News

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 ...

A new face-to-face video link is being launched by South Holland Citizens Advice Bureau. The free service will be offered for two hours each day, five days a week from The Curlew Centre in Sutton Bridge. Until now access to advice for people living in that area has been managed by advisers from the Spalding bureau visiting Long Sutton one ...

Six new classrooms are planned at Spalding’s Parish Church Day School to cope with increasing demand. The PAN (published admission number) in reception for this academic year rose by 30 to 90. And by 2021, the total roll will increase from the current 450 to 630. A new kitchen, extended hall and extra parking spaces are also in plans submitted ...

Parish council work in Holbeach gave Coun Paul Foyster the desire to go further and secure a place on the district council. And he achieved that in May this year, one of two members to be elected to represent UKIP on the local authority for the first time. “I like being in local government because you get the opportunity to ...

A former amateur triathlete is calling for more research after he was struck down by a devastating and little-known disease. Ron Flewett, from Weston Hills, was a healthy and active 53-year-old when he was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), which has left him unable to take part in the athletic events he used to enjoy. Since his devastating diagnosis ...

New technology is set to make winter road gritting more effective and efficient. The new county-wide system is able to monitor the temperature of individual roads, meaning gritting can be more targeted to where it is needed. Preparations are already under way for the winter, with Lincolnshire’s fleet of 43 gritters venturing out from their depots on a test run ...

Smokers in South Holland could land themselves with a £50 fine after Lincolnshire police said they would enforce a new law. From October 1 it became illegal for drivers to smoke in a car carrying children aged under 18 years old. The law applies even if the windows or sunroof are open or air conditioning is on, although not in ...

Parents and carers now have access to a wealth of information thanks to the school nursing section of the Lincolnshire Healthy Families website, part of Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust (LCHS). The school nursing service offers support and advice to children and young people in a variety of locations whether they attend a mainstream school, or other types of ...

A new service to help migrant workers integrate more fully into local communities has been launched. The Citizens Advice Bureau’s Reaching Communities project will support foreign workers for its five-year lifespan, with  more than £250,000 funding from the Big Lottery Fund. Face-to-face advice and information delivered in native language and aimed at migrant workers from Poland, Latvia and Lithuania will be available ...

Lincolnshire Police says an 11 per cent rise in the number of complaints made against the force can be seen as a positive. A report by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) shows 567 complaints were lodged in 2014/15 – up 57 from the previous year. The 11 per cent rise compares to a national average of six per cent. ...

Network Rail is quietly confident that road users in South Holland may have seen the last of the ongoing problem which has caused level crossings to close for hours at a time. It has taken 12 months to get to this point but the very many drivers, pedestrians, cyclists and businesses frustrated by automatic closures when no train has been ...

Anyone who owns an empty home which could be used to house Syrian refugees is being urged to come forward. Although it is not yet known what impact the Syrian crisis will have on South Holland, the district council is working on contigencies in case of an influx of refugees. And it has urged anyone who could offer an empty ...

by Jess Horn – community development officer at South Holland District Council This month will see Hate Crime Awareness Week take place and our team is keen to spread the word. Research suggests that over 80 per cent of hate crimes are not reported to the police. We want to raise awareness of this project and do what we can ...

There cannot be too many people for whom a 20-hour working day is not just a regular occurrence, but the norm. Hardly a “sell” for getting involved in local government in Local Democracy Week (October 12-19) but, like the late former Prime Minister and fellow Conservative Margaret Thatcher, little sleep is normal for South Holland District Council leader Gary Porter. “I usually only sleep ...