Two items in The Voice on Thursday, August 18 neatly encapsulate the mess in which our area now finds itself. First, on page 3, we hear that plans to develop a new primary healthcare centre for Holbeach (previously a pre-condition for planning approval for building an additional 900 homes in Holbeach) have now been dropped – only to be replaced ...

Spalding needs support and action to make it great again following the departure of the town centre manager, according to traders. Spalding Town Retailers Association (STRA) discussed the situation at a recent meeting, saying the departure of Town Centre Manager Dennis Hannant has left a void which needs to be filled. An extension of free parking, allowing Inter-town buses through ...

Step back in time to the era of big bands, World War Two, ration books and The Home Front at Ayscoughfee Hall Museum and Gardens this weekend. The historic Spalding venue is hosting a 1940s Weekend on Saturday and Sunday. Jointly organised by South Holland District Council and the Spalding Memorial Parade, this nostalgic annual event has previously attracted over ...

Spalding nightclub Loaded welcomes another reality TV star to the venue next month. James “Lockie” Locke, from The Only Way Is Essex, will be partying with the crowds as Loaded hosts the TOWIE wrap party on Saturday, September 3. Other events lined up at the venue include Loaded’s 12th birthday celebration and the A-level results party. There will also be ...

There’s a chance to celebrate all the work that’s been done at Donington’s Teen Park over the past year on Wednesday. Organised by Flinders Founders, the Teen Park Celebration Open Day runs from 11am to 3pm. It’s a chance for members of the public to go along and see how hard the group has worked to improve the park over ...

If a staycation is on your radar this summer, a visit to Crowland Caravans and Camping will fill you full of inspiration. This family-run business can offer advice on all aspects of camping and caravanning thanks to staff with a total of more than 40 years’ experience within the camping and caravan industry. You’re bound to find what you’re looking ...

Last week Lincolnshire County Council’s highways department sent a letter requesting I remove five small rocks and some gravel from my frontage. On calling the highways department and requesting a visit to the property, yes I really have to remove the gravel which has been there for more than ten years. I pointed out that weeds will grow and block ...

The Jubilee Year of Mercy declared by Pope Francis, which began on December 8, draws inexorably to its close on Sunday, November 13. Does this mean the end of God’s mercy to those who turn to Him in sorrow? No! Of course it doesn’t. Pope Francis, in initiating the Year of Mercy, did so to emphasise the need for all ...

The Spalding branch of Guide Dogs would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has supported us this year. This includes everyone who has invited us to events, everyone who has generously donated to us and everyone who has very kindly allowed us to use their venues to hold collections. We are very grateful to Welland Seniors’ ...

What a load of tosh Paul Walls offers in his letter of August 4 to The Voice. He attempts to suggest that a Brexit majority is not a majority after all as it does not include the non voters/abstainers. He even has the audacity to suggest that Europe would never accept such a calculated vote given the closeness of the ...

I don’t know whose idea it was to close the entrance of the car park at the Boston Road end. They want to live in Holbeach. It takes ages to get through the traffic lights. Why don’t they ask the public what they think? They moved the market to the car park and there are only ever two stalls which ...

Has police policy changed? After observing what is going on around town and in my street in the last couple of weeks, it has come to my attention that I have not seen any police cars cruising the streets, only PCSOs a couple of times. I also used to see officers walking down our street, but none have been seen ...

Two men involved in a street attack in which blows were “rained down” onto the victim were today (Fri) given suspended jail sentences at Lincoln Crown Court. Lee Dobney and James Ellis carried out the attack on Aaron Freemantle after their victim had earlier been asked  by Ellis to “go and have a chat”. Victoria Rose, prosecuting, said that Mr Freemantle declined ...

Rainbow Festivals holds its annual Food & Music Fiesta on Saturday. The event takes place at The Five Bells at Tydd St Mary and gates open at 11am Admission is £1 for adults and children go free. The fiesta is a fabulous family day, with so much to do, see, buy and eat! Take the whole family (even the dog) ...

Summer has finally arrived at Springfields. The centre’s summer programme of fantastic free family fun includes: Sid Sloane from CBBC doing his one man show along with a meet and greet – today and tomorrow (Thursday and Friday), 12pm and 2pm. Pip Ahoy (Channel 5 Milkshake) will be doing a 20 minutes’ walkabout three times a day – August 8-12, ...

Looking for something to do at the weekend? Look no further. Holbeach Music & Beer Festival takes place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at The Holbeach United Community Sports Academy. Organiser Sean Taylor promises a “high standard” in the music line-up with special headline acts to close the festival each day. Attractions will include inflatables, outdoor games, hot and cold ...

In his recent article in the Spalding Guardian, district councillor Peter Coupland stated £2,000,000 was spent refurbishing bathrooms and kitchens in 200 rented council properties. This means an average of £10,000 spent on each. Presumably this happened before Coun Coupland was elected so it must be hoped that he will be able to persuade his colleagues to get better value ...

On Monday morning I watched the men with their radio controlled mower. No hard labour except off loading it. Gently walking along the river mowing the grass. When I crossed the Chain Bridge I noticed the prams and trolleys that had been lifted out of the river some time ago. On my return journey across the Chain Bridge three hours ...

I’m not the first person to observe that, so far, the rhetoric from Teresa May indicates that she could be the most left wing Prime Minister since Harold Wilson. We shall wait and see. Also at a Tory party conference in the early 2000s she famously suggested that her party was being perceived as the “nasty party”. The conference cameras ...

Is health and safety going too far now? In my opinion it has. Whenever you watch TV, reports of people losing loved ones is always the main headline. Excuse me, death comes to us all and some prematurely in unfortunate tragic circumstances, the most recent being Emily’s law on Good Morning Britain. Their daughter died in an unfortunate boating accident. ...