Blood analysis by a forensic scientist proved a Pinchbeck man was driving under the influence of the banned substance ketamine.

Police stopped Joseph Pike in Bourne after a patrol car officer saw his Renault van swerving from the verge to the centre white line and then force another car to brake when he cut if off as he right turned into Cherry Holt Road.

Marie Stace, prosecuting, said the officer believed Pike was “under the influence of something” after getting negative results from a breath-test and roadside screening test.

Pike was arrested and taken to the police station, where blood was taken.

Miss Stace said the analysis showed ketamine still in his system and “prior use of cocaine and ketamine”.

She said Pike was convicted of driving under the influence of drink or drugs in 2010.

Magistrates banned Pike from driving for three years, fined him £250 and ordered him to pay £85 costs and a £25 victim surcharge.

Pike (25), of Rotten Row, admitted driving while unfit through drugs.

Solicitor Carrie Simson, mitigating, said Pike has used drugs since he was 15, but hasn’t used any since December 15 – the day after the offence – as he realised his life was “spiralling out of control”.

Mrs Simson said Pike works as an electrician and he will keep his job despite the ban.

A young woman stole a mobile phone from her friend’s home and used it to call family and friends.

Shelley-Anne Dooney (23), of Cranmore Lane, Holbeach, pleaded not guilty to the offence when she appeared in court in November last year and the case was set down for trial.

But she changed her plea to guilty and magistrates on Thursday adjourned sentence to May 23 for a probation report.

The phone belonged to Lincolnshire Field Products and was used by a driver, Geoffrey Blanchard, who kept it at home when not at work.

Marie Stace, prosecuting, told the court the phone was stolen in June last year and an analysis of the call log showed Dooney had made 53 telephone calls to people including her ex-partner and grandmother.

Miss Stace said there was an application for £127.44 compensation for the cost of the phone and the calls.

Solicitor Carrie Simson, mitigating, said Dooney admitted the theft was “a stupid mistake” and it happened at a very difficult time in her life.

Mrs Simson said Dooney was sorry for not speaking up sooner.

She told the court Dooney had kept out of trouble for a year.

“She has a very supportive family network around her,” Mrs Simson told magistrates. “I am going to ask you to go outside your guidelines and impose a conditional discharge for a period you see fit.”

In a night of surprises, no party has managed to secure a majority in the Lincolnshire County Council elections, with UKIP making huge gains across the region.

Seventy-seven seats were up for grabs with every one contested in the Lincolnshire Free Press area.

Here is the full list of results and we will be bringing you reaction throughout the morning:

BOSTON RURAL

MICHAEL BROOKES, 45.6 % (1163) - Conservative Up 10.7% HELD

JODIE SUTTON, 41.2 % (1050) - UK Independence Party Up 19.1%

NORMAN HART, 13.2 % (336) - Labour Up 5.2%

Electorate: 9142

Turnout: 2549 (27%)

BOSTON SOUTH

ALISON AUSTIN, 42.8 % (889) - Lincolnshire Independents Up 42.8% GAIN

DON RANSOME, 37.8 % (786) - UK Independence Party Up 15.9%

PAUL SKINNER, 14.9 % (310) - Conservative Down 21.8%

JAN FINCH, J. 4.4 % (92) - Labour Down 2.8%

Electorate: 6269

Turnout: 2077 (33%)

CROWLAND

NIGEL PEPPER, 43.6 % (883) - Conservative Down 23.1% HELD

MARK WHARTON, 34.6 % (701) - UK Independence Party Up 34.6%

STEPHEN CLARKE, 10.2 % (206) - Labour Down 1.6%

JIM ASTILL, 8.8 % (178) - Independent Up 8.8%

GLYN MAYLEY, G 2.8 % (57) - Liberal Democrat Down 18.7%

Electorate: 7053

Turnout: 2025 (28%)

DEEPING ST JAMES

PHIL DILKS, F.D.P 53.9 % (862) - Labour Up 53.9% GAIN

PAUL COSHIM, 31.9 % (511) - Conservative Down 12.5%

MICHAEL BOSSINGHAM, M.E 8.5 % (136) - Green Party Down 15.8%

PHILIP HAMMERSLEY, P.E. 5.7 % (91) - Liberal Democrat Down 25.6%

Electorate: 5716

Turnout: 1600 (27%)

