Columns

COLUMN: Council-related matters ‘a way of life’

By Peter Coupland, South Holland District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Regulatory Services Council-related matters are a way of life for me as I am a parish, district and county councillor. My parish issues relate to matters in Fleet mostly concerning planning, waste collection, street cleaning and dog fouling etc. As a district councillor, I not only have responsibilities for representing ...

Read More »

COLUMN: Before becoming a beagle owner

Before becoming a beagle owner, we researched the breed. Everything we read said that beagles are intelligent, noisy, stubborn dogs. Alfie, now five, was a very independent and naughty puppy. No house is dog-proofed like ours but Alfie quickly learned how to open the back door and trained us to give him a treat before he came back in! He ...

Read More »

COLUMN: The right time for a new dog

 BY LINCS TRAINING – DOG TRAINING MADE EASY We at Lincs Training – Dog Training Made Easy, often get asked by our clients the right time to add another dog to their existing family. We would always recommend that you wait from 18 months to two years before introducing a newcomer. Think carefully and ask yourself the following questions: Can ...

Read More »

COLUMN: Teaching your dog an important command

The recall is one of the most important commands for your dog to learn.   For it to work your dog has got to know two things – 1. its name and 2. the command ‘come’.   Never let your dog off in an open public area if you think that you will not be able to get him to ...

Read More »

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 ...

Read More »

COLUMN: Troubled times but remember our year-round local heroes

by Coun Gary Taylor South Holland District Council portfolio holder for communities and facilities Following the recent horrendous terror attacks we hear so many examples of the extraordinary bravery from members of the emergency services and from passers-by, as they put the safety of others before their own welfare.   Events such as this change lives and their life and ...

Read More »

COMMUNITY COLUMN: Dementia could hit any of us

by Karen Johnson South Holland District Council community development officer This week has been Dementia Awareness Week, with the initiative aimed at making more people aware of the key facts about this disease. The Alzheimer’s Society in Lincolnshire has been encouraging residents to unite against dementia, to forget their differences to help to find a cure, improve care, and offer ...

Read More »

COLUMN: Gardens can be a dangerous place for four-legged friends

It’s that time of the year when we are all getting back into our gardens and enjoying the weather.   But for our four-legged friends gardens can be a dangerous place. When selecting plants for your garden you should consider whether they could be poisonous to our pets.   Don’t forget to read the labels on the plants to see ...

Read More »

COLUMN: Local business leaders to form lobby group

by Coun Nick Worth Portfolio holder for commercialisation and growth, South Holland District Council At our most recent business breakfast one of our main topics for discussion was the government’s consultation on their industrial strategy. Feedback from our local businesses is that for more rural areas such as South Holland a focus on transport infrastructure needs to encompass rail and ...

Read More »

COLUMN: Lots to learn for everyone

We often spoke about adding a dog to the family, but which one? The first thing I would recommend to anyone having the same thought…”do your research” and boy, we did. Looking at the Internet, books or speaking with dog owners, we did the lot.   When we went to look at Walter (at roughly six weeks old) the breeder ...

Read More »

COLUMN: Phishing – think before you click!

by Stuart Brown Cyber security expert Phishing emails are online scams that are reliant on you, the reader/end-user, being tricked into doing something without thinking about it. They can take many forms and the ingenuity these days knows no bounds as scammers are now researching their potential victims in far more detail than ever before. Phishing, vishing and smishing can ...

Read More »

COLUMN: Sport has many health benefits

By Karen Johnson South Holland District Council community development officer It was great to see so many people come along to the Give it a Go! event at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field on April 2. More than 350 people came to meet South Holland’s sports clubs and try activities including football, golf, rugby, rowing and bowls. Playing sports ...

Read More »

COLUMN: Make use of more daylight to improve your health

By Karen Johnson South Holland District Council community development officer With the clocks changing, now is a good time to take advantage of the extra hour of daylight in the spring evenings. Being physically active can significantly reduce the risk of several major health conditions. Walking is one of the most accessible activities available to us. It is free, fun ...

Read More »

COLUMN: Dealing with a demand for money with menaces on your computer

By Stuart Brown Cyber security specialist 2017 it seems will be the year of ransomware. Already this year malicious developers, or black hat hackers, have released newer and more powerful versions of computer programs that, put simply, “demand money with menaces”. Ransomware works by anyone clicking on a download link of an infected picture or file that has been tampered ...

Read More »

Leaving your dogs when you go away on holiday

It’s that time of year when we are all thinking about our summer holidays.   However, you must also remember to book your dog’s holiday. Good dog care gets booked up quickly.   There are different options to suit your budget and your dog’s needs. Standard kennels are the cheapest, most common option. Luxury kennels are a bit more expensive. ...

Read More »

COLUMN: Free sporting activities taster in Spalding

by Karen Johnson – community development officer at South Holland District Council We would like to call out to all sports clubs and organisations in South Holland. We have a “Give it a Go!” taster event coming up on Sunday, April 2, 10.30am-3.30pm, on the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field, Spalding. We would encourage clubs interested to get in touch ...

Read More »

COLUMN: Discussion this month on Spalding Christmas Market

by Darren Sutton Chairman of Spalding Town Retailers’ Association February was a strange month, especially the weather, with some of the country having snow and obviously Storm Doris causing damage across the country. Hopefully now going into March we will see the nights start pulling out and some warmer weather leading into Easter in April. February has generally been a ...

Read More »

COMMUNITY COLUMN: Boom time for Open Arts exhibition

by Karen Johnson South Holland District Council community development officer This week our team has been busy preparing for South Holland Open Arts 2017. The annual art exhibition and competition is one of our most popular events and so far this year has been no exception. We have received an abundance of entries, the most for several years in fact, ...

Read More »

NEW COLUMN: Cyber security and your responsibilities

by Stuart Brown Cyber security specialist Last week (February 14) the Queen opened the new National Cyber Security Centre in London, part of a £2billion government investment in cyber security. Is that enough to make us safe on the internet? Does that protect our homes, our businesses, our suppliers, our friends and family every day? Does that make the government ...

Read More »

COLUMN: A well-balanced diet is important for your dog

Lincs Training – Dog Training Made Easy   The old adage ‘you are what you eat’ applies to our canine friends as well.   Choosing a well-balanced nutritional diet for your dog is very important, not only for the correct growth of puppies but as it can also alter their mood and behaviour.   The required protein levels for puppies ...

Read More »