News

Lucky escape for mother and pups

A dog who escaped death row and the next day unexpectedly gave birth to two pups is looking for a new home in South Holland. Staffordshire Bull Terrier Lucky was on that day’s “put to sleep” list at the pound when she was saved from a very sad ending by the team at Jerry Green Dog Rescue. She was taken ...

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East Midlands In Bloom golds for Spalding, Holbeach and Crowland

Three towns in South Holland have won gold in East Midlands In Bloom 2016. Spalding, Holbeach and Crowland got top awards, while Long Sutton won silver gilt. Judges visited in July and scored on horticultural achievement, environmental responsibility and community participation. For Spalding, it was another near miss on being named best large town. In 2015 it was behind Belper ...

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Spalding pumpkin producer: ‘Don’t expect so many large ones among this year’s 4,000,000’

With the long spells of hot, sunny weather parts of Britain have enjoyed in September, many people have been thankful for an extension to summer. That is certainly true at David Bowman Pumpkins in Low Fulney where the recent high temperatures have gone some way to salvaging this year’s harvest. Another 4,000,000 of the fruit will be produced this year but ...

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Long Sutton Primary School on the up with good inspection report

The headteacher of Long Sutton Primary School has spoken of his pride after a government inspection report highlighted the improvement being made. The school has moved from its overall effectiveness of “requiring improvement” in May 2014 to “good” now. Headteacher Bill Lord said: “We are delighted that the Inspection team recognised the many strengths of the school and how far ...

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Spalding playgroup forced to close

A last-ditch appeal to save a popular Spalding toddlers group from closure has failed. Tulip Toddlers, which met every Monday morning at St Nicolas Hall in The Vista, held its final session this week. Organiser Bridget Jones appealed for more volunteers after half of the four-strong team left due to a change in personal circumstances. And, although she did get one ...

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Contract for Spalding Christmas lights going out to tender

The contract to handle Spalding town centre’s festive lighting is about to go out to tender – just seven weeks before this year’s switch-on. The lights will be switched on on Friday, November 18, but as previously reported there will be no special event this year. A council spokesman said: “South Holland District Council will be looking for suppliers to ...

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Council still trying to force sale of Spalding eyesore site

South Holland District Council is still trying to force the sale of the Bull and Monkie site in Spalding. The press and public were excluded from a meeting last week as councillors discussed the latest picture. Information requested by The Voice after the meeting shows that three times this year the council has sought legal advice on forcing a sale ...

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Woman (41) arrested over racist verbal abuse on service bus

Police investigating a racially aggravated public order offence on a service bus have arrested a 41-year-old woman. The Voice understands the incident to have happened on a 505 Spalding-King’s Lynn service. Police said: “We received a report at 5.30pm on Tuesday 20th September that a youth had been verbally abused by a female on board the bus. “A 41-year-old local ...

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Community effort gives cerebral palsy sufferer Phoebe her best-ever birthday present

Phoebe Matthews will celebrate her 16th birthday tomorrow (Sept 16) in the knowledge that she has a life-changing present on the way. Last week The Voice publicised a £12,000 appeal to buy her a powered standing wheelchair – and, wonderfully, the target was reached within five days. Scores of people dug deep after being moved by the story of Phoebe’s ...

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Ban for director of ‘filthy’ food firm

A director of a company which breached food hygiene rules has been disqualified from heading a company for four years. Moira Clark was a director at Spalding-based Food 4 Thought when it was found to be operating from filthy premises in 2013. The company provided dinners to schools across the area. An investigation was launched after a complaint from a ...

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‘Increasing consumer demand’ led Aldi to seek Spalding store extension

Aldi has put its expansion plan for the Spalding store on show. As The Voice reported last April, the German discounter supermarket wants to extend its Winsover Road store and provide more parking spaces. Three units neighbouring the store would be demolished to make way for the extension. The expansion plan has been driven by great trading figures and increasing demand by ...

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Could you be a vital cog to assist Age UK in Spalding?

Age UK Spalding District is appealing for help to keep its important and valued day centre running smoothly. New volunteers are required, as some of the present helpers are soon leaving. General manager Liz Walmsley said: “We rely heavily on volunteers and couldn’t manage without them. We’re very lucky in the support we get from our volunteers and we have ...

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Firefighters may help tackle lack of gritter drivers

Firefighters could be called on to help keep the county moving in bad weather. The idea of having retained fire crew members helping out with clearing roads and footpaths of snow and ice is just one of a raft of measures being looked at in a bid to tackle the shortfall in qualified LGV drivers available to drive gritting machines ...

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‘Positive’ start in bid to improve school

School leaders have heralded a positive start to the new term – despite some controversy over changes. Pupils at the newly-renamed Spalding Academy – formerly the Sir John Gleed – have returned to the classroom under a new regime which has seen a strict new uniform policy and changes to other school rules and procedures. The school’s executive head Laurence ...

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Trial of Spalding mental health support network under way

A trial version of a new mental health support scheme in Spalding is under way. Community Mind Matters group and Tonic Health Centre jointly applied for £10,000 NHS funding for the scheme which offers local businesses free training in dealing with mental health issues and encourages them to pass it on to others within the organisation. The premises with trained ...

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Mixed response in South Holland to PM’s plan for more grammar schools

A new generation of grammar schools should not be implemented in South Holland, according to at least one secondary school headteacher. Prime Minister Theresa May wants to see the ban on new grammar schools lifted and a shake-up of the selection process for pupils. This, she says, will “give every parent access to a good school place for their child”. ...

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£315 court bill for flytipping in Crowland

Unwanted household items found dumped in Crowland have cost the owner a £315 court bill. Kevin Cosgrove employed a man with a van to take away items including a fridge and mattresses, which were later found in Low Road (pictured). South Holland District Council’s environmental investigations officer was able to trace them to Cosgrove’s address in Whittlesey. Cosgrove appeared at ...

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Restaurant and flats plan for former Holbeach hotel

A rundown building in a prominent town-centre position is the subject of a conversion plan. A proposal has been put forward to turn The Bell Hotel in Holbeach’s High Street into a licensed restaurant and six apartments (three each on the first and second floors). The property, which is not listed but is in the Holbeach Conservation Area, has been bought ...

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Fitting farewell for Spalding’s Gordon Boswell

The streets around Spalding Parish Church came to a standstill on Tuesday lunchtime (Sep 13) as hundreds of people paid their last respects to someone synonomous with the town. Gordon Boswell, founder of the Romany museum at Clay Lake, died on August 27 at the age of 76. He took over his father Sylvester’s scrap metal yard in 1977 and, ...

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Free workshop for independent South Holland retailers could help takings

Independent shopkeepers in South Holland are invited to a special workshop aimed at helping to increase their profits. Organised by the district council in association with the Federation of Small Businesses, the free event is open to owners and staff members of independents. Subjects include ways of attracting and retaining customers by utilising shop fronts, window displays and merchandising. A ...

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