With just a few weeks to go before the March 28 deadline for the Government’s Making the most of every drop consultation, there is still time for members to submit their views to abstraction_reform@defra.gsi.gov.uk
This is said to be the biggest shake up of abstraction licensing in 50 years.
MP John Hayes is seeking a second meeting with Lord Chancellor Chris Grayling in a bid to save Spalding Magistrates’ Court.
The court was mothballed on December 19, but the South Holland and The Deepings MP is concerned about residents being denied access to justice – and possibly justice itself with witnesses reluctant or unable to travel.
All family cases are being heard in Lincoln and adult and youth cases are going to Boston and Grantham.
Mr Hayes met solicitors and other interested parties at his home, including district council deputy leader Nick Worth, on Friday and has written to Mr Grayling seeking further talks.
This follows a meeting Mr Hayes and solicitor Rachel Stevens had with Mr Grayling in January.
Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has “de-listed” the court – taken its work away – but only the Lord Chancellor has the power to close the court.
Mr Hayes and local lawyers are marshalling their arguments and collecting facts and figures about court workloads in order to challenge the court’s de-listing.
The MP said: “We are determined to make the best effort to resist closure. In the end, it is not in my hands to stop the court closing but I will give this my best shot.”
Mr Hayes is also seeking more information from the courts service on its reasons for de-listing, including a revelation the main concern was fire safety – something that’s not been aired before.
HMCTS began stripping the court’s work away after questioning the safety of stairs from the cells to the dock in court room one, but refuses to publish details of an incident in which someone allegedly slipped.
John Perry was just a name on a memorial stone in Spalding’s parish church until very recently.
Now, the man and his extraordinary life has become real to some of the members of St Mary & St Nicolas Church.
Research has uncovered interesting information about the naval officer and civil engineer, one of the town’s ancestors responsible for installing the drainage system that protects the area from flooding.
As well as working on the old Vernatt’s Drain and being appointed engineer to the Deeping Fen Adventurers, John worked for the Tsar of Russia, lost an arm in a battle and spent ten years in prison – for losing a ship.
He died in 1733 and his memorial stone was recently renovated and moved to a more prominent position, thanks to the Friends of the church.
The Friends have more work in the pipeline and it was this, as well as the First World War centenary, that prompted the church flower festival organisers to choose In Memoriam as the theme of this year’s event.
Mary Bennett said: “We want to put faces to names. If there is enough of a story it will actually be part of the display during the festival.”
There will be 18 flower displays – from Tuesday, April 29 to Tuesday, May 6 – and each one will focus on the life story of the person behind the memorial.
However, the organisers need the help of people in the community in gathering information about some of them – as well as photographs, paintings or other memorabilia that might be used in the displays.
To help with that, a time has been set aside for gathering the social history and related props .
It is at the parish church on Tuesday, April 8 (10.30am to 11.30am).
Christine van Egmond said: “We’d like to engage with people with information and have a conversation. At the moment you just look around and pass on, but if you start talking about it you realise there is so much of a story there and a lot of it has been forgotten.”
For instance, one of the memorials, a brass plate near the door, is to another drainage engineer, John Grundy and his father John, who – if the research gathered so far is correct – created the first surveyed map of Spalding in 1732.
Local historians probably have much of this information already. One of them, Alastair Goodrum, is giving a talk in church on April 29 (7pm) at a ticketed event – from 01775 722772 or email festival@stmaryandstnicolas.org.uk
The information gathered about the people memorialised in St Mary & St Nicolas Church in Spalding will be preserved in the town at a venue yet to be arranged.
It will also be used to create displays at the church flower festival next month. The Sir John Gleed School and the Priory School are both creating arrangements, one depicting Spalding’s former priory and the other about the life of Sir John Gleed.
Sir John will be forever remembered because of the school named after him, as will his son and son-in-law.
A stained glass window in the parish church paid for by Sir John bears the image of his son-in-law Charles Lewis Harvey (38) and his son John Victor Ariel (20), who both died two months apart in 1917.
It is hoped people in the community will be able to supply information about other names on the war memorials in church. Go to the information day on April 8 (10.30am) or email festival@stmaryandstnicolas.org.uk
5pm Thursday: A Spalding man arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving following yesterday’s fatal crash at Crowland has been released on police bail.
