By: James Turner, Local Democracy Reporter
Business owners and residents around Lincoln’s Carlton Centre are breathing a sigh of relief after a planned far-right protest on Wednesday failed to materialise.
Shops around the centre that could afford it boarded up their windows and doors on Wednesday evening in anticipation of a planned anti-immigration protest that had circulated on social media.
A post seen on X, formerly known as Twitter, listed several locations allegedly targeted, including an Immigration Lawyer Services purportedly located on Carlton Mews. However, Lincolnshire Police later confirmed that no such business was located at that address.
Fortunately, no protesters arrived, and only three arrests were made at the scene: two 16-year-old boys and an 18-year-old man for minor disturbances.
Little Lincoln, a children’s role-play café in the Carlton Centre run by Catherine Priestly and Chloe Walker, was one of the businesses unable to afford boarding up their windows.
They noted that neighbouring businesses had been quoted hundreds of pounds for the service.
“We feel very relieved. The fact that no damage did occur is a big sigh of relief,” said Chloe.
Although she agreed she was relieved, Katherine was frustrated that the rumoured protest forced businesses in the Carlton Centre to close early, resulting in lost trade.
“Small businesses have still lost out,” she said. “People have really struggled because of it either way.”
The unrest began in Southport on 30 July following a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed event that left three girls dead. Over the weekend, riots erupted in cities across the county, with some individuals hurling bricks at police, setting fires, and throwing bottles.
Ms Priestly hoped this might mark the end of the troubles in Lincoln, as she disagreed with the motivations behind the riots.
“I don’t see how it’s helping the families that have lost their little ones. As a mum, I wouldn’t want this,” she added.
Selena Bastow and Karen Sawyer from the local Shoezone branch highlighted that the store had considered closing early but ultimately decided against it. “There were lots of police around to protect us,” explained Karen.
Although the protest never materialised, she remains concerned that it could still happen another night.
Selena agreed she was relieved that nothing happened but stressed that if it had, they would have quickly “locked up and gone.”
Jules and Damien O'Reilly (Photo: James Turner via LDRS)
Shoppers Jules and Damien O’Reilly shared the relief that nothing happened, but placed blame on social media for spreading the rumours of the protest.
Jules insisted that the situation had been “exaggerated,” while Damien added: “I think social media has to answer for a lot of problems, this included.”
Local resident Diana, 58, highlighted that staff at the care home where she works were offered lifts home, even if they weren’t from the area, to avoid any potential issues.
She said: “It was a bit shocking to think that something like that might come to this area.” Even so, Diana was still “very surprised” to see that nothing had happened in the end.
(Local Democracy Reporting Service)
SPAR Barrowford reopensJames Hall & Co