News

When John McGeorge-Oanta was told he was suffering ME he was serving as a medic in the RAF and had four young sons – the news was devastating. He struggled on varying reduced hours for four years before being invalided in 2006 facing a future of being cared for by his wife. He said: “It was like being presented with a ...

Rail fares for East Midlands Trains customers will rise by an average 1.5 per cent next month, with the increase nationally being 2.3 per cent. East Midlands Trains – the train operator for Spalding services – says the rise, which start on January 2, equates to 23p per average single journey. It says customers will see fares on average reducing in ...

Few people can say they retired from the same job in which they started 45 years previously. Loyal NHS employee Katrina (Tina) Gray, who finished working at Johnson Community Hospital on Wednesday (Nov 30), is one such person. However, although she started and finished in the same role, Tina (62) held other roles inbetween as well as taking a break while ...

Traveller families have completed their move off an unauthorised site at Gosberton Clough – 12 years after the first of them arrived. They have moved to a new Spalding site developed by South Holland District Council as a replacement. The council will take ownership of the empty site in Broad Drove. The new site at Drain Bank North, which has ten ...

A proposed sharp rates rise is threatening the future of a riding stables business in West Pinchbeck. Four Winds Equestrian Centre proprietor Paula Leverton says the rise equates to an extra £200 per month and passing that amount on to clients is troublesome for the business. She said: “Nobody objects to an increase but it’s got to be in line. ...

This is an e-fit image of a suspect police want to speak to about a distraction burglary and assault in Crowland. At about 2.45pm on Monday, November 21, the man walked into a property in Glebe Gardens asking to read the meter. Police said: “He then assaulted the occupant by slapping him and demanding to know if there was money in the ...

Planning applications have been submitted for a total of 135 homes on two sites, in Holbeach and Gosberton. A development of 55 new homes is proposed on farm land behind 50 Fleet Road, Holbeach, which would be demolished to create access. An outline planning application submitted to South Holland district Council by the owner of the house, Mr T Morriss, said: ...

Businesses canvassed about a proposal for Spalding to become a Business Improvement District (BID) have demonstrated a “clear appetite”. A survey was commissioned to gauge interest in a defined area paying a levy, based on a premises’ rateable value. A BID – last mooted and rejected in 2009 – would employ a town centre manager and support events. News of ...

Police and traders are working together to identify and stop shoplifters. Recognise anyone in these CCTV images? They’re all wanted for questioning over recent incidents. Stuart Brotherton, ShopWatch co-ordinator, said: “There is bound to be a spike in shoplifting as it is the time of year. Clearly this is a time for extra vigilance with shops working together using the ...

Housing developments on the downtrodden Red Cow Hotel site in Donington and in Peterborough Road, Crowland, are poised for planning consent tonight (Wednesday, Nov 30). Market Homes proposed 31 new homes on the derelict Red Cow Hotel site, which has been closed for around 15 years, and to demolish the tap bar. The listed coach house would be converted into ...

Plans for a prototype house capable of being lifted on mechanical stilts to escape flooding are expected to gain planning permission tonight (Wednesday, Nov 30). Larkfleet Homes applied to build the experimental three-bedroom detached house on land associated with Ashgrove Lodge, in Austendyke Road, Weston Hills. Following the end of the five-year temporary permission the modular property could be dismantled ...

It’s all systems go for two big Christmas events in Holbeach this weekend. (Dec 3 and 4) Holbeach St Nicholas Fayre is centred around All Saints’ Church on Saturday and Sunday, and Holbeach Hub Christmas Celebration is in Boston Road South on Sunday. For St Nicholas Fayre, it is the third annual running of the event. Organisers say this year’s ...

A Spalding student has struck gold at the country’s largest skills and careers event for young people. Rhianna Berry, who is currently studying at Boston College, was awarded first place in the health and social care competition at the WorldSkills UK national finals. The competition, which was organised by Profiles4Care and sponsored by the NHS Leadership Academy, aims to find ...

Holbeach’s Fleet Road will once more become a wonderland of Christmas lights as Jack Turner switches on the illuminations at his home. Each year Jack decorates his home to raise money for Holbeach and East Elloe Hospitals Trust. Last year his home was covered in more than 60,000 lights, raising £1,245 for the charity. This year he promises there will ...

The tough task which faced judges in South Holland Business Awards 2016 was highlighted in one particular category. The Apprentice of the Year award was split four ways between the shortlisted candidates – Kirsty Buffham (Fairnet Commercial Services), Jacques Ripley (Maples Solicitors), Nicole Sleaford (Infotel Solutions) and Lisa Wright (National Centre for Food Manufacturing). The annual awards event was in ...

Lord Porter of Spalding is calling for further investment into pancreatic cancer research. He is also urging people to know the symptoms of the disease. It follows a reception at Westminster hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for pancreatic cancer, attended by Lord Porter, who is leader of South Holland District Council. He learned that around 665 people in the ...

Two South Holland care workers have been rewarded for their dedication, hard work and exceptional achievements. Elaine Whittle – home manager at Southfield House in Spalding – and Sarah Johnson – a senior carer from Patchett Lodge in Holbeach – were recognised by the Orders of St John Care Trust (OSJCT). They were presented with the Chairman’s Commendation award for ...

Views are being sought by South Holland District Council on plans to revise the current Council Tax Support scheme. The authority has launched a short survey which will only take around ten minutes to complete, asking for opinions on plans to alter the scheme, which will be introduced in April 2017. Of the 3,511 residents currently eligible for reductions in ...

South Holland District Council’s portfolio holder for business growth has praised the two recipients of council-sponsored accolades in South Holland Business Awards 2016. The council sponsored the Business Person of the Year award for the second year running, which was won by David Ball, of Neame Lea Nurseries. It also handed out a special Lifetime Achievement Award to Ann Savage, group technical director ...

Bakkavor Pizza Holbeach is looking to increase its workforce by almost 20 per cent. There are 150 new posts at the factory in Holbeach St Marks, which already employs 800 people. The firm produces chilled pizzas for major retailers including Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Waitrose and Tesco. It also produces Pizza Express retail pizzas. Pippa Greenslade, group HR director, said: “Now is a really ...