Author Archives: Tom Cassidy

LETTER: Rants influence nothing at all

I cannot understand the need for Alan Meekings’s continued campaign to fight the referendum issues ad nauseum. His fellow Remain favouring majority MPs in the house are making a very good show of undermining the referendum result, whilst claiming the contrary. His rants influence nothing at all and it is time he was simply ignored and let the real power ...

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Council buys up affordable homes

South Holland District Council has bought 18 properties to offer as affordable homes. The one-, two- and three-bed homes built by property developer Ashwood Homes are situated in Donington, Cowbit and Moulton. Six of the homes across the three sites will be available as part of the council’s shared ownership scheme. People who cannot afford the mortgage on 100 per ...

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Warning over trains increase

The chair of a railway action group has said that freight trains being diverted through South Holland will provide greater traffic problems than first realised. George Scott of the Spalding and Peterborough Transport Forum told a recent meeting of the Spalding Town Centre Forum that from 2021, he believes railway crossings in the town will be down to allow trains ...

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Spalding Police ‘extremely concerned’ about missing Valarie

Police in South Holland are looking for Valarie Bycraft, who went missing from her Spalding home last night (Sunday). Valarie (77) who has dementia, was last seen at around 6.45pm last night and was reported missing this morning. She might be wearing nightwear and blue slippers. If you have seen Valarie, call the police on 101.

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Man wanted in relation to GBH in Spalding and breach of bail

Lincolnshire Police have released details of a man wanted in relation to a GBH incident in Spalding last Saturday (March 9). A statement said officers are seeking James Ellis who is wanted in relation to a GBH in Rowan Avenue and breach of bail conditions for a separate offence. If you have seen him or know where he is, call ...

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Spalding man assaulted off-duty police officer

A drunken man who assaulted an off-duty police officer who stepped in to protect his own mother has been fined £83 by magistrates in Boston. Luke Purvis (22) of Windsover Road, Spalding admitted assaulting the off-duty officer Alex Irving by beating in Spalding on February 22. Jim Clare, prosecuting, said Mr Irving had gone out for the evening with his ...

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GALLERY: Duke of Kent opens Spalding’s new war memorial

The Duke of Kent was in Spalding this morning (Wednesday) to officially open the town’s new Second World War Memorial at Ayscoughfee Gardens. The Duke arrived by helicopter and then attended a service at The Parish Church of Saint Mary and Saint Nicolas. From there he braved the bracing wind to head to Ayscoughfee for the unveiling. A large crowd ...

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Police CCTV appeal after £3,000 of booze stolen from Holbeach shop

Lincolnshire Police have released CCTV images of four people they want to speak to in relation to the theft of £3,000 of alcohol from Holbeach Tesco. Police said on January 16, three men and a woman entered the Tesco store on Boston Road South, Holbeach, just past 3pm before taking the alcohol without paying. The alcohol was placed in a ...

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Police CCTV appeal after thefts from cars in Spalding

Lincolnshire Police are appealing for help identifying a man after a series of overnight thefts from cars in Spalding. Overnight between 26 and 27 February, between 8pm and 11am, a number of vehicles on Haywain Drive were been broken into and items stolen. If you have any information, police ask you contact them in one of the following ways: Via ...

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Virtual reality gaming centre opens in Long Sutton this weekend

Lincolnshire’s first virtual reality centre will open on Saturday (March 9) in Long Sutton. VR Zone, at Hodding Way, is set up as a place for people to experience cutting-edge fun. Owners Tele and Purdy Barros got the idea for the centre when they visited the Insomnia gaming show in Birmingham with their Fortnite-obsessed sons. While there, the couple experienced ...

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Woman accused of murder tells court she didn’t intend to cause harm

A woman accused of murdering her partner after driving for nearly 200 metres with him on the bonnet of her car today (Wednesday) told a jury that she had not intended to harm him.   Alison Skingsly, giving evidence to the jury at Lincoln Crown Court,  said she had earlier argued with Kevin Nix after he flirted with another woman while ...

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Santa’s helpers get donations from Rotary

South Holland organisations that helped the Rotary Club with its Santa Sleigh rounds this Christmas have been given donations at a presentation night. At Woodlands Hotel in Spalding, Jon Martin, President Elect of the Rotary Club of South Holland South Holland, presented donations to representatives from the following groups: Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, Spalding Rugby Football Club, 5th Spalding ...

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LETTER: Council does its best

A letter in The Voice (January 24) relating to the Holbeach Parish Precept and Carter’s Park is somewhat misleading, though I am sorry that a resident is unhappy. After new homes are included in the 2019/20 figures, the rise this year will be about 3.7 per cent, in cash terms, less than 25p per house per month. The average precept ...

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Historic Spalding waterway found on site proposed for flats

It’s been revealed a historic waterway unknown to local historians has been discovered on a site where 18 flats in Spalding have been recommended for approval to be built. South Holland District Council is recommended to accept the plans for the former Fitness Company at Spring Gardens when it meets on Wednesday, March 13, despite opposition from local residents. The ...

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LETTER: Remainers’ scare stories

Mr Meekings continues to perpetuate his widely discredited campaign of disinformation and false news regarding Brexit, especially when he knows full well that it is the Brexiteers that work on the basis of ‘common sense, facts and evidence’. If evidence is required, look at the accuracy of Project Fear. Before the 2016 referendum, remain supporting economists preached that voting to ...

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LETTER: Climate change is an urgent problem

Climate change is the most urgent problem faced by humanity. It threatens our way of life, the security and well-being of our children, and the ecosystems on which all life on earth depends. It is a problem that transcends national boundaries, with solutions that require international cooperation with our European partners, global institutions and countries around the world. Action on ...

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LETTER: Fed up with Brexit?

When I talk to voters locally, they typically agree on two things: first, the process of Brexit has been catastrophically badly managed by Theresa May; and, second, they’re fed-up with Brexit and just “want it to be over”, so they can get on with their lives. Some Leave voters mention, “We should have left on 24 June 16 and not ...

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Holbeach man Kev gears up for charity ride

A Holbeach motorbike enthusiast is set to ride the entire length of the British Isles in just one day raising money for two charities. In May, Kev Howard is to ride his 1250 Suzuki 800 miles from John O’Groats to Lands’ End within 24 hours. He’s doing it for the Holbeach and East Elloe Hospital Trust and Macmillan Cancer Support. ...

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Council Tax cost of empty homes could rocket

Council Tax bills for those owning empty residential property could go up by four times the original cost. The bill for an empty home can already be 200 per cent of the annual band amount from next month. From April next year the bill could rise to 300 per cent and increase further to 400 per cent in 2021. The ...

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Crystal Ball seeks cause for its proceeds

The popular Crystal Ball is looking for a local children’s charity to benefit from this year’s fundraising event. Last year’s event, held in November, raised a record-breaking £14,340, bringing the fundraising total to more than £64,000 for the chosen charity, the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation. Plans are already underway for the 2019 Crystal Charity Ball and the committee has ...

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