A pot of £57,000 will not stretch as far as councillors looking at improvements in Ayscoughfee Gardens had hoped for. Spalding Town Forum heard on September 17 that the money will fund a new performance area, but not the replacement of the aviary, which was the original aim. The cash has come from a S106 planning agreement stretching back to when ...

Pupils Sienna Foster and Lewis Mitchell get a look at a Viking’s weapons during an insight day at Cowbit St Mary Primary School. ‘Viking’ Jed Jaggard wowed youngsters, starting with the creation of a typical settlement, in St Mary’s Church where school assemblies are held. Then classes had group sessions with Jed, learning how to make fishing nets, fire and ...

A six-month prison term for former Spalding Grammar School head of music Eric Wayman for having thousands of indecent images of young boys has been criticised as too lenient. Wayman (63) was jailed on September 18 after more than 4,000 images – including some in the most serious category – were found on computers at his Gosberton home. Commenters on our ...

Organisers of an appeal to help clothe Syrian migrant children have been overwhelmed by the initial response. But Spalding couple Mark and Sarah Le Sage say it is still early days and urged people to keep donating clothing suitable for 0-18 years. Within three days of Ella’s Syrian Appeal being published in The Voice (September 17), 28 bags had been ...

A discussion on the “cold” water temperature at Spalding swimming pool quickly reignited the debate on whether the 41-year-old building should be refurbished or rebuilt. It came after South Holland district councillor Graham Dark labelled changing rooms at Castle Sports Complex “disgusting”. His damning assessment echoed the sentiments of several Voice readers who say the dated facilities are “dirty” and ...

A new five-week long walking festival has its launch event at a free family fun day at Willow Tree Fen Nature Reserve on Saturday (September 26). South Lincolnshire Walking Festival gets under way on Friday (September 25) and runs until Saturday, October 31. It will feature 76 free guided walks in South Holland, North and South Kesteven, and Boston. Heritage Lincolnshire and Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust ...

Eleven cadets from 1406 squadron ATC (Spalding) enjoyed a thrilling visit to RAF Scampton to get first-hand experience of the famous Red Arrows. In a press release written on behalf of the squadron, 14-year-old Cadet Shawna Carrott said: “We got to sit inside the training Red Arrow, which doesn’t go up into the air till needed. “It also had all ...

Construction work for Spalding’s new gypsy and traveller site is expected to begin by the end of this year. Completion would then be anticipated by March 2016. Members of South Holland District Council’s performance monitoring panel asked to be updated at its meeting on Wednesday (September 16) after becoming concerned over the delay. A report said the level of highway work necessary ...

British heavyweight David Haye has been booked as special guest at Spalding and District Round Table’s boxing event next year. Confirmation of the former world champion’s appearance has led to a surge in ticket sales for the all-male black-tie annual event at Springfields Events Centre, Spalding, on Saturday, February 20. Ringside tables cost £1,000 for 12 people and standard tables £850. ...

These are the winning entries in the Lincolnshire Churches competition run by Market House Photography Group in Long Sutton. This year the competition attracted 77 pictures and while the three winners were from Long Sutton and Holbeach, entries were received from North East Lincolnshire, Lincoln, Boston and the surrounding areas. The competition is run on an annual basis and is ...

Claims have been made that the water temperature at Spalding swimming pool is too cool. District councillor George Aley – chairman of Spalding Town Forum – has received complaints in recent weeks about the main pool at Castle Sports Complex. He wants to establish if there is any truth in that and what can be done to improve the situation ...

Former Spalding Grammar School head of music Eric Wayman has been jailed for six months for having thousands of indecent images of young boys on his computers at home. Wayman, who taught at the school for 29 years before retiring in 2004 and was founder and conductor of Spalding chamber choir Cantemus, was caught following an investigation into a Canadian company ...

A family wrestling show was cancelled amid claims the organisers were made to “jump through hoops” to get it licensed. Falling Starr Wrestling says it pulled the plug on this Saturday’s scheduled event at St Mary and St Nicolas Hall in Spalding because South Holland District Council’s expectations – including the employment of two doormen – made it financially unviable. ...

A Spalding couple have launched an urgent appeal for clothes to send to Syrian refugee children. Mark and Sarah Le Sage have been so moved by the images of those suffering in the crisis that they have decided to act. Ella’s Syrian Appeal is a spin-off of Ella’s Project, launched earlier this year after the couple found no specific charity ...

Holbeach ex-Royal Observer Corps bunker was open to the public on Sunday (September 13). The old nuclear shelter saw service up to the stand down in 1991. The bunker, now owned by Heritage Lincolnshire, provided guided tours below ground by ex-Leading Observer Charles Parker, from Lincoln, and an above ground display was manned by ex-Chief Observer Frank Sauntson, from Holbeach. ...

Labour’s parliamentary candidate for South Holland and The Deepings in this year’s General Election says the party is heading for defeat in 2020 under Jeremy Corbyn. Left-wing Mr Corbyn was elected as the new Labour leader on Saturday (September 12) but, for Matthew Mahabadi, he was the last choice of the four candidates in the party members’ vote. Mr Mahabadi, who ...

Spalding and District Round Table is offering a free night out on Monday (September 21) to potential new members. The organisation is for men aged between 18 and 45 and anyone who might want to join is invited to join Tablers to enjoy ten-pin bowling at AlleyCatz followed by a meal at Indian restaurant Indus. It will be an opportunity ...

Proposals for two new Holbeach roundabouts costing £4million and 1,000 new homes go on show on Thursday (September 17) to seek public opinion. Lincolnshire County Council wants to replace the T-junction at Peppermint Junction – where the A151 meets the A17 – with a roundabout. A second roundabout nearby on the A151 would provide access to housing and commercial development land. As ...

Spalding councillors are to be asked to fund Christmas lighting for a “dingy” walkway. The Hole In The Wall Passage, connecting Market Place and The Crescent, is seen as dark and unattractive. Spalding Town Forum has been considering how to brighten up the passage and the forum’s 11 South Holland district councillors will be asked to all chip in from ...

Spalding has won gold in East Midlands In Bloom 2015. It was one of five recipients of the top award in the large town category, the others being Belper, Boston, Long Eaton and Market Harborough. In the separate judges’ awards for the category, Spalding In Bloom was acknowledged for “floral enhancements at Springfields Retail Shopping Outlet”. There were silver gilt awards ...