MARKET AND WEST DEEPING

PETER ROBINSON, 44.4 % (868) - Conservative Down 14.3% HELD

ASHLEY BAXTER, 43.6 % (851) - Lincolnshire Independents Up 43.6%

ELIZABETH EYRE, E.M 10.5 % (205) - Labour Up 10.5%

CHRISTINE BROUGH, C.N 1.5 % (30) - Liberal Democrat Down 8.3%

Electorate: 6704

Turnout: 1954 (29%)

DONINGTON RURAL

SUE WRAY, 8.7 % (770) - Conservative Down 33.1% HELD

TERRY DAVIS, 37.2 % (741) - UK Independence Party Up 37.2%

JANE KING, 15.1 % (301) - Lincolnshire Independents Up 15.1%

SHEENA ROSS, 7.4 % (147) - Labour Down 3.1%

TERRYY BISNAUTHSING, T 1.6 % (32) - Liberal Democrat Down 16.1%

Electorate: 6924

Turnout: 1991 (28%)

HOLBEACH

NICK WORTH, 44.8 % (979) - Conservative Down 18.6% HELD

PAUL FOYSTER, 42 % (918) - UK Independence Party Up 42%

DANIEL MAYHEW, D. 9.2 % (200) - Labour Up 0.8%

ROBERT WEST, 4 % (88) - British National Party Down 12.6%

Electorate: 7610

Turnout: 2185 (28%)

HOLBEACH RURAL

WILLIAM WEBB, 41.4 % (984) - Conservative Down 30.8% HELD

EMILY BATES, E. 36.3 % (861) - UK Independence Party Up 36.3%

VAL GEMELL, 13.1 % (310) - Lincolnshire Independents Up 13.1%

DAVID WARD, 7.1 % (169) - Labour Up 7.1%

KATHLEEN TANNER, K.M 2.1 % (50) - Liberal Democrat Down 25.7%

Electorate: 7759

Turnout: 2374 (30%)

SPALDING EAST AND MOULTON

RICHARD FAIRMAN, 38.5 % (923) - UK Independence Party Up 38.5% GAIN

EDDY POLL, 36.3 % (870) - Conservative Down 20.4%

PHIL SCARLETT, 11.8 % (283) - Lincolnshire Independents Up 11.8%

MELISSA WEBB, 9.5 % (228) - Labour Up 9.5%

ANTHONY WILLIAMS, 3.9 % (94) - British National Party Down 16.6%

Electorate: 9213

Turnout: 2398 (26%)

SPALDING ELLOE

ELIZABETH SNEATH, 43.5 % (1013) - Conservative Down 12.9% HELD

GEOFF GARNER, 39.3 % (914) - UK Independence Party Up 39.3%

JOSEPH LARRINGTON, 9.5 % (220) - Lincolnshire Independents Up 9.5%

SIMON LEYTON, 7.7 % (180) - Labour Up 7.7%

Electorate: 8220

Turnout: 2327 (28%)

SPALDING SOUTH

ALAN JESSON, 36.6 % (728) - UK Independence Party Up 36.6% GAIN

GRAHAM DARK, 26.9 % (535) - Independent Down 13.9%

ROGER GAMBBA-JONES, 6 % (517) - Conservative Down 9.1%

MATTHEW MAHABADI, 7 % (139) - Labour Down 1.5%

ROBERT WEST, 3.4 % (68) - Independent 2 Down 12.2%

Electorate: 8293

Turnout: 1987 (23%)

SPALDING WEST

ANGELA NEWTON, 36.9 % (866) - Lincolnshire Independents Up 36.9% GAIN

JIM SHEFFIELD, 33.3 % (782) - UK Independence Party Up 33.3%

HOWARD JOHNSON, 21.5 % (506) - Conservative Down 23.9%

KATHLEEN OSBORN, 6.5 % (153) - Labour Down 1.6%

Electorate: 8488

Turnout: 2349 (27%)