Police today renewed their plea for witnesses to the crash that happened in fog at 6am on the A16 Crowland bypass and claimed the life of a 37-year-old motorcyclist from Cowbit.
PC Stewart Cooke, from the Lincolnshire Police Collision Investigation Team, said: “We would like to hear from anyone who saw the Honda motorbike riding towards Spalding along the A16 around 6am yesterday morning, or who saw a green VW Passat travelling in the opposite direction.
“Anyone with information should contact the Collision Witness Hotline on 01522 558855.”
The 24 year-old man arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving has been released on bail until June 19 to allow the police investigation to continue.
Police will release the name of the man who died once a formal identification has taken place and all of his family have been informed.
The boss of Long Sutton’s SEArch Architects, Jerry Harrall, pleaded not guilty to assault when he appeared at Boston Magistrates’ Court today (Thursday).
Harrall (52), of The Maples, Fleet, is accused of assaulting Glenn Eldridge by beating at South Holland District Council’s offices, in Priory Road, Spalding, on October 23 last year.
Magistrates adjourned the case for a two-day trial at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court on July 3 and 4. Harrall is on summons.
The latest workshop in a school’s battle against mental health issues was supported beyond expectation but the assistant head teacher and organiser of the campaign was ‘disappointed with the presentation’.
Thomas Cowley High School, Donington, launched a Teenage Mental Health Initiative after shock reports that the number of students facing problems has more than doubled in the past 30 years.
But Mary Meredith, leading the campaign, said she was disappointed the recent workshop by BEAT – the UK’s leading eating disorders charity – did not focus enough on boosting self-esteem in the home.
She said: “At the parents’ event the focus was on eating disorders. I had hoped for more focus on prevention.”
The campaign includes a series of information evenings with parents exploring the problems covered in the student workshops.
More than 50 parents attended the BEAT session, which Mary said was way beyond her expectations.
The students’ event for 11-14 year olds looked at media representations of beauty. They were shown a model before and after her make-up was applied and after she had been ‘photoshopped’.
Over 50 per cent of the students identified themselves as being in the group with the lowest body confidence.
“It really made the students realise that some beauty is simply unattainable,” said Mary: “It was a helpful reminder of inner beauty.”
Both boys and girls attended the workshop which Mary said she didn’t expect but worked well because the boys got just as involved and revealed they feel pressured when they hear girls describing peers as ‘hot’.
Now Mary has invited parents to a second workshop with body confidence expert Natasha Devon, who has featured on Channel 4’s ‘Gok’s Teens – the Naked Truth’.
Mary said: “The parents session was very different to the students’ workshop. I handed out feedback forms and they have all said they want further sessions.”
Pupils also had the chance to report their feelings in weekly ‘circle time’ meetings.
Mary said from these the school has identified self harm and mental health is an issue they need to focus on next.
She also revealed members of staff had spoken out in assemblies about their life-long battles with depression.
Mary said it has not changed how teachers are treated, but improved their relationships with pupils and encouraged them to be open with each other and in circle time.
She said the level of honestly was not apparent immediately and making the same effort at home is crucial to cutting mental health issues.
Ten years ago Nick Aslam was finishing Holbeach George Farmer School and playing local football.
Now he’s an established muscician hoping to win over an international audience.
The acoustic singer-songwriter has been said to have the romance of Richard Hawley, the charisma of Neil Diamond and the whit of Alex Turner.
This week the lead track, ‘Nicky Boy’, from his EP hit the airwaves of Country Music Radio in Nashville.
“It’s just massive for me,” said Nick (27): “My biggest achievement so far.”
Eight years ago Nick left the county and headed to Derby.
The industry was expensive and it’s only in the last year that he’s found reward for his passion and hard work.
The luck changed when a friend of a friend played his EP to well-known actor and musician Paddy Considine, who invited him to support his 02 Academy gigs.
Since then Nick’s work has been played on BBC radio stations and he’s perfomed to an 8,000- strong crowd at the Rock and Blues Festival.
Nick said: “That one I was nervous about. It’s the biggest gig I’ve done.”
Nick said country music is quite different in America but the success of fellow musician and friend Jake Bugg is giving him confidence ahead of the debut on County Music Radio.
“I’m really nervous as to how it will be recieved,” he said: “But Jake’s been successful there so fingers crossed that it goes down well.”
