The threat of jail in Thailand has finally been lifted for a Spalding human rights activist. In September 2016 Andy Hall was sentenced by a Bangkok court to four years’ imprisonment, reduced by one year and suspended by two years as well as fine for interviewing workers at the Natural Fruit Co, Ltd. His interviews were part of a report ...

The councillor overseeing the soon to be started Spalding Western Relief Road has said funding is “incredibly difficult” when questioned by The Voice about how confident he was that the middle sections would ever be built. Preparatory work on phase one of five, the most northerly section of the controversial project from Pinchbeck Road, will start on July 6. Lincolnshire ...

The Spalding branch of the Royal British Legion has marched into its new premises. The group, which has been supporting veterans in the town for nearly 100 years, has moved into new premises on Westlode Street. They’ve made the move to more modern premises in the town centre after moving from Spring Gardens. Chair Graham Hewitt said: “It will be ...

Long Sutton Market is to finally re-open on Friday (July 3). And it will be in the Market Place after objections were a plan to move it to a nearby car park. That’s held up its return, but a road closure order has now been finalised to allow the market to resume while also providing ample space for those attending ...

A councillor has thanked local companies who supported the Spalding and Pinchbeck COVID Kindness Team. The group which provided help and vital equipment in the area during the COVID-19 lockdown were helped by a host of donations from local companies. They included Dalehead Foods. Coun Rob Gibson was one of the volunteers and on the committee of the team. He ...

District councillor and businessman Harry Drury is joining Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue’s latest cohort of recruits to raise money for the Firefighters’ Charity by organising and participating in a sponsored 10km hose run. Harry, who is currently undergoing training to become an on call firefighter with Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue, based at Spalding Fire Station, said: “Seven recruits will be ...

Railings are being erected at a Pinchbeck bridge in attempt to stop young people jumping into the water from it. Concerns over anti-social behaviour in the Crossgate area have led to the measures requested by Pinchbeck Parish Council for the Flax Mill Bridge. And the council’s online meeting on Tuesday night heard that Lincolnshire County Council work had already began ...

This is what the Coronation Channel looks like every morning – it’s hard to believe really. Bottles have to be fished out of the water before our dogs can swim. I ask them not to do it but they have no concern at all! Gill Smith via email

The Prime Minster has publicly announced being in favour of free TV licences for over 80s and that the possibility was being considered. Conversely the BBC have stated that they could not afford this. Another subject that we see frequently concerns women’s rights with equal opportunities for women, especially in the BBC with equal pay. Now, having been in lockdown ...

Unite, which represents workers throughout public transport including over 80,000 bus workers, is warning that a second spike in COVID-19 infections is becoming ever more likely due to increasing non-compliance with face covering and social distancing rules on public transport. Unite issued its warning on Friday after transport secretary Grant Shapps announced that bus and rail timetables will return to ...

In response to an article in your mail section re: When will we get more bags. At the end of February, beginning of March, the black and green refuse bags were rolled out in my area. I, for whatever reason, was missed. At my earliest opportunity and amidst the lockdown I was able to ascertain that whilst my neighbours had ...

I was amused after reading Sir John Hayes’ rant published in the June 25 edition of The Voice, page 17. Is he serious? If so, we require context, it is just not good enough to cite an article from The Guardian, possibly three-years-old, and provide neither a date, nor the name of the ‘militant’ journalist. The readership of The Voice, ...

It is outrageous and utter rubbish for G Kent to claim that I was suggesting a political party would condone the sexual abuse of underage girls! Far from it. It was a Labour politician Ann Cryer who raised this issue and faced a torrent of abuse for doing so and next to no support from her colleagues. G Kent seems ...

I would like to say how much I enjoyed your publication of The Voice last week (June 25). The variety of subjects covered gave very interesting reading, and the article by John Hayes concerning historical attitudes in Britain was excellent, and being a Bristolian, I can only confirm my thoughts and reactions to the recent events were of the same ...

I would like to congratulate SHDC in their speed and efficiency in restoring the markers they had provided in town in the form of yellow indicators on footpaths to indicate which direction one is supposed to walk. They even employed assistors who I understand came from Lincoln, to advise the general population of Spalding to keep two metre distant. Over ...

What very good news that Long Sutton Market, on its return, will be in the Market Place, where it has been for centuries. Can I thank all those who worked together to achieve this admirable result. Let us hope that the market thrives, and that local people support our smallholders who normally turn up, rain or shine, on Fridays. Once ...

To Coun Nick Worth: Last week I became aware of the signs painted on the pavement on High Street, Holbeach. I saw in the Spalding and South Holland Voice that compliance with these signs was being monitored by essential workers (paid by SHDC and ratepayers). I contacted Paul in the Highways department at Lincolnshire County Council and asked if these ...

Lincolnshire businesses took ‘an extraordinary hit’ because of the COVID-19 outbreak, the county’s Chamber of Commerce has said. It today (Wednesday) released its survey results of local businesses in quarter two of the year covering April, May and June. The survey for Q2 2020 found that businesses reported a decline in UK sales activity, from a balance of +8 to ...

A Spalding bar is looking to be the first to legally reopen its doors since the beginning of lockdown. Imaginarium on Westlode Street has taken the unprecedented move to open its doors at just one minute into Saturday July 4, 12.01am. Lucy Smith, assistant manager, said: “While the venue has stayed in touch with some customers, including offering a delivered ...

Holbeach Parish Council has said its ‘monitoring’ behaviour in its parks and cemetery amid worries over anti-social behaviour and after recent incidents, including an attempted mugging. The decision to stop locking Carter’s Park, Netherfields, Holbeach Cemetery and Hallgate Cemetery was made by councillors at the February meeting of Holbeach Parish Council. There have been several incidents of crime reported to ...