SUTTON ELLOE

CHRIS BREWIS, 48.3 % (1100) - Lincolnshire Independents Down 20.4% HELD

JACK TYRRELL, 25.8 % (587) - Conservative Down 2.1%

JOAN WOOLARD, 20.6 % (468) - UK Independence Party Up 20.6%

LESLEY HOUGH, 5.4 % (122)

Labour Up 5.4%

Electorate: 7803

Turnout: 2277 (29%)

BOURNE ABBEY

SUE WOOLLEY, 41.3 % (969) - Conservative Down 4.9% HELD

RON DAVISON, 26.4 % (621) - UK Independence Party Up 26.4%

JANE KINGMAN, 17.8 % (418) - Independent Down 9.3%

PETER MORRIS, 3.1 % (72) - Liberal Democrat Down 7.2%

IAN SELBY, 0 % (0) - Labour & Co-op Down 0%

Electorate: 9065

Turnout: 2348 (25%)

BOURNE CASTLE

HELEN POWELL, 45 % (948) - Lincolnshire Independents Up 5.2% GAIN

CHARLOTTE FARQUHARSON, 41.3 % (871) - Conservative Down 10%

PAUL JACKLIN, 10.1 % (214) - Labour Up 1.2%

JANINE MORRIS, 3.6 % (76) - Liberal Democrat Up 3.6%

Electorate: 6790

Turnout: 2109 (31%)

Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner Alan Hardwick faced questions about his plans to recruit volunteers for the force at a meeting in Weston.

Mr Hardwick and Spalding community policing inspector Jim Tyner were the guests of Spalding East Rural Community Policing Panel at Park Road Community Hall last Monday.

There was praise for area PCSO Bev Robinson and people were reassured about her role, despite plans for volunteer PCSOs to be recruited.

But a panel spokesman said: “People came away with a view very much against the idea of volunteering for the police and that it could leave things open for a less than satisfactorily performing police force in Lincolnshire.”

Conservatives in south Lincolnshire were licking their wounds this morning but looking to the future in the aftermath of the Lincolnshire County Council elections.

In a night of surprises, no party managed to secure a majority, with UKIP making huge gains across the region.

But in spite of losing votes, the Tories still hold eight of the 15 seats across the Lincolnshire Free Press area.

Nick Worth was one of the first to hear he had held on to his seat in Holbeach with 979 votes, in spite of being down 18.6 per cent.

Coun Worth said: “Obviously I am delighted to be voted back in and will continue to give my all for Holbeach and the villages.

“This vote was all about national politics, which is disappointing when you have put in so much work locally, but that is what happens when your party is in government.

“The scale of support for UkIP is far more than just a protest vote and the coalition government and David Cameron need to wake up and smell the coffee.

“Key national issues from the electorate were pensions, Europe and immigration. The government needs to act on these now, not make vague promises for the future.

“I would like to say a big thank you to all my loyal supporters for sticking with me and congratulate Paul Foyster (Ukip) for running a good, friendly campaign. I can assure everyone that I will continue to work hard for them whatever their political persuation over the next four years.”

A shock result for the Conservatives was its deputy leader Eddy Poll being ousted from his seat in Spalding East and Moulton to UKIP’s Richard Fairman.

Mr Poll took 870 votes and was down 20.4 per cent. He said afterwards: “The upsurge in support for UKIP was a bit surprising and it’s a shame people decided to vote on national issues rather than what happens locally.

“As for me, I’ve really enjoyed my time with the County Council and I hope my contribution to life in Lincolnshire has been positive. You know that old saying as one door closes, another opens.”

Coun Gary Porter, leader of the Conservatives on South Holland District Council, was at the count and was disappointed by the turnout of voters.

He said: “I’m a bit shell-shocked. Historically it was always us and the Independents but it was hoped more people would vote with there being such a variety of parties standing.

“Only 24 to 31 per cent of the electorate turned out, which is disappointing. But UKIP did well - we’d predicted they might pick up some votes but they are now the second largest group at the county council

“All of the parties are going to have to take something from this - including us, we are going to have to fix it before the district elections.”

