News

Action is being taken to protect historic buildings and conservation areas in South Holland on the Heritage At Risk register. Historic England said last October the condition of four of the district’s listed buildings was “very bad” and three “poor”. Since then the government body has talked to owners and South Holland District Council,  the local planning authority, about works ...

A benefits cheat and thief who was ordered to pay back just £1 of the £56,679 she pocketed could still be forced to cough up more.   Holbeach mum Maria Pridmore fraudulently took more than £16,000 worth of housing benefit, council tax benefit and income support and stole more than £30,000 from four women. A court was told last December ...

Lincolnshire Police force has received an overall “good” rating for being effective by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC).   This latest assessment, published today (March 2) means that Lincolnshire has now received an overall ‘good’ grading for each of the HMIC pillars of PEEL – efficiency, effectiveness and legitimacy.   Assistant Chief Constable Paul Gibson: “Overall we are pleased with HMIC’s assessment ...

A step forward in a campaign for more support for people with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) has been taken thanks to efforts by a Spalding woman whose father died from it. Hannah Harris (35) knew little about MND before her father Mick Smith, of Long Sutton (pictured), was diagnosed, but is now working to support others who face the terminal ...

Cowbit Village Store has been attacked for a second time, in what has been described as a “slap in the face” for the whole village. The community launched a fundraising drive to buy security shutters for the store after it was broken into on February 19 – and around £1,000 has already been donated. At around 10.45pm on Monday (Feb ...

An historic Long Sutton pub is set to reopen next month following a £140,000 refurbishment. Customers at The Olde Ship Inn in London Road can expect “a proper old pub”, according to Sean Portass, whose company STP Properties owns it. The exterior has had a massive facelift, including installation of a thatched roof. Inside, exposed beams have been replaced with ...

A Spalding youngster is set to make her debut in the pinnacle of the dog enthusiast’s calendar.     Holly Sinclair has capped a meteoric rise through the ranks by securing a place at Crufts which takes place at the NEC in Birmingham next week.   She will be competing in the Agility Dog of the Year category with 12-year-old ...

The National Farmers’ Union’s new county adviser in Holland (Lincs) is Danny O’Shea. He moves to the county post from being membership communications manager in the NFU’s Warwickshire headquarters and prior to that was a local group secretary. Danny said: “It’s a real honour to have been appointed to the role of county adviser. I’m particularly looking forward to meeting ...

A new apprenticeship scheme is being launched to help the next generation of nurses achieve their dream career. The West Norfolk Cohort aims to attract nursing students to work in the area along with helping health or social care assistants to train to become registered nurses. King’s Lynn’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust and Norfolk Community Health ...

A project to assess possible improvements to Spalding’s traffic management system is nearing completion. Two schemes being considered are part-closure of Swan Street between Station Approach and Winfrey Avenue, and installation of a mini roundabout at the junction of Winfrey Avenue and Kings Road. Lincolnshire County Council secured funding to carry out a feasibility study, which began in autumn last ...

A successful slimmer has decided to continue her passion for dieting by becoming a consultant to help inspire others.     Katie Willows lost more than five stone after joining Slimming World following constant struggles with her weight throughout her adult life.   And now the former Spalding High School pupil has taken over the Sutton Bridge group at the ...

Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership (LRSP) is highlighting that the penalties for using,  or holding, a handheld mobile phone whilst driving increase from today (March 1). The fine has now increased to £200, six penalty points and the withdrawal of the educational course that negated the points awarded. The use of handheld mobile phones whilst driving has been against the law ...

Lincolnshire county councillors have agreed a budget which includes an increase in the county council element of council tax of 1.95 per cent with an additional two per cent adult care precept. This increase will generate additional income of around £9.8m which will contribute to the funding shortfall the council is facing from decreasing government grants and additional costs, particularly from adult care. As ...

County councillors have voted in favour of seeking the views of Lincolnshire residents of the county on the principle of moving to a unitary system of local government. Following a debate at full council last Friday (February 24), the majority of councillors voted in favour of carrying out some form of consultation later this year. Council leader Martin Hill had hoped ...

A Spalding man said to have made more than 62,000 indecent images of children has had his case sent for trial. David Paul Alexander, of Spring Street, is charged with: making 111 still/moving Category A indecent images of a child between December 26, 2015 and July 27, 2016 making 136 still moving Category B indecent images of a child between ...

A Spalding driving instructor is counting himself lucky after a huge tree was blown down into the road just feet in front of his car. Paul Smith, of LDC Driving School, was on his own as the tree fell across Priory Road, Spalding, near the old Johnson Hospital. He captured the incident on dashcam footage as he drove from Spring Gardens on Thursday ...

A review of a business plan for Welland Homes Ltd – South Holland District Council’s housing development company – has been undertaken just a few weeks before it makes a major purchase. South Holland District Council cabinet meeting was told on February 14 that an “urgent” decision was required to enable capitalisation of the company. Welland Homes director Coun Bryan Alcock ...

There are moves to use online technology such as Skype and FaceTime to allow ‘virtual clinics’ and remote diagnosis in south Lincolnshire. South Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group is exploring opportunities to be able to deliver its services differently and making use of new technology.   A spokesman said: “We are currently running a small pilot to offer TeleDermatology, which allows ...

The garden waste collection scheme, events at Ayscoughfee Hall and Gardens and empty homes brought back into use are among achievements listed in a new South Holland report. An update on progress on goals set out in South Holland District Council’s corporate plan, was reported to a full council meeting (February 22). The report said: savings and income totalling £356,500 ...

Businesses and relatives of children at a West Pinchbeck pre-school hit by a burglary have been pulling together. Ladybirds – a voluntary managed community charity pre-school in Leaveslake Drove – had £1,000 of goods stolen overnight on February 9, including an Xbox, Ipad and a specialist computer for early years education. Manager Kathleen Amess’ niece Jessica Lane has set up ...