Battle lines have been drawn in the war to drive shoplifters and troublemakers away from Spalding town centre. In the past six months four people have been given lifetime bans and another a 12-month ban from most of the town’s pubs for violence and drug offences. There are currently ten persistent shoplifters barred indefinitely from town centre shops, with a ...

An intrepid councillor is gearing up for an overnight cross-country motorcycle ride in memory of a friend who died of cancer. South Holland district councillor Jim Astill will don his leathers to take part in the Sunset2Sunrise challenge – which sees riders set off as the sun goes down to travel 256 miles. The event, from Holyhead in North Wales ...

Police say they have been “frustrated” a Spalding shop has been allowed to carry on its criminal activity during an appeal against a ban on selling alcohol. Nasza Biedronka, of Sheep Market, has its alcohol premises licence revoked in January after a series of raids uncovered a large quantity of illegal cigarettes. But the shop immediately appealed the decision and ...

Five million pounds is to be spent tackling the bad smell that continues to hang over Spalding. The cash is earmarked for improvements at Anglian Water’s sewage treatment works over the next three years. It will pay for a replacement for the sludge processing plant with a modern centrifuge system which will better contain the sludge and process it faster ...

A shortage of GPs to cope with Lincolnshire’s growing and ageing population has reached crisis point. It is feared difficulties recruiting doctors to work in Lincolnshire – and many retiring early due to the pressure of growing workloads – mean patients could face longer waits for appointments. They could also see delays in having their illness diagnosed and it is ...

Crafty staff at Spalding Library have scooped a national competition for their artistic display of this year’s Man Booker Prize shortlisted titles. The Reading Agency supports the annual competition – providing free materials on which librarians can let loose their creative flair. The idea is that the imaginative displays stop customers in their tracks and encourage them to find their ...

People with sight or hearing loss in Spalding can get a helping hand to make the most of the internet at a free online skills session. RNIB’s Online Today project is aimed at supporting 125,000 people with sensory loss nationally get online and benefit from technology. Blind and partially sighted people in Spalding are invited to attend a free online ...

Winners of this year’s Pride of South Holland Awards will be crowned on Saturday. It is the second year of the awards run by the Spalding and South Holland Voice and Tulip Radio and the standard of entries has been phenomenally high. We have been looking for those people across South Holland who go the extra mile to make their ...

A student’s piece of 3D art which can be enjoyed by visually impaired people has gone up at nature reserve. Thomas Beardwell completed the piece, which shows an aquatic scene with molded three-dimensional creatures, for an Extended Project Qualification as part of his studies at Spalding Grammar School. He worked closely with John Oliver, warden at Spalding’s Willow Tree Fen, ...

Public fears have prompted a U-turn on a decision to turn some of the county’s streetlights off at 10pm. Lincolnshire County Council is looking to save £1.7million from its annual £5million streetlighting budget, which will involve turning off some lights in residential areas for part of the night. Although the majority of these lights will go out at midnight, the ...

A Crowland flying club is offering one lucky student the chance to learn to fly for free as part of a college scholarship programme. Peterborough Regional College has joined forces with Peterborough and Spalding Gliding Club, based at Crowland Airfield, to invite people to apply for an intensive course of flying instruction during the summer break, which will culminate in ...

Football pundit Chris Kamara has backed a fundraising challenge in Spalding which is part of a £1million fundraising effort. It is hoped the Norwich and Peterborough Building Society event will contribute to the target for its Hour of Need campaign, which is supporting Marie Curie. The society’s branch in Sheep Market, will be inviting customers and the public to support ...

A golf day at Hovenden Park Golf Club in Fleet raised £1,012 for the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal. The event last weekend, organised by the British Legion’s Holbeach branch, saw more than a dozen golfers play the course despite an uncertain weather forecast to compete for prizes including longest drive and most putts. Local businesses provided sponsorship and donated ...

Drivers are being warned that prescription medicines could push them over the legal drug-drive limit. After it was revealed last week that there has been a 140 per cent surge in drug driving charges and conviction, a local company is reminding drivers to be aware of what they are putting into their system. Even seemingly-innocuous medications can see drivers on ...

Thinking of a trip to Iceland to see the Northern Lights? The Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) is on many people’s bucket list. The Holiday With Us Group is the place to book this once in a lifetime experience, here is why? Our staff have the experience and knowledge to ensure your trip is amazing and you can be assured that ...

Cash-strapped and time-poor schools juggling the demands of teaching with admin, maintenance and recruitment across South Holland have been thrown a lifeline. Spalding Grammar School has started a new venture which will see it offering professional support to other local schools to enable them to concentrate on their core purpose – teaching. Spalding Grammar Managed Services (SGMS) will provide services ...

A recent report from an eminent human psychologist who has canine interests says that we should not hug our dogs. But what do you do when your dog insists on hugging you? When I am sitting on the settee at night I am covered in dogs wanting cuddles and attention. This research was carried out by looking at pictures posted ...

I had the great pleasure of attending the production of the musical Oliver!, recently staged at the South Holland Centre by Spalding Amateur Dramatic and Operatic Society and was hugely impressed with the high standard of acting, singing and dancing. The cast were all very impressive and their performance highlights the outstanding talent there is locally. So well done to ...

Weston Hills Primary School Year 6 cricketers were among the primary school players to take part in the Agilitas Cricket Competition at Spalding Grammar School. They won both their games against Pinchbeck East and Monkshouse and came second to Moulton Harrox in the play offs. A spokesman for the school said: “Children were delighted to come home with silver medals ...

Results of a poll which show more than half of farmers will vote to leave the EU has been welcomed in South Holland. Local Vote Leave co-ordinator for South Holland & The Deepings, Craig Jackson has welcomed the results of the Farming Weekly poll which shows that 58 per cent of those farmers polled will support Brexit. Mr Jackson said: ...