However, for Lincolnshire Independent Angela Newton, today was the start of a new challenge. Mrs Newton won Spalding West with 866 votes from Conservative Howard Johnson (506).

She said: “I’m absolutely delighted voters chose a Lincolnshire Independent candidate. A lot of people told me they were going to make a UKIP protest vote.

“I’m now looking forward to getting some sleep and then getting on with the job.”

We are hoping to bring more reaction during the day and for the full round-up see Tuesday’s Lincolnshire Free Press.

Approaching retirement can be a daunting time, with rafts of paperwork arriving from pension companies asking you to make choices about the future income you will receive for the rest of your life. 
These decisions are of huge importance as once made, they can rarely be undone in the future.

The vast majority of people retiring today opt for an annuity to start to receive their pension income and there are two main types of lifetime annuity available:

Conventional annuities: The pensioner’s money purchase pension pot (less any tax free lump sum taken) is used to buy an annuity contract from an insurance company. This annuity contract provides a pension income that will be paid for the rest of the pensioner’s life. The pensioner can choose to have various options built into the annuity contract.

The amount of pension paid from the annuity contract will depend on the size of the pension pot, the health of the annuitant, the pension options chosen and market conditions when the annuity is bought.

Advantages: Simplicity and security. Disadvantages: Lack of flexibility and current poor annuity rates

Investment linked annuities (including with-profits annuities): The pensioner chooses which funds the contract is invested in and this means that the pension income can go up or down depending on the investment performance of the units in the pensioner’s chosen funds. 
All investment linked annuities therefore carry some degree of investment risk, but have the potential for rising income over the retirement years.

Advantages: Flexibility over initial pension level and growth potential. Disadvantages: Investment risk and pension income can go down.

History and science were brought to life at William Stukeley Primary School, Holbeach, with a dressing-up day on the theme of Under the Sea.

Pupils eagerly wore a range of pirate and mermaid costumes as part of the school’s Enrichment Day to launch a series of lessons for the term.

Other activities lined up for pupils included arts and craft, pirate-themed songs and even cooking pirate-based biscuits.

School administrator Jo West said: “They thoroughly enjoyed the day.” Photo (TIM WILSON): SG220413-122TW.

MP John Hayes was out in his constituency visiting flower festivals hours after seeing two of his closest colleagues lose their Conservative seats.

Mr Hayes said he was deeply saddened Eddy Poll in Spalding East and Moulton and Howard Johnson in Spalding West would no longer represent his constituents at the county council.

He said: “I am losing two good colleagues and friends here – it was not the best of nights.”

However, he said overall, across South Holland and the Deepings, the picture for the Tories, although now peppered with purple after the UKIP success, was not as bad as in other parts of the country.

In spite of losing two seats, the Tories still held eight of the 15 in South Lincolnshire. Mr Hayes said: “We have to learn lessons from this and listen to what people are wanting.

“Nationally it is clear people are worried about immigration and the vote shows this. But the election must also be disappointing for Labour because mid-term you would think we ought to be losing votes to them.

“Democracy is never predictable but I have never been complacent. That is why I am now going out visiting the flower festivals and seeing my constituents.

“My work as an MP has always been about fighting for the people I serve – and it will continue to be.”

A couple say they are having a soul-destroying wait for justice for their son, who was killed in a suspected hit and run.

Cyclist Tim Osborn (27) was found dead in a ditch beside the A151 Bourne Road between Spalding’s Monks House Lane crossroads and Pode Hole on September 14.

Tim’s mum, Lynne, and his brother, Michael, found his body at around midnight and ever since then the family has been grieving and in limbo in their wait for someone to be brought before a court.

Police arrested a 41-year-old Sleaford area man four days after the accident, but there is no word yet on whether a case will proceed against him or if anyone else will be prosecuted over the crash.

The family claim the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has now twice delayed any possible proceedings because they haven’t had the staff or time to look at Tim’s case files.

But the CPS denies the claims about staff shortages and says cases involving deaths on the roads require a thorough review of the evidence to ensure the correct charging decision is made.

