Author Archives: Nigel Chapman

New report shines light on future health needs of Lincolnshire

Population growth in South Holland has been higher than anywhere in Lincolnshire outside of Boston in recent years and will continue, a new report says. The Lincolnshire Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) – which will help inform future health commissioning – highlights increased rates of domestic violence in the district, the lowest county figure for adult activity rates and some ...

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Dakota’s BBC DIY SOS home is up for sale

A family whose home was transformed on the BBC programme DIY SOS have put it on the market – and are hoping someone else with a disability will now benefit. Four years ago, Paula Wheeldon returned to the home following a ten-day overhaul by the programme’s team and volunteering local tradesmen to make it more accessible to disabled daughter Dakota. ...

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Halved housing plan for Pinchbeck poised for approval

A new bid to put housing on Pinchbeck’s Nursery Fresh Plants premises is recommended for approval – albeit for 100 homes instead of the previously indicated 200. AMJ Construction was previously refused permission to build 200 homes on the Keston Nurseries site, in Mill Green Road. The site is located outside of the current settlement boundary of Pinchbeck as outlined ...

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40 new homes planned on Pinchbeck field

A developer wants to build 40 homes on an agricultural field diagonally opposite Birchgrove Garden Centre in Surfleet Road, Pinchbeck. Kirk Homes, of Enterprise Way, Pinchbeck, has submitted the plan to South Holland District Council for a field a little closer to Surfleet than the garden centre. The plan states permission would normally be turned down for the proposal but ...

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COLUMN: Walk your way to a healthier you

by Karen Johnsom South Holland District Council community development officer Spalding’s Walking for Health group recently celebrated their tenth anniversary with 40 walkers joining together for a walk, buffet lunch and celebratory anniversary cake. In May 2007, the district’s first-ever Walking for Health scheme was put in place. The Spalding group was the first to be set up. Today 40-50 ...

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Renewed confidence over Holbeach town centre after independent survey

An air of positivity has arisen from an independent assessment of Holbeach town centre. It showed that 29 per cent of the businesses were “excellent beacon status”. And even though the percentage of empty shops at the time of the survey was more than one in seven (15 per cent)  – against a national figure of 11.4 per cent – ...

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Development of Tongue End biogas plant on hold temporarily

The Deeping St Nicholas firm given planning permission for a controversial anaerobic digestion plant is weighing up the latest technology before proceeding. WD Branton was granted consent for the development on land south of Counter Drain Drove in Tongue End. Several residents had objected to the planning application on the grounds of disturbance to their amenity. However, after a year ...

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£39,200 to Holbeach Hospital to maintain help in community

Holbeach Hospital has been gifted £39,200 by Holbeach Nursing Association to enable it to continue to help the local community.   Holbeach Nursing Association (originally Holbeach Sick Poor Fund) was set up before the Health Service was established in order to provide help to the local community to cover the extras required when illness happened in a family. Over the ...

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Suspected drink-driver arrested after two-vehicle crash in Crowland

A motorist is being investigated on suspicion of drink-driving following a crash which saw another motorist seriously injured. It happened on the B1166, Hulls Drove, Crowland, at 4.45pm last Friday, leading to a two-hour closure of the road. A 43-year-old from the Peterborough area was taken to Boston’s Pilgrim Hospital under arrest and later “released under investigation” – a new ...

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999 calls soar in heatwave

People were urged to take care of themselves, vulnerable family and neighbours and pets after soaring temperatures led to a huge increase in 999 calls. Across Lincolnshire there was a 22 per cent increase in 999 calls with 1,141 made last Sunday, compared to 938 the weekend before when temperatures were lower. There were 888 ‘999’ calls in the county ...

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Kieran’s specialist cancer treatment in USA gets under way

Specialist cancer treatment in America for Deeping St Nicholas lad Kieran Taylor got under way on Tuesday (June 20). The seven-year-old, who had a brain tumour removed last year, will have daily proton beam therapy for six weeks in Florida. The NHS-sponsored therapy, currently not available in the UK, deals with types of cancer in critical areas when it is ...

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Retirement for owners of Revills shoe shop in Spalding

The owners of one of Spalding’s oldest family firms are retiring. The team at Revills Shoes, in Francis Street, is preparing its final sale, bringing to a close a dynasty dating back almost 50 years. The news comes as Revills Jewellers in Market Place prepares to close next month. Revills Shoes owner Stephanie Sanderson said: “I wish to thank all ...

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‘Terrific’ response to Grenfell Tower appeal by South Holland residents

Clothes donations came in quickly after Spalding charity Ella’s Project launched a snap appeal for Grenfell Tower victims. Mark Le Sage, who runs the charity with wife Sarah, asked for unwanted clothes for people of all ages, which could be sent to help families in the London disaster. The appeal was publicised on websites and social media last Thursday (June ...

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LETTER: Government must find long-term solution to end ‘dementia tax’

The “dementia tax” may have shaped the General Election campaign, but it’s not a new issue. For too long, the 11,000 people living with dementia in Lincolnshire have been struggling to pay the catastrophic costs of their care. That’s because, unlike other conditions, people with dementia don’t get free care on the NHS. This is wrong. People with dementia shouldn’t ...

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LETTER: Dismay over the lack of street patrols

I write to you with sheer dismay that over the weekend we had to witness so much anti-social street drinking, along with other acts which are deemed anti-social within the town’s Designated Public Place Orders (DPPO) boundaries. It has become clearly obvious that we have hardly any street patrols and, at the times we have witnessed anything, there is nobody ...

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Big Co-op Clean transforms green space in Long Sutton

A woodland area will help schoolchildren discover more about nature and wildlife after volunteers spruced it up. Lincolnshire Co-op colleagues and members mucked in to refresh a green space at Long Sutton Primary School. Together they’ve cleared thick weeds and made way for a woodland trail and outdoor area for the school’s pupils. And the clear-up itself gave the children ...

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Police called to Spalding car park after baby left in vehicle in heatwave

The parents of a baby reported to have been left alone in a car in high temperatures have been spoken to by police. The incident in Sainsbury’s car park in Holland Market, Spalding was reported at 12.30pm on Sunday (June 18) – one of the hottest days of the year so far. It is understood the parents had driven away ...

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Cash, jewellery, heating oil stolen in South Holland

Cash and jewellery were stolen in a burglary in Kenzie Drive, Sutton Bridge. Thieves smashed a patio door to get into the home between 11.30am and 3.30pm last Thursday (June 15). Anyone with information should contact DC Nottidge, of Spalding CID, by calling 101, quoting incident number 288 of June 15. Calls can also be made anonymously via 101 or ...

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Beacon status award for Holbeach Fire Station

Holbeach Fire Station has been recognised for achieving 100 per cent at its annual audit and visit by the chief fire officer group. Seven crew members were at The Dower House Hotel at Woodhall Spa for the 2017 Celebrating Success awards ceremony for the presentation of one of the four “Beacon Station status” awards, which were sponsored by Bristol Uniforms. Watch ...

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Fresh bid to create second consulting room at Pinchbeck GP surgery

Refusing planning permission for an extension of Pinchbeck doctors’ surgery was “unreasonable and unjustified,” a renewed bid for consent claims. Applicant Munro Medical Centre has submitted a new plan to South Holland District Council to create a second consulting room at the Church Walk surgery – refused in March due to fears it would lead to on street parking. A ...

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