News

Lincolnshire Police suffered technical difficulties with their 999 and 101 phone line services on Monday, August 21. The police took to Facebook to announce the problem, stating: “We have a number of call takers logged on and ready to receive incoming calls for both services but due to technical difficulties we are not up to full strength.” The statement then ...

Members of a weight loss group have lost an astonishing 76 stone between them in just three months. The group meets on Monday evenings at Holbeach WI Hall and is run by Mel Horscroft. “I started the class in May and it has grown and grown. There were about 25 to 30 people at the start, but more than 60 ...

A village pub is set to close its doors two years after it was bought by a local company in a bid to save it from closure. The Chequers is the only pub in Weston and the village will be left with just a shop. Wimberley Hall Farm Shop in the village is also closing this weekend. “We have a ...

Businesses and residents in Holbeach hope the town’s days as a traffic bottleneck are numbered. The countdown is on to end a road closure which has caused jams through the town centre. In the meantime, town councillors are hoping the county authority can put a halt to the HGVs ignoring the signs and thundering through. The A151 link road to ...

Spalding’s newest cafe opened its doors for business and will be raising money to help a good cause. South Holland and the Deepings MP John Hayes was on-hand to officiate at the first St Barnabas cafe. A queue of around 60 people were waiting for the first day of trading. The cafe opened at the weekend in the shop’s new ...

Two men have been arrested in Spalding on suspicion of entering the UK illegally. Police siezed the men at 11.05am at Springfield Nursery, Roman Bank, on Monday. No information has been given about their place of origin. A spokesperson said: “They will be looked after until immigration collect them.” Police inspector Gareth Boxall tweeted: “Imagine [the] desperation that led to ...

Controversial new reforms to A levels seemed to have little impact on results in South Holland. Both Spalding Grammar School and Spalding High School students achieved good outcomes, according to headteachers. There were smiles and tears alike at Spalding schools as the big day arrived last Thursday. Two years of hard work and study culminated in that breathless and emotional ...

Holbeach is to host its first Saturday market in Church Street. This Saturday (Aug 19), the monthly market launches with a range of stalls. “We have crafts and food at present, including cards, gifts, retro items, furniture and cakes,” said Holbeach Parish Councillor Isobel Hutchinson. It is hoped the market will not only please Holbeach shoppers but also encourage traders. ...

The annual Deeping Raft Race again made a splash, raising money for charity and entertaining thousands of visitors along the banks. This year’s Best of British theme saw Spice Girls drift down the River Welland, along with an ingenious amphibious take on the famous three-wheeled van from the sitcom Only Fools and Horses. Organiser Andy Pelling said: “The 2017 Deepings ...

Deeping St Nicholas seven-year-old Kieran Taylor has returned from the USA with his family following specialist cancer treatment. Kieran, who had a brain tumour removed last year, had proton beam therapy for several weeks in Jacksonville, Florida. The family raised a total of £12,000, thanks to generous people in the South Holland area, to help fund the cost of staying ...

The annual art exhibition at St Matthew’s Church in Sutton Bridge celebrates its 20th year. In reaching its second decade, the event has become the longest running art exhibition in the area. More than 200 works were entered into this year’s event, which features works from 70 artists from Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire. The exhibition opens on August 26 and ...

A new venture in Holbeach is set to open its doors at the weekend. A group of three people have joined forces to launch a new fabric shop. The business will also go on to offer sewing machine repairs for customers and the partnership behind Fabric Fae is looking forward to opening the doors. “This is our first venture, but ...

A group of Spalding Guides and leaders joined thousands of others enjoying an International Jamboree. There were a total of 5,500 scouts and guides from 24 countries, with 3,000 leaders and volunteers at Lincoln Showground. The Spalding district group tried a range of activities from free-fall stunt jumping to trapeze and riding a segway. The week-long event also featured displays ...

Parish councillors this week defended safety checks on headstones in Lutton churchyard from claims they are disrespectful. Reader Trevor Russell, whose brother lives in the village, contacted The Voice last week to say he was concerned ‘topple tests’ could be damaging and disrespectful, and that they should be carried out in the presence of an accredited memorial mason. But Lutton ...

The first homes offered for rent by Welland Homes are now fully occupied. The company was set up by South Holland District Council to provide rented homes across the district. It works in partnership with building firm D&R Homes and the Walters Close development in Spalding is now fully let. “It is a very attractive development built to an excellent ...

A national store with a branch in Spalding town centre has announced up to 3,900 redundancies. Wilko is currently consulting with staff on the shake-up. The company is looking to take out a level of supervisory roles across the UK but is also creating 1,000 new senior positions as part of the changes. The consultation is due to run until ...

A Long Sutton grandfather of ten died when a pensioner failed to see his motorcycle on the A16, a court was told this week. Jean Taylor (74), of Stickford, admitted causing the death of Terence Westrop (65) by careless driving following the collision on the A16 at Sibsey in December. Lincoln Crown Court heard Taylor was driving her husband to ...

Rail services need to be hugely improved in Spalding to justify any major increase in fares, according to the chairman of a local user group. George Scott, of the Spalding and Peterborough Transport Forum, said the price hikes announced this week were not helping economic development in the area. “We have two cathedral cities in Peterborough and Lincoln and you ...

Lincolnshire Police have laid out the force’s strategy on rural crime. Deputy Chief Constable Craig Naylor recently brought together stakeholders and partner agencies, including the NFU, from across law enforcement and the rural community in the first meeting of Lincolnshire Police’s new Rural Community Safety Multi-Agency Gold Group. The meeting was an opportunity to review last year’s rural crime and ...

Record crowds were in Spalding over the weekend when the clock was turned back to the wartime years. It was the era of ration books, Lindy Hops and the dreaded Doodlebugs. But visitors were In the Mood when they dressed in their finest for the occasion. The 1940s event held at Ayscoughfee Hall saw around 10,000 people enjoy the sunshine ...