The family says the first delay was for six weeks and the second for six to eight weeks.

Tim’s dad, Steve, said: “We were told before Christmas that we would have a definite result from the CPS either way by last week.”

But the week before the decision was expected, Steve says he had another call from a police liaison officer to say the CPS had asked for another six to eight weeks to look at Tim’s file.

He said: “Their reason – ‘we just don’t have enough people to look at the case’.”

Steve said the delay is hurting the family.

“To be honest, we are feeling sort of lost, forgotten, it’s soul destroying,” he said. “It’s frustrating waiting this long. At least when the police were putting the case together, we were having regular updates on why it’s taking so long and how it’s going.”

A spokesman for the CPS East Midlands said: “We acknowledge that for a bereaved family, waiting to learn the outcome of a charging decision relating to the death of a loved one can be distressing.

“However, cases involving deaths on the roads require thorough investigation by the police and equally thorough review of the evidence to ensure the correct charging decision is made.

“It is simply inaccurate to say that this case has been delayed by CPS staffing resources.

“However, we cannot provide specific comment on any case that is still subject to a charging decision.”

Tim was preparing for a holiday in Scotland shortly before he died.

His family plan to make that trip to one of his favourite spots, Urquhart Castle on the banks of Loch Ness, where they will scatter Tim’s ashes.

Steve said: “He had been up there a couple of times with some friends that he used to work with at Morrisons and he loved it up there.”

After he died, they found the last ever picture of Tim – taken on his mobile phone.

Members of a Spalding church have put forward their interest in plans for a community centre to be built on a town residential development.

Talks between South Holland Community Church and the district council have begun over the possibility of raising extra funds for the community centre in Wygate Park.

Plans to build a facility for use by residents were included in an agreement between South Holland District Council, Lincolnshire County Council and developers Keir Homes ten years ago.

But a proposed contribution of about £75,000 for the community centre is thought not to be enough for a “multi-functional building” in Wygate Park and the district council is exploring the possibility of South Holland Community Church becoming involved in the project.

Pastor Kevin Taylor, the church’s minister, said: “When Wygate Park was built, there were plans for a community centre to be provided and we’ve always said that we would be interested in being a part of that if it ever happened.

“At the moment, we meet at Ayscoughfee Hall School in Spalding but we’ve been working together for some time with the district council to have our own community building.

“If there is a possiblity of having a stake in the proposed community centre for Wygate Park, then we would be interested in running it as a facility for the community as well.”

South Holland District Council member for Spalding Wygate, Coun Roger Gambba-Jones, said: “It’s always been part of the masterplan for Wygate Park to create a community facility and South Holland Community Church is quite keen to get involved.

“The developers think they can build what was specified in the original agreement for £75,000 but that wouldn’t provide what would be a multi-functional building in that area.”

A man stole razors and blades worth £50 from Boots in Spalding just ten minutes after he was discovered trying to steal a kettle from Homebase.

Jobless Mantas Kizevicius (23) hoped to sell the items to fund his heroin addiction, Spalding magistrates heard.

Kizevicius went into Homebase in Westlode Street at 3pm on April 11, picked up a £49.99 kettle and took it out of its box before placing it in his bag.

Marie Stace, prosecuting, said store staff challenged him and he put the kettle back.

Kizevicius was asked to go the office, but he refused to do so and walked out of the store.

Ten minutes later he went into Boots in Hall Place, picked up razors and blades and hid them about his person.

Miss Stace said when staff approached, Kizevicius said he had nothing on him but he was detained as he left by Sgt Stuart Hurst.

She said his only previous convictions were for driving matters last year.

Solicitor Carrie Simson, mitigating, said Kizevicius had a broken leg at the time, wasn’t working and had problems with heroin.

He hoped to sell the items to fund his addiction and acted out of desperation.

Mrs Simson said Kizevicius has since sought help and has been given a prescription for the heroin substitute, methadone.

She said the prescription had worked successfully for the past week.

“That might not sound like much but for him seven days are a long time,” Mrs Simson said.

