Author Archives: James Bedford

Spalding man admits child porn charges

A Spalding man admitted downloading more than 60,000 indecent images of children when he appeared before Lincoln Crown Court on Wednesday.     David  Kaye had previously denied the charges and was due to stand trial in front of a jury this morning but changed his plea when he appeared in  the dock.     Kaye, 43 ,  of Spring Street, Spalding, pleaded guilty to three ...

Read More »

Early morning ram raid at town shop in Crowland

Police are hunting a gang of ram raiders who targeted a village shop in the early hours of Tuesday morning. The raiders hit the Co-Op in Crowland at around 4am and tried to take the in-store cash machine. But they were not successful and the machine was left in the road. A 4×4 vehicle used in the raid was also ...

Read More »

Academy rated as ‘good’ at first ever Ofsted inspection

A Spalding academy has been rated as good in its first ever Ofsted inspection.   Wygate Park Academy, Witham Road, received the rating in each of the five key areas looked at by inspectors.   “The headteacher, trust and local governing body have successfully established a culture of high expectations among pupils and staff,” the report, which was published on ...

Read More »

Teenagers fear for safety in failing children’s home

Vulnerable teenagers in a South Holland children’s home were able to take a car after staff left keys in an office door, an Ofsted report has revealed.   Young people do not feel safe and measures to combat bullying at the home are said to be ‘ineffective.’   The un-named home, which is registered to Broadwood Education Services, had ‘serious ...

Read More »

Grant award for major development in Spalding

A major development for Spalding is a step closer after South Holland District Council formally accepted £224,000 of Government money.     The decision to accept the grant for the Northern Spalding Sustainable Urban Extension (SUE) was agreed by members at full council on Wednesday night.  Members also agreed to support the project with £100,000 from the council’s growth budget. ...

Read More »

Approval for housing plan next door to Mill?

Plans for 78 new homes in Moulton Chapel look likely to be approved next week.   The outline application is outside the settlement boundary of the village, but has been recommended for approval.   Members of South Holland District Council’s planning committee are set to discuss the proposal next Thursday. The site is adjacent to the Grade II Listed mill ...

Read More »

Plans for major homes expansion move closer

Planning work on a new relief road to open-up land for up to 4,000 new homes for Spalding is set to start in earnest.   South Holland District Council applied for £244,000 of Government funding to help the early stages of the plans for the ‘urban extension.’   The money was awarded and members of the council were last night ...

Read More »

The Nottingham to move into N&P premises

A new branch of the Nottingham Building Society is to open in Spalding.   It will be moving into the premises currently occupied by the Norwich and Peterborough Building Society in Sheep Market which closes in October.   The move is part of The Nottingham’s plan to open seven new branches in market towns across the Midlands.   Since 2013 ...

Read More »

Students earn place at national exhibition

Students from Spalding Grammar School have had their work displayed at a top national arts exhibition.   Four A-Level artists were entered into the National Students Exhibition at the Mall Galleries in London where their work featured alongside paintings from some of the finest professional artists.   Tom Beardwell, a Year 13 veteran of this competition, produced ‘Chimera’ – an ...

Read More »

End of an era as Marion retires

It was the end of an era at St Bartholomew’s Primary School when pupils broke up last week with teaching assistant Marion Christian retiring.   Marion has been at the Pinchbeck school since 1988, but has now made the difficult decision to retire after 29 years in order to spend more time with her family.   Marion has worked across ...

Read More »

Chance to win tickets to watch Icons of the 80s in Castle concert

A star-studded line-up of 80s icons will be appearing in the county next month – and we have a pair of tickets to be won.   Spalding-based Live Promotions are staging an Icons of the 80s night at Lincoln Castle on Saturday, August 12, featuring the likes of Go West, Tony Hadley and T’Pau.   This year marks the 30th ...

Read More »

Nostalgic 1940s event is expecting another bumper attendance

A popular 1940s weekend that attracted more than 5,000 visitors last time is expecting another bumper crowd this year.   The era of World War Two, big bands and ration books will be spectacularly brought back to life at Ayscoughfee Hall Museum and Gardens.   Jointly organised by South Holland District Council and the Spalding Memorial Parade, this nostalgic annual ...

Read More »

Veterans and volunteers needed as Camaraderie Club opens its doors

A new club aimed at integrating veterans back into society is opening in Spalding.   The Camaraderie Club opens its doors for the first time on Friday, August 4, from 1pm-3pm at the Spalding Services and Social Club. The group has been set up on behalf of the Royal Voluntary Service and is looking for members and volunteers.   Project ...

Read More »

Bubble Rush run will raise hospice funds

A Spalding woman is hoping to raise hundreds of pounds for charity in memory of her dad who died earlier this year.   Claire-Emma Overton (37), and her five-year-old son Daniel join friends in the St Barnabas Hospice Bubble Rush on September 30.   Her father, Derek Hayward (65), of Swineshead, was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer in February and died ...

Read More »

Perfect partnership sees Sainsbury’s help raise cash for charity

Staff and customers at Spalding Sainsbury’s branch have raised more than £5,000 following a successful charity of the year partnership.   The money raised will go to JDRF, the type one diabetes charity, after a number of in-store fundraising days.   Volunteers helped pack shopping bags, cycling club Velo-One Cycling undertook a cycle challenge, a tombola was held and customers ...

Read More »

Join forces to bring festive fun to town

The schools may only just be finishing for summer, but more help is needed to bring fantastic festive cheer to Spalding this Christmas.   Despite the weather currently being way too warm for Santa, a call has gone out to help make the town centre sparkle in December.   Organisers are determined not to see a repeat of last year, ...

Read More »

Solicitor’s gruelling ride to raise cash for Macmillan charity

A Spalding solicitor is taking to the saddle to raise cash for a cancer charity by cycling from Land’s End to John O’ Groats.   Adrian Lazell is fundraising for Macmillan Cancer Support and will be taking to the roads in September for his mammoth ride.   “We have all lost someone to cancer. We lost John Aitken, our senior ...

Read More »

Waiting list falls to leave council homes empty

Empty council homes are ready and waiting in South Holland with applicants on the waiting list falling by a massive 90 per cent.   While other parts of the country are crying out for housing, South Holland has empty properties which no-one seems to want.   A report due to be discussed by members of the district council’s cabinet on ...

Read More »

ULHT fined £1 million plus £160,000 costs following death of patient from Spalding

United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust has been fined £1 million and ordered to pay £160,000 prosecution costs following the death of a patient from Spalding at Boston’s Pilgrim Hospital.   The Trust was found guilty by a jury following a trial earlier this year of failing to discharge a duty of care in breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act ...

Read More »

Prisoner threatened to kill victim of assault for which he was jailed

A man who was jailed for slashing his neighbour with a knife later threatened to kill his victim when on his release from prison, Lincoln Crown Court was told this week.   Shaun Smith made the threat during a meeting in Lincoln Prison to discuss arrangements for his release at the end of his 12 month jail sentence.   Gareth Gimson, prosecuting, ...

Read More »