Sharon Edwards

Passengers on a crowded East Midlands Railway service from Nottingham to Skegness faced temperatures of about 30C, failed air conditioning and extensive standing-room-only conditions during the school holidays. Travellers described the journey as unsafe and unacceptable, and one passenger became sick from the heat. Skegness councillor Paul Collins has petitioned for improvements, while East Midlands Railway apologized and said repeated heatwaves had created difficult operating conditions, promising to make better use of its available trains.

Residents and businesses in Skegness are being surveyed on whether they are willing to pay higher council tax to keep street lights on overnight. Lincolnshire County Council has operated a part‑night lighting scheme since 2016, but local councillor Danny Brooks is pushing to restore full-night lighting due to safety and accessibility concerns. The proposed £90,000 cost for converting the lights would be spread over several years, adding a small weekly amount to tax bills. Feedback collected until 28 July will guide the town council’s decision on whether to pursue the change.

Nearly 29,000 new dental appointments will be created across Lincoln, Boston, and Skegness as part of a £3m NHS Lincolnshire initiative to address unmet dental care needs. Amanda Sullivan of the Integrated Care Board said the investment aims to boost both new and existing services, though details on practice locations are not finalized. The move responds to long-term declines in NHS dental provision as dentists shift to private care. A public survey has been launched, and the University of Lincoln is campaigning for a regional dental school to further improve access.