Kizevicius, of Heron Way, Spalding, pleaded guilty to attempted theft and theft and was fined £80 on each offence. He must also pay £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge.

A company is seeking consent to build homes that could be almost in the shadow of a planned £300million biomass power station at Wingland.

The plan from Circle Investments London Ltd came before Sutton Bridge Parish Council for comment. Parish councillors said the district should tell the developers about the proposed power station before it builds a pair of semi-detached houses in Chalk Lane.

Police are warning residents to lock up their lawn mowers following two raids.

A ride-on mower was stolen from Tydd Gote on Wednesday night, six days after a Kubota mower was taken from Long Sutton.

A man of 33 is accused of begging in Holland Market, Spalding, on April 19.

Spalding magistrates on Thursday adjourned the case again James Waxman, of The Tenters, Holbeach, to a hearing at Skegness on May 15.

Fire crews from Bourne and Market Deeping were called out to a shed blaze.

The fire started at lunchtime on Tuesday in Wetherby Close, Bourne. Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue did not say how it started.

Firefighters from Long Sutton were called to a kitchen fire at Kiln Drive, Tydd St Mary.

Fire damaged a plastic lid left on the hob and there was smoke damage to the kitchen. The fire started at 4.30pm on Tuesday.

Organisers said Spalding’s last flower parade would go out with a bang and the crowds were not disappointed.

More than 40,000 people accepted the invitation to Let’s Celebrate and saw the 55th and final parade come to a stunning end in an explosion of colour.

Spectators travelled from all over the country to be part of the emotional day and had begun gathering along the route as early as 9am.

For the Green’s from Mansfield Woodhouse it was their first parade. Dad Jason said: “We’ve been watching all about it on the television and with it being the last one we thought we’d come along. The atmosphere is fantastic.”

Thirty-five floats, marching bands and entertainers wound their way around the town. They were led by Flower Queen Inca Honnor and her attendants - Shelley Wilson, Rachel Perkins, Florence Butters and Heather Turner - in a stunning horse-drawn royal carriage float, that featured a flower laden golden crown.

Next was a float with Miss Jersey Battle of Flowers and the Free Press Prince and Princess Ellis Newton (10) and Millie Weller (9).

Former Flower Queens were also in the parade, reliving a day they will treasure for the rest of their lives.

Diane Virden was deputy Flower Queen in 2003. She said: “I’m thrilled to be here but a little sad, too, with it being the last one.”

A shortage of tulip heads meant the parade had an entirely new look as float decorators got crafty using daffodils and a range of fresh materials, including fabrics, ribbons, cork, foil and feathers.

Traditionalists could have been horrified by this but no-one seemed to mind. Joan Stanthorpe (94) saw the very first parade and used to help create the floats in the heading sheds.

She said: “There used to be a lot more flowers, but it has still been lovely.”

Sutton Bridge parish councillors are making a final bid to stop a £300million biomass power station being built at Wingland.

South Holland’s planning committee meets on Wednesday and is expected to give the go-ahead having already approved all but a few final details of the application from EnergyPark Sutton Bridge.

A letter from the parish council will ask the committee not only to defer the application so a public meeting can be held in the village with environmental and other experts – but to look at the whole thing again.

Planning committee chairman Coun Roger Gambba-Jones said members will decide on Wednesday whether or not to defer the plan, but their decision is about a building and the Environment Agency is responsible for checking the safety of the power station’s emissions.

Parish councillors claim district councillors didn’t understand the plans and believe some key details were not reported to them.

Coun Jenny Rowe told parish councillors: “We will probably end up going for judicial review because I think it’s been dealt with appallingly.”

Mrs Rowe attended April’s planning meeting and had three minutes to voice parish council objections, but told parish councillors that Sutton Bridge councillor and planning committee member Chris Brewis should have 
done more.

She said: “I then got no support from Councillor Brewis whatsoever – he could have stood up and talked for as long as he wanted and got that (the application) thrown out.”

Coun Vicky Hills said some district councillors admitted they didn’t understand the application’s non-technical summary and wondered what chance they stood with the technical summary.

