A coroner has requested more information from health officials after a family said they asked for a loved one to be sectioned just weeks before he took his own life. Lincoln Coroner’s Court was told that Christopher Murfet (31), of Westlode Street, Spalding, had a history of mental health issues and had on several occasions tried, or threatened, to take ...

A group of South Holland care homes is launching a Christmas Message Exchange for residents and the local community.Country Court homes is encouraging people to send messages by card or video as residents face a COVID Christmas.The video recordings can be songs, music or a festive message – and residents are planning on returning the good wishes.At this time of ...

Fly-tippers who dump rubbish around South Holland should have their cars ‘crushed on telly,’ according to the leader of South Holland District Council. Members of the council were discussing the recent prosecution of a West Pinchbeck man for fly-tipping in Surfleet. He was fined £200.Coun Chris Brewis said there needed to be some ‘serious dialogue’ with other district councils in ...

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn is one of the first to see 90 per cent of patient-facing staff vaccinated against flu.The hospital’s trust body held two 24-hour jab-a-thons which saw more than 270 staff vaccinated.The news comes in tandem with the announcement that the medical device SAFIRA has won a prestigious award for the Medovate team. It was ...

A group supporting people with Parkinson’s Disease is offering a specially created fitness DVD to help during the pandemic. Usually the Spalding and District branch of Parkinson’s UK meet with those with the condition and their carers on the third Thursday of every month at Pinchbeck Village Hall. But they’ve not been able to do that since March.Instead, it’s a ...

Sir John Hayes voted for the tier system in the House of Commons on Tuesday after receiving written assurance that Lincolnshire will be reviewed by district on December 16. The county is currently in Tier 3 with leaders across the area fighting for a drop to Tier 2 for South Holland and South Kesteven, saying the current coronavirus figures don’t ...

A landmark Spalding store is to be saved, along with 25 jobs, thanks to a buy out deal announced today. Hills Department Store was set to close in the new year but the owners have reached an agreement with Scott Crowson of Coneys Clothing Stores in Lincoln and Boston, who will buy the business in the new year.All 25 Hills’ ...

Sir John Hayes has said he will vote against the tier system in the House of Commons today unless he receives written assurances that Lincolnshire’s tier will be reviewed on December 16. The county has been allocated Tier 3 when the tier system starts from tomorrow and leaders across the district are fighting for a drop to Tier 2, saying ...

Council leader Lord Gary Porter has expressed extreme disappointment with today’s Government announcement that South Holland will face the toughest restrictions when the national lockdown is lifted next Wednesday. The Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced on Thursday morning that Lincolnshire as a whole will be placed in Tier 3. Despite the restrictions, which will see a return to the rule ...

Sir John Hayes, MP for South Holland and the Deepings, has called South Holland’s placement in tier three of coronavirus restrictions “ridiculous”. The government announced this morning that South Holland will be under the strictest restrictions when lockdown ends next week. Areas such as London, Liverpool, Fenland and Peterborough will be in tier two. Speaking to the Voice Sir John ...

South Holland will be in tier three of the coronavirus restrictions when lockdown ends next week. The government has published a postcode checker showing which tier each area of England is in which confirms that South Holland in the top tier meaning the toughest restrictions. Tier three restrictions mean: No mixing of households indoors or most outdoor places – rule ...

South Holland residents are due to discover on Thursday what tier of restrictions will be in force once lockdown ends next week. The county’s Care Commissioning Group (CCG) also met yesterday and it was revealed that the cost of COVID-19 to the local health service is £27.2m to the end of October.With the new three-tier restrictions due to come into ...

Thanks to everyone who has donated to this year’s Give A Gift campaign so far but we still need more presents. This year the appeal is more important than ever, with many more families across the district struggling due to the coronavirus pandemic.The appeal is being managed a little differently to allow us to comply with government guidelines regarding the ...

A seven-year-old is getting on his saddle to raise money for new library books for his school.Charlie Edgeley is planning to ride his pony Olaf for 10 miles along the Moulton Marsh sea barrier in January.He’s doing so to raise funds for the Friends of John Harrox Primary School group.Charlie himself is in Ahlberg class at the school while mum ...

Plans to demolish the Cemetery Chapel in Whaplode have moved a step closer.But the building (pictured) is being dismantled and rebuilt in the village to be used as a house.A formal notice of intention has been posted at the site by the parish council which owns it.It is the latest move in a long-running battle over the building which has ...

The future of service sharing between South Holland and Breckland district councils is under review. A report which went before South Holland’s full council outlines a three-phase strategic review.The preferred option for the future should be identified by January next year and implemented by March.New Head of Paid Service Nathan Elvery has also been appointed as Strategic Advisor and within ...

After several years, Santa is to return to parading through Holbeach in the run up to Christmas, thanks to a town pub.John Budworth and Martin Forward, who run The Crown in Holbeach, have organised the Holbeach Santa Swarm.They’ve had a word with Father Christmas himself who has agreed to sit on the sled they’ve built around town, around Whaplode and ...

Holbeach Parish Council is asking local residents for their views on two potential changes to the town centre. Residents are being asked whether they would prefer the High Street to have restricted access times or traffic calming measures.It follows parish councillors expressing concerns over early plans for the future of the centre of the town with a bid of £4m ...

Ella’s Project is asking you to Donate a Cuddle this Christmas.The charity has teamed up with Simon Lord, of Lord’s Collectables, for this year’s bid to raise smiles at Christmas.As previously, Ella’s Project founder Mark Le Sage is asking for your donations of brand new soft toys.They’ll be provided as presents to children who might otherwise not receive them.Due to ...

I write further to my last letter published November 12 in The Voice titled I beg to differ.The points I made against the lockdown have now been validated by a report from the Governments scientific advisers, stating that secondary school pupils are now playing a ‘significantly higher role’ in bringing the infections into households.In view of which it makes absolutely ...