News

Public consultation over plans to close East Midlands Congenital Heart Centre

NHS England has said there will be a formal public consultation about its plans to close the East Midlands Congenital Heart Centre. It follows a meeting in London between the centre’s chief executive, Jonathan Adler, and Jonathan Fielden, director of specialised commissioning at NHS England. Last month, The Voice reported on the decision to close the centre based at Glenfield ...

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Spalding Court House Charity fails with bid for Sessions House

The former Spalding Magistrates’ Court will not be transferred to the charity wanting it for community use. The eight trustee members of Spalding Court House Charity were told on Monday (August 1) that their bid for the Sessions House had been unsuccessful and the Ministry of Justice had decided to proceed with an alternative offer. Chairman of the trustees, Terry Moore, ...

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Prince’s Trust gives backing to new venture for Lorena

A new venture aimed at getting youngsters into work has been launched with the backing of The Prince’s Trust. Little Local Jobs is an online recruitment resource which has been set up by Lorena Zalyte, from Spalding. Lorena received funding from The Prince’s Trust and has also completed a project on social enterprise at Boston College. And she is now ...

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Spalding drinker jailed for unprovoked attack with pint glass in pub

A drinker who hit another man over the head with a beer glass in an unprovoked attack in a pub has been jailed for 12 months. Carl Robertson downed his pint and put his glass on the bar at the Hole in the Wall in Spalding but seconds later picked up the glass and used it to attack Graham Drury. Phil Howes, ...

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Be quick to have a say on Greater Lincolnshire devolution plan

There are just a few days left for people living and working in Greater Lincolnshire to have their say on proposals to create a Mayoral Combined Authority with a directly elected mayor for the area. Ten local authorities, from the Humber to The Wash, have joined together to ask for some powers, responsibilities and funding from Government to be devolved, ...

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Family members’ frantic efforts to save grandmother from house fire in vain

An inquest has heard how family members battled in vain to save a grandmother from a house fire. Vera Bunn (84) died in a granny annexe of the family home in Weydike Bank, Fleet Fen, most probably as a result of her clothes catching light from a halogen heater. The inquest at Boston Coroner’s Court today (Wednesday) heard that her chair was ...

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LETTER: They stole tomorrow to feed nostalgia for the past

The people of Britain have spoken or rather those who chose to speak by exercising their vote in the referendum voted by 52 per cent to leave. 48 per cent voted to remain. However 28 per cent choose not to vote at all. An absolute majority of those who actually voted is not an absolute majority of those entitled to ...

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Rural crime on the rise as thieves target countryside places

Rural communities across South Holland are being warned about the sudden rise in countryside crime. A report published by NFU Mutual has revealed that Lincolnshire is the worst county in the United Kingdom for rural crime. And the leading rural insurer believes those residents in South Holland with machinery, oil, diesel and quad bikes on their properties need to be ...

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Fish business lands the seal of approval

A new Sutton Bridge fish processing business is up and running following a seal of approval from South Holland District Council’s food safety team. One Fish Company, based in Millennium Way, Wingland, was granted full approval as a Food Business Establishment, following visits from the council’s food safety officers over the past few months. They ensured that the firm’s equipment ...

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Staff based at Johnson Community Hospital among 63 acknowledged for long service and dedication

Five staff members based at The Johnson Community Hospital in Pinchbeck are among dozens of long-serving NHS employees across Lincolnshire who have been praised for their dedication at a special awards ceremony. The 63 staff from Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust (LCHS) have chalked up an impressive 1,600 years’ service between them. Each person has achieved 20, 30 or 40 ...

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Charity shop, café and ‘library’ plan at ex-White Hart Hotel in Spalding

A retail plan has been put forward to bring the empty area of Spalding’s former White Hart Hotel back into use. St Barnabas Hospice wants to create a shop, ‘library’ and café on the ground floor of the historic Grade II* listed building, which dates from about 1500. An open plan format is proposed with separate retail sections for men’s, ...

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Free health and social care directory by Healthwatch Lincolnshire

Healthwatch Lincolnshire has produced a free directory to help people get the information they need with simplicity and ease. The Health and Social Care Signposting Directory is a complete listing of local GP practices, dentists, pharmacies, opticians, nursing and care homes, residential and domiciliary care providers. It also includes guidance and advice on: staying fit where to go for treatment ...

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Fire officers’ warning as danger lurks by cooling off in waterways

A safety warning has been issued to South Holland residents about swimming in waterways in a bid to keep cool during the searing temperatures. Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue’s ‘water aware’ campaign will highlight the dangers of swimming in uncharted territory. Officers are encouraging parents, with the school holidays under way, to advise their children to stay safe when they’re near ...

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Spalding traders in talks over BID move to fund new town centre manager

Traders in Spalding are to be canvassed again on whether they want to be part of a business improvement district (BID). The proposal – first mooted and rejected in 2009 – is being driven by the imminent departure from his post of Spalding town centre manager Dennis Hannant. A BID is a defined area in which all business rate payers ...

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Shock for business as phone system hacking leads to £9,000 calls bill

A business was shocked to discover that its phone system had been hacked, leading to a £9,000 calls bill. WH Brand, a car dealership in Whaplode Drove, found out on Monday that its voicemail had been compromised and expensive calls to foreign countries such as Sudan had been made from its lines. Calls to one mobile number had racked up ...

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New fences 25ft apart – planning inspectors say one’s fine, the other’s not

Planning inspectors say only one of these two new fences on opposite sides of the road is acceptable. Neighbours in Spalding’s Osier Road and Rutland Close both had to apply for retrospective planning permission after a tip-off to South Holland District Council – and both subsequently appealed the refusal decisions. The independent planning inspectorate then came to different decisions on ...

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Biker boost for town as popular event will attract visitors

Organisers of a new bike night in Spalding are hoping the popular event will attract more visitors to the town. More than 70 bikers turned up at the inaugural event at the Royal Mail Cart on Pinchbeck Road a fortnight ago. And, due to its popularity, organisers now want it to become a weekly event which aims to boost Spalding’s ...

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Inquests are opened into three deaths in Spalding shootings

Police are set to continue their investigations into last week’s triple shooting in Spalding after an inquest was opened and adjourned today (Wednesday). The deaths of Lance Hart, his wife Claire and daughter Charlotte of Moulton were confirmed by Detective Inspector Helen Evans who is the senior investigating officer in the case. DI Evans revealed to the inquest that both ...

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National award for pioneering project

A pioneering community nursing project which was started in South Holland has scooped a national award. The project was initiated by community nursing team case managers to change the way they work to better support their patients and colleagues – and such has been the success of it that it is now being developed across the county. Called the ‘Supporting ...

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Alicia shortlisted for national horse riding instructor award

A riding instructor at stables in West Pinchbeck got a nice surprise after hearing that she had been shortlisted for a national award. Alicia Horton, of Gosberton Risegate, is one of just five instructors from across the country to have made it through to the final of the Associated British Riding Schools’ Golden Spur Award. This highly prized award tests ...

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