Council

  A planning committee member who was against approving the new Spalding travellers’ site was legally advised not to take part in the vote. Coun Anthony Casson – ward member for Moulton, Weston and Cowbit – was told it was best not to vote after he had firmly declared his opposition to the plan at a public meeting in Cowbit. ...

A controversial new travellers’ site for Spalding has been granted planning permission by the tightest of margins. During a two-hour debate before a packed public gallery, members of South Holland District Council’s planning committee were torn over whether the site off Drain Bank North was suitable. The result of a vote on approving the plan was 6-6. The tie meant ...

Community groups have been given the go-ahead to run libraries as part of an overhaul of the county’s service. Business plans and applications for grant funding for new community hubs – which include libraries – have been granted in 30 towns and villages across the county, including Holbeach, Pinchbeck, Donington and Crowland. Groups which had applied to take over the ...

A new piece of kit which can fill up to 300 potholes in one day has been trialled in South Holland. The Roadmaster Velocity Patcher is dubbed “the world’s most advanced potholing machine” has already repaired a number of roads in Sutton St James and has been in Spalding for the past three weeks. Lincolnshire County Council is one of ...

A retired couple with a passion for motorhoming have criticised South Holland District Council for turning down a village pub’s plan to extend its premises and the adjoining caravan site. Michael and Laurel Harding, formerly of Kent, now live in Lutton after enjoying several return trips to south Lincolnshire. They say the planning committee’s decision over the Rose and Crown ...

South Holland District Council’s Summer Fun brochure is being compiled at the moment and submissions for inclusion are invited. Any community group, venue or organisation running arts, sports or cultural activities for children and/or young people in South Holland over the summer holidays can have their activities and events listed free of charge. The brochure is distributed to every pupil ...

  Surfleet is looking smarter now thanks to a litter pick by members of the community. Seven people took part in South Holland District Council’s latest Litter Blitz venue. The pick focused on local litter hotspots including the A16 underpass and the reservoir. Local resident and Surfleet parish councillor Judy Chapman organised the event as part of the environmental parish ...

The European elections take place later this month and if you’ve had a polling card through your letterbox but know very little about it all, we’re here to help. The elections take place from May 22 to 25 and give voters the chance to influence the future political course of the European Union for the next five years. Each member ...

Plans to close some Lincolnshire libraries to save £1.9million have been put on hold until a review has been carried out by the High Court. Lincolnshire County Council has agreed not to go ahead with its plan to sell off or lease the existing libraries until the decision of the court is known and will continue to maintain libraries at ...

A young, starving dog has been found abandoned and tied up under a Spalding bridge. The bitch, thought to be about 18 months old, was discovered by a member of the public at the Coronation Channel on Tuesday. The ribs of the undernourished dog – named Star by those now looking after her – are clearly visible. South Holland District ...

Lincolnshire County Council is looking for someone to take on the role of “Independent Person” to assist the monitoring officer. County councillors work to an agreed code of conduct and occasionally become the subject of complaints that they have not met the standards set out by that code. The independent person will help the council’s monitoring officer by giving advice, ...

Parents who have applied online for their child to start school in reception or transfer to junior school in September can collect their offer from Wednesday (April 16). Lincolnshire County Council will post offer letters to parents using a paper form on the same day. The council advises parents to accept the place offered even if the school was not ...

Efforts to tackle street drinking in Spalding town centre have been heralded a success. South Holland District Council says its partnership approach to the problem – which many people have claimed causes them to feel intimidated – has had a noticeable effect, with statistics showing a significant reduction in the need for police intervention. Between June and July last year ...

A school meals provider has been handed a £18,230 court bill for filthy premises after an investigation by South Holland District Council officers. Food 4 Thought GB Ltd has been fined £13,800 and ordered to pay £4,300 costs after magistrates heard about the conditions at the unit where meals were prepared. Boston magistrates heard on Monday, March 24, that Food ...

“Defeatist” attitudes towards tackling anti-social parking by parents at a town school have led to calls for the number of pupils to be reduced. Irresponsible parking has been an ongoing concern to residents living in the Woolram Wygate area of Spalding, close to Spalding Primary School, and they fear the situation will remain “intolerable” as plans progress to build a ...

Lincolnshire County Council has now signed a contract with Serco, the international services company, to provide a range of business process and contact centre services for the council, delivering savings of more than £14million over five years. As the council’s strategic partner, Serco will be responsible for a wide range of customer-facing and back-office functions, including finance, HR and ICT, ...

Lincolnshire is getting a £2.35million share of £250million of Government funding to bring better broadband to the hardest to reach places. The county council has been awarded £2.35million from the national Superfast Extension Programme, which was unveiled by Culture Secretary Maria Miller. This will be matched by the council, which has already set aside £1.8million for additional broadband improvements. The ...

South Holland District Council has entered into partnership working with Boston Borough Council to gain improved CCTV monitoring. The current CCTV scheme, which operates in Spalding, Holbeach, Crowland, Long Sutton and Sutton Bridge and is monitored by dedicated volunteers, has been successful but is in need of improvement. A deal has been agreed to transfer the operation of the South ...

South Holland District Council has played a key role in supporting the delivery of a community-led housing scheme in Pinchbeck. The development, which is owned by the Pinchbeck Community Land Trust, will provide 14 new homes to rent for local people. Work on site in Flaxmill Lane is due to begin soon and be complete by the end of this ...