One of the UK’s top poets and TV presenter Benjamin Zephaniah has died, his family have said. Benjamin, originally from Birmingham but who has lived in Moulton Chapel for around 12-years, had been diagnosed with a brain tumour eight weeks ago before his death today (December 7) aged 65, a statement posted on social media said. The statement says: “It ...

Three teenagers who stopped a ‘dangerous’ criminal from sexually assaulting a woman on a Spalding street have been given a national bravery award. Charlie Burley, Callum Smith and Ben Tyler were aged just 15 and 16 when they ran over to Kamil Gziut who was in the process of assaulting what the trio described as a woman in her early ...

A new music festival/carnival is set to take place in Spalding next July. Ayscoughfest is to take place on Saturday, July 27.Coun Mark Le Sage has began organising the event and is enlisting the help of Spalding Town Forum.“Ayscoughfest is a one-day mini music festival promoting local music,” he said. “We’re lucky to have Ayscoughfee and it’s about utilising that, ...

Police have charged a 47-year-old man after discovering £1m of drugs in a Whaplode St Catherine house. A warrant was executed in Cranesgate North last Wednesday (29).Specialist officers carried out a search of the property and located various equipment including pill presses, powders including Diazepam and anabolic steroids in a hidden room of the house, and an outside container at ...

Work has begun on the Sheep Market toilets in Spalding and its hoped it would be completed by May. Coun Henry Bingham, South Holland District Council’s portfolio holder for assets told last week’s Spalding Town Forum the authority was still liaising with contractors on the project but work has had to start to meet the deadline for the spending of ...

People have been incredibly generous in supporting our Give A Gift appeal this year. We have already received many gifts but we still need more presents and there are only a few days left to donate as the appeal closes on Wednesday, December 13.The appeal makes a huge difference to struggling families across South Holland and Boston, ensuring less fortunate ...

Circular seating in Hall Place known as an epicentre of anti-social behaviour in Spalding is to be replaced. However the move has already been criticised amid claims it won’t solve the area’s problems.The issue was discussed extensively at last week’s meeting of the Spalding Town Forum where Shop Watch representative Stuart Brotherton said ‘95 per cent’ of people involved in ...

A man who threw a bottle containing vinegar and bleach into a Spalding pub to make others believe it would explode was jailed for five years and ten months on Friday. Jay Savage (30) pleaded guilty to a charge of placing an article in the Lincolnshire Poacher pub on 13 November last year.The particulars of the charge specified that Savage ...

More than 37,000 parking notices have been issued in the county during the last financial year. Statistics going before county council members next week show a total of 37,445 penalty charge notices between April 2022 and March 2023.In total £1.5m was received, with costs running at £1,483,122 – leaving a £16,194 surplus.The top street for charges was Silver Street, Lincoln, ...

Lincolnshire Police and Crime Panel has criticised Police and Crime Commissioner Marc Jones for attacking their integrity during an investigation into his recruitment process. The panel met on Thursday and discussed the findings of Operation Motala, which scrutinised his recruitment of the Chief Constable, writes Daniel Jaines.The report by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) stated his actions “did ...

South Holland District Council have got it wrong Again! Clean up your act!Kingdom LA Support Ltd are a facilities management company currently employed by South Holland District Council as environmental support services. Their primary task is to issue Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN) against individuals dropping litter, residents putting out waste bags early and investigating fly tipping within the South Holland ...

I would like to personally congratulate all who were involved in bringing together the Christmas Market over the past weekend.It took my memory back 60 years ago when Holbeach was like that every Thursday, Friday and Saturday.Sadly now Holbeach is on life support. A huge change is needed to help revive our town, and not have money wasted on roundabouts.I ...

I would like to say a big thank you to someone called Ellie, who left a Christmas hamper in my porchIt was kind, thoughtful and generous.Once again thank you and merry Christmas. KathLinden CourtSpalding

I am writing regarding the recurring comments in your letters page, of anti-social incidents in Spalding town.Earlier in the year you published my letter regarding pavement cyclists. I sent a copy to each of my ward councillors on June 21, suggesting a remedy and asking for the Public Space Prohibition Order (PSPO) to be enforced.At the September public business meeting, ...

The Network Rail report suggesting there cannot be a train service to London because of the Spalding Level Crossing is deeply flawed.A London service would likely be provided by an “open access” operator using four or five carriage trains cascaded from East Midlands Railway or West Coast. There would likely be only five trains per day in each direction.Just recently ...

Another town centre building will be closing its doors to customers in the new year. Bank bosses have said the Halifax will be closing for good on April 18.The Bank of Scotland, Halifax and Lloyds will be closing another 45 branches in 2024.All part of the Lloyds Banking Group, the banks currently have a combined 1,191 branches left in operation.The ...

Christmas shoppers were out in force to support one of South Holland’s best-known landmarks. The festive craft fair at Moulton Mill drew crowds of visitors last Sunday when more than 20 stall holders pitched up.The country’s tallest windmill was packed with shoppers who were able to pick up everything from chutney to a woolly hat.“It was really very busy and ...

A bid to hold a £1.3 million referendum on the Greater Lincolnshire devolution deal was rejected by county councillors, who voted to progress a deal for electing a mayor for the area. Instead, a public consultation will be held across the region, involving residents filling in a feedback form and submitting it.The new mayoral authority setup will bring more control ...

Businesses and volunteers are being urged to help get Spalding back blooming. Funding for the 120 hanging baskets in the town was secured for this year, chair Coun Rob Gibson told a meeting of Spalding Town Forum, but there’s no guarantee of anything going forward.It follows the Spalding In Bloom board lacking in volunteers.And those on the forum pondered whether ...

A Whaplode Drove man has pleaded not guilty to a host of sexual offences involving attempting to meet children. Stephen Thomas Daubney (56), of Chapelgate, denied the charges when appearing at Boston Magistrates’ Court.The charges relate to incidents in Essex between December 2021 and January 2022.The 11 charges include four counts of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a ...