News

Four men were due to appear in court today (Tuesday) charged with an ATM ram-raid at a Long Sutton store. Levi Mitchell, (31), of Gibb Croft, Harlow, Leo Smith, (20), from Spriggs Road, Peterborough, Levi Smith, (49), of Conniston Road, Peterborough, and Dale Smith (28), of Malvern Meadows, Worcester, were all charged with conspiracy to burgle a Spar shop in Long Sutton, ...

A teenaged Holbeach motorcyclist has been seriously injured in a collision in Pinchbeck. It happened at the junction of Enterprise Way and Spalding Road at 7.40pm on Tuesday (October 20). The 18-year-old rider of a 125cc motorbike was taken to Boston’s Pilgrim Hospital with serious injuries. Police say his condition is stable. The driver of a VW Golf involved is not believed to have been ...

It’s going to be a busy time in Holbeach Clough today (Wednesday) for 19-year-old Tim Steele as he keeps tabs on mum Tracey’s DeLorean DMC-12. It’s Back To The Future Day – the date which Marty McFly and Doc Brown travelled to in a DeLorean in the second in the trilogy of films. Tim (pictured with his The Future Is Here ...

  This powerful new cleaning machine is being used by South Holland District Council in the fight against litter on our streets. The Glutton vacuum is highly effective at cleaning up cigarette butts, drinks bottles and chewing gum. A pavement sweeper is also being used in conjunction with the Glutton machine to clear dirt from walkways. The electric and silent machine ...

UPDATE: Two teenagers who went missing from Spalding have been found after five days away from home. Police said Kim Edwards and Lucas Markham (both 14) were found “safe and well” on Saturday. It is understood the welcome outcome came as a result of information supplied by the public.   FRIDAY, October 16: Police are urging two teenagers, who have left ...

Campaigners are celebrating after taking a step forward in their bid to save their village pub. A group of villagers in Gedney Hill have been fighting against plans to turn The Red Lion into a family home and have now won their battle to have the building listed as an Asset of Community Value. The decision by South Holland District ...

A defibrillator has been installed in Moulton Chapel. Moulton Parish Council has been able to supply the potentially life-saving equipment thanks to fundraising efforts by Moulton Chapel residents and ward district councillors Anthony Casson, Rodney Grocock and Andrew Woolf. The defibrillator is in a yellow cabinet on the outside wall of The Jolly Farmer pub. The equipment – which can ...

The proposed reform to business rates has been welcomed as good news for South Holland. District council leader Gary Porter admitted to surprise at councils being able to retain the full 100 per cent by 2020. He was at the Conservative Party conference to hear Chancellor George Osborne announce that, in new rules to be introduced by the end of this Parliament, ...

A complaint about noise nuisance in the neighbourhood set Coun Jack McLean’s phone ringing at 1am. Another followed at 3.30am. But neither bothered him. He sees it as part of his role as a South Holland district councillor to help and represent the residents in Spalding St John’s ward around the clock. At 20 years old, Coun McLean is the ...

Long delays in handing over patients to accident and emergency departments are putting lives at risk. East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) has said more and more crews are having to wait up to an hour to hand over patients, which posed a “significant risk” to patient safety. And the service the problems will only worsen as the busy winter period ...

A new £50,000 furnace has enabled a Spalding Common firm to improve output, become more efficient and safeguard jobs. South Lincs Pattern Shop and Foundry’s second furnace is making a big difference to the niche work which the business attracts. Foundry owner and managing director David Harriman said: “We do a lot of work with prototype people, who might be ...

The annual nasal spray flu vaccine is now available for children in Lincolnshire from the school nursing team at Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust. The nasal spray vaccine contains flu viruses that have been weakened to stop them causing flu. It will help a child build up immunity to flu in a similar way as natural infection (but without ...

A new air ambulance is due to take to the skies to save lives next year. Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance has announced it will be taking delivery of a new helicopter next summer, an AgustaWestland AW169, subject to satisfactory completion of contract negotiations. The AW169 aircraft will replace their current MD902 Explorer, which Specialist Aviation Services provides and operates ...

A short appeal for clothes to help Syrian migrant children attracted more than 250 bags of donations. Ella’s Syrian Appeal – organised by Spalding couple Mark and Sarah Le Sage – has now closed but achieved its aim of giving urgent assistance to youngsters with few possessions after their families fled the war-torn country. The clothes have already been delivered ...

A nurse described as excellent in clinical practice killed himself after being suspended over stolen medicines he said he needed for his role in custody suites. Lee James Hilton was found dead about a fortnight after suspension first by United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust and then G4S Medical Services, both of which employed the 51-year-old. An investigation was due to be ...

A transfer of adult home care provision has been criticised as chaotic and upsetting to some vulnerable users. Lincolnshire County Council says it has changed its contracts to ensure the market can continue to support the ever-growing demand. There are now 12 prime providers rather than the 70 which the council used to contract. In Gosberton, one elderly man was ...

South Holland district councillors have been asked to accept a 2.2 per cent pay increase. An independent panel of four members has made the recommendation to a meeting of the full council tonight (Wednesday). The increase would see a councillor’s basic allowance rise from £6,000 to £6,132. Councillors have been canvassed for their opinion on the level of payments. A report ...

A tireless fundraiser has been nominated for a special behind-the-scenes visit to 10 Downing Street as a thank you for his efforts. Les Ward, who celebrated his 71st birthday on Thursday (October 8), has raised more than £50,000 since 1997 when he first began collecting cash for Holbeach Town Band. Since then several good causes have benefited from his efforts, ...

Even after almost 40 years on South Holland District Council, Bryan Alcock still gets the same satisfaction out of a being a member – coupled with a dose of frustration. The satisfaction comes from achieving results; the frustration from the often protracted time in getting them. Strategy is his favourite part of the role, rather than the day-to-day tasks. One ...

The dedicated work of council staff who rescue and re-home stray dogs across the district has been recognised with an award. South Holland District Council recently won a Silver RSPCA Community Animal Welfare Footprint Award – 12 months after being awarded a bronze accolade under the same scheme. The award is for the council’s stray dog service as a whole ...