News

A court case which would see a Spalding human rights defender sent to prison in Thailand for seven years has been delayed. Andy Hall was due to attend court on Monday to enter a plea to criminal defamation and computer crimes relating to a report he wrote about abuses of migrant workers by a Thai fruit juice company. But a ...

Repairs to the road surface on Halmergate will take place next week, weather permitting. The road will be closed to motorists from Monday, October 26, to Friday, October 30, but access will be maintained for residents. Maxine Stukins, senior highways officer, said: “With schools nearby we are taking the opportunity to complete these works during the half-term holidays, when there ...

A petition signed by more than 150 people has been lodged in objection to unauthorised roller shutters on a new off-licence. Hemen Ahmed has submitted a retrospective planning application for the crime prevention measure at Fantasia, in Bourne Road, Spalding. But nearby residents say when the orange shutters are down they have a negative effect on the area. Petition organiser ...

The latest blue plaque to be put up in Spalding marks the town’s association with The Salvation Army founder William Booth. His great-grandson Col Bramwell Booth and Spalding and District Civic Society member John Honnor unveiled it in Bridge Street on Saturday (October 17), accompanied by Boston Salvation Army Band. William Booth lodged on the site now occupied by Boots Opticians ...

Lincolnshire Police’s domestic abuse co-ordinator has been awarded the national award for her devotion to duty. Sarah Norburn was recognised with the Guardian Angel honour by the National Centre for Domestic Violence and the College of Policing in awards to celebrate the achievements of professionals tackling domestic abuse. Sarah said she was honoured and paid tribute to all the work that goes ...

A transformation programme to improve South Holland District Council over the next four years has been agreed. And the reason for it has been starkly spelt out by joint deputy leader Coun Malcolm Chandler (Whaplode and Saracen’s Head). He told last week’s full council meeting: “If we are to survive, we definitely need to do things in a different way.” ...

Evidence is needed before South Lincolnshire can expect to see its transport links improved. That was the clear message to come out of the first Lincolnshire Transport Conference, held in Spalding on October 23. The theme was Connecting South Lincolnshire, but delegates heard that there should be no expectation of investment without substantiated lobbying from stakeholders. Senior managers from East Midlands ...

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 ...