She said: “We also need to point out to them how incompetent we think they all were and have it noted.”

‘Stop complaining and start supporting your school’

The rallying call follows a three-day visit by Ofsted to Spalding’s Sir John Gleed School sparked by parents’ concerns.

Lesa Jeffery, who has a daughter in Year 8, was to have launched a new Parents and Friends Association on Tuesday evening, but was asked to postpone it.

However, Lesa says it is still time to end negative comments about the school and look to the future.

She said: “I have spoken to Mrs Daniels and she still thoroughly supports a PFA being formed when things settle down.

“Negativity doesn’t help anyone – it is a new academy and parents need to get behind it, stop moaning and help.”

Rebecca Thirkell, who was supported by a number of parents when she complained to Ofsted about “serious incidents relating to violence, drugs and smoking”, this week closed the Facebook page Gleed School Needs Changes and started Gleed – New Beginnings.

Yesterday (Wednesday) parents were still feeling “in limbo” awaiting the result of the Ofsted report, which could take 20 days to be made public.

Headteacher Janet Daniels said: “The result of Ofsted’s recent inspection will not be known until the publication of the report in approximately one month.

“Until the report is published I am unable to discuss the inspection.

“I realise that this leaves an unsettling time for parents, students and staff, but I want to reassure the whole school community that my priority during this time is to ensure that students continue to receive high-quality teaching and learning as we move into the important summer term.

“I am working closely with colleagues in school and at CfBT Schools Trust to ensure that this happens.”

Bosses of a proposed wind farm at West Pinchbeck are defying a council request to withdraw their planning application.

Wind Ventures Ltd wants to site nine 126m high turbines at The Delph, but experts have found “major flaws” in the company’s wildlife surveys submitted in support of the planning application.

South Holland District Council’s development manager Richard Fidler wrote to the company asking it to withdraw its planning application or face a legal notice forcing it to give proper ecological data.

Natural England, Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust and an expert hired by the protest group, Stop West Pinchbeck Wind Farm, are among those that have highlighted flaws in the data collected by the company.

But Adrian Butler, the Wind Ventures project manager for The Delph, said the company is not withdrawing and will press ahead with its application.

He said: “At the moment, we are in the process of drafting a detailed response to the comments made by Natural England, Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, Lincolnshire Bat Group and the ecology expert for Stop West Pinchbeck Wind Farm.”

The protest group’s expert Dr Timothy Read says the company failed to comply with Natural England guidelines when it compiled its ecological data and missed out crucial information such as winter bird surveys.

Protest spokesman Tony Fear said the errors were so serious that the project could be delayed by at least a year while a proper survey is carried out.

But Mr Butler told the Spalding Guardian: “We should not have to go through another year’s worth of surveys. We believe that every effort that was put in was sufficient and agrees with the guidelines. We believe there is no need to do any additional survey work as part of this application.”

Asked if it was a question of doing another survey or the application being rejected, Mr Butler said the company would then “have to consider that”.

Mr Fear said: “This is why we say we are not celebrating too early because we expect them to put up a fight.”

He says the company’s survey failures are “a matter of fact” and experts say the council doesn’t have sufficient ecological data to determine the planning application.

South Holland and The Deepings MP John Hayes has raised his own objections to the turbines “standing twice the height of Nelson’s Column”.

He says the turbines will be close to two Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Nature Reserves, one of which – Willow Tree Fen – is linked to the last remnants of wild wetland fens in the county. The MP says the district and county councils ploughed £500,000 into the reserve and almost £2million has been spent there in the last three years.

Mr Hayes said: “I believe that this proposal will have a detrimental impact on local wildlife habitats of birds, bats and other forms of wildlife, which reportedly include those of weasels, stoats, newts and other species.”

But he’s also concerned about the human cost as the cluster of turbines would leave only 2.58 miles of “clear skyline” between them and the turbines at Deeping St Nicholas – and a further four turbines have been given consent between the two sites.

He cites the experience of wind farm victims of Julian and Jane Davies who had to quit their home because of noise nuisance from the Deeping St Nicholas turbines – and points out that turbines are extremely inefficient and costly.