, I really don't know how we carried on. But I was determined to keep the family business, the tradition, going."The business has survived a world war, the flood of 1953, numerous recessions and Covid. But I think the closest we came to closing was when we lost my mum and dad. I had to grow up fast." Gareth says staying positive and hard graft has been the secret to the firm's longevity."We have a saying in our family that the men expire rather than retire."Gareth tells of the industry's glory days."Amusement arcades really took off after World War Two," says Gareth, showing me photographs of the various generations. "You had some coin operated machines from the late 1800s but the boom period was in those post war years."The industry has struggled in recent times."A lot has changed since founder Billy's day; the business needing to adapt or risk extinction. In 2013, the family bought the resort's land train. In 2021, they added the famous sand train - a favourite among holidaymakers since 1952 - and constructed a toy shop. A Minecraft gaming machine shows the family is up to speed with the latest trends. These days, change machines accept cards."People carry less cash these days," says Gareth. "So we've needed to respond to that." In recent times, energy-guzzling businesses such as arcades have born the brunt of rising Bollom, president of The British Amusement Catering Trades Association, admits the sector is in says: "Many of these businesses are passed down from generation to generation of the same family, and are corner-stones of their communities."And yet these historic attractions are under threat as never before - from higher energy costs, higher labour costs and chronic lack of investment in coastal resorts."But Gareth suggests reduced family budgets may just be helping businesses like his."A lot of people can't afford foreign holidays so they're holidaying at home, like they did as children," he says. Back in the arcade, machines are buzzing, and I ask Gareth if the din ever bothers him."What noise?" he quips. "New starters tell me they go home and can still hear the alarms and music. But after a while you become accustomed to it."Gareth carries out all of the maintenance, further reducing his costs."When you've been doing it as long as I have, you get to know the ins and outs of them all," he Dady, 74, from Coningsby, Lincolnshire, is playing on a penny pusher machine. Next to her are pots containing hundreds of tickets which will be exchanged for a prize. "You can have a good couple of hours of entertainment for a tenner," she says. "I usually get some sweets with the winnings and give them to children."Stefan Careless, 31, from Wolverhampton, is on holiday with his partner Lucy Giacomin, 32, and young daughter."I love these naff little prizes you get in these arcades," he says. "This is what the British seaside is all about." Turning towards The Laughing Sailor, which has become the company's logo, Gareth says: "You've seen it all over the years, haven't you Jack?"Jack's suit was made by Gareth's mum. "It's a little reminder of mum," he says. "She had asked for Cliff Richard's Summer Holiday to be played at her funeral. In this job, you never get to have a summer break."Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
BBC News
12-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
New £8.6m Campus for Future Living opens in Mablethorpe
An £8.6m campus has opened in Mablethorpe for researchers and businesses working in the health site, known as the Campus for Future Living, includes laboratories, lecture halls and accommodation to support the development of medical technology and provide training for carers and William Gray, from East Lindsey District Council (ELDC), said: "It has been several years in the making and its a flagship development. We're hoping it will make a real difference to people living here and the surrounding area."The council also said it hoped the development would create and support jobs. According to ELDC, the campus is part of a vision to bring professionals and the community together to understand local health is strongly linked to the medical school at the University of Lincoln, which opened in 2019 as well as the University of council said the site would provide a permanent base for researchers, education and wellbeing campus will be operated by Acis Group, a charity supporting communities through housing, skills and education, across Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and the Humber, North Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
More money to clear sand from beach walkways
More money is to be spent clearing sand from walkways on Lincolnshire's beaches, a council said. An East Lindsey District council meeting heard its Neighbourhood Service team had been provided with "supplementary capital and revenue funding to purchase specialist sand clearance machinery and recruit two members of staff." Sand often blows off the beach on to walkways after periods of bad weather, in areas such as Sutton on Sea and Mablethorpe. Councillor Martin Foster, portfolio holder for operation services, said: "We are pleased to be in the process of finalising the necessary additional funding to support our teams with sand clearance on our promenades." He added: "We hope this further funding will ultimately allow us to increase our staffing numbers and invest in more specialist machinery. "These solutions need to be right – not overnight – and it is important we go through the correct processes to ensure these steps can help provide effective approaches for many years to come." Catherine Hallsworth owns The Fat Seagull, a cafe near Sandilands beach in Sutton on Sea. She said she wants to see a more permanent solution to the problem, instead of the sand repeatedly being cleared. "I think the people of Sutton on Sea and along this coast would much rather see the money invested in a solution and not year on year throwing money at something that will never be solved. "We are by the beach, we are going to get sand blowing up, and the way the beach has risen so much, it's become a problem. "It's a complete waste of money - solve the problem instead of keeping on kicking the can down the road." In January 2024, it was announced that the sand build up would no longer be cleared by the Environment Agency. The council said it would have to buy new equipment to do the job instead. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Sand build-up issue will be down to council Sand pumped onto beaches to guard against flooding East Lindsey District Council
BBC News
19-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
More money to clear sand from Lincolnshire beach walkways
More money is to be spent clearing sand from walkways on Lincolnshire's beaches, a council said. An East Lindsey District council meeting heard its Neighbourhood Service team had been provided with "supplementary capital and revenue funding to purchase specialist sand clearance machinery and recruit two members of staff." Sand often blows off the beach on to walkways after periods of bad weather, in areas such as Sutton on Sea and Martin Foster, portfolio holder for operation services, said: "We are pleased to be in the process of finalising the necessary additional funding to support our teams with sand clearance on our promenades." He added: "We hope this further funding will ultimately allow us to increase our staffing numbers and invest in more specialist machinery. "These solutions need to be right – not overnight – and it is important we go through the correct processes to ensure these steps can help provide effective approaches for many years to come." Catherine Hallsworth owns The Fat Seagull, a cafe near Sandilands beach in Sutton on Sea. She said she wants to see a more permanent solution to the problem, instead of the sand repeatedly being cleared."I think the people of Sutton on Sea and along this coast would much rather see the money invested in a solution and not year on year throwing money at something that will never be solved. "We are by the beach, we are going to get sand blowing up, and the way the beach has risen so much, it's become a problem. "It's a complete waste of money - solve the problem instead of keeping on kicking the can down the road." In January 2024, it was announced that the sand build up would no longer be cleared by the Environment Agency. The council said it would have to buy new equipment to do the job instead. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