Nick is moving back to the area in April and plans to celebrate with a ‘returning home gig’ in Spalding.
‘FingerPrints’ is available on ITunes and Amazon now.
A man has been charged with theft of £1,000 while an employee of Ladbrokes, in Hall Place, Spalding.
Boston magistrates on Thursday adjourned the case of Craig Ayto (25), of Eaugate Road, Moulton Eaugate, to April 17.
A Sutterton man “having incredible difficulties with alcohol” was more than double the drink-drive limit while driving his BMW.
Marie Stace, prosecuting, said police stopped Deepak Samra’s car on Boston’s John Adams Way at twenty to one in the morning on February 21.
A reading revealed 85 microgrammes of alcohol in breath – the legal limit is 35mcs.
Samra (27), of One Way Street, admitted driving with excess alcohol and having no MOT when he appeared at Boston Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
He was convicted of driving with excess alcohol in 2007 and failing to provide a specimen for analysis in 2008.
Samra received an interim driving ban and sentence was adjourned to April 3.
Barrister Rachael Ward told magistrates: “He has incredible difficulties with alcohol and he is currently drinking alcohol every single day.”
A joint top goal scorer with Holbeach Reserves was left to “carry the can” for a three man assault in Spalding when the other two were given cautions, magistrates heard.
Daniel Atkin was left with injuries including two black eyes, three lumps on the back of his head and bruising when assaulted by Macauley Grimwood (18), of Wignals Gate, Holbeach, and two others.
Prosecutor Marie Stace said Mr Atkin was in a taxi in Red Lion Street when the men walked by – one of them carrying a bottle – and saw fluid coming down the window of the taxi.
He followed, heard someone shout “what’s your problem” and felt a punch to the back of his head.
She described how all three men took part in the assault and read from a statement in which Mr Atkin said “I got a kick in the head”.
Solicitor Rachel Stevens said Grimwood threw only one punch and denied any kicks.
She said: “Macauley Grimwood is the one before the court today carrying the can for the whole incident. We don’t know which injury, if any, Macauley Grimwood’s one blow may have delivered.”
Grimwood was fined £200 and ordered to pay £100 compensation to Mr Atkin as well as £85 costs and a £20 victim surcharge. He admitted assault by beating on January 5.
A driver told police he would sleep off alcohol by staying in the back seat of his car, but was stopped at the wheel 90 minutes later.
Police first approached Kazimierz Wondzinksi (51) at 1.50am on December 16 and smelled alcohol on his breath.
Marie Stace, prosecuting, said Wondzinski had argued with his girlfriend “and agreed with the officer he would sleep in his car until the morning before driving off”.
But police then saw his car move off from Winsover Road, Spalding, at 3.20am.
Miss Stace said a test showed he had 129 milligrammes of alcohol in urine – the legal limit is 107mgs.
Solicitor Rachel Stevens, mitigating, said Wondzinski was unable to get back to sleep having been woken by the officer.
She said: “He was extremely cold – it was December 16 as you have heard. He decided to wait a bit longer. He waited another hour-and-a-half, by which time he felt he would have been okay to drive given the amount of alcohol he’d had earlier.”
Miss Stevens said he was only just over the limit and it was “a miscalculation by him”.
Wondzinski (51), of Knight Street, Pinchbeck, admitted driving with excess alcohol when he appeared before magistrates at Boston on Thursday.
He was banned from driving for a year, fined £280 and ordered to pay £85 costs with a £28 victim surcharge.
Magistrates offered him the chance to cut three months off the ban by attending a drink-drive rehabilitation course.
For most of us, our mortgage repayments are likely to be our biggest monthly outgoings and, unfortunately, the need to pay it doesn’t end if you are unable to work.
The records of mortgage providers and insurance companies show that many thousands of mortgages are not fully protected with life assurance and critical illness cover.
As you know, your home is at risk if you cannot keep up repayments and because of this, it is vital to protect your property and family should the worse happen.
Macmillan Cancer Support recently conducted some research that reveals some alarming statistics about our chances in Britain of contracting cancer.
Macmillan’s projections show that by 2020 almost half of us (47 per cent) will get cancer. However, the good news is the chances of survival are also improving and nearly four out of ten (38 per cent) of those who get cancer will survive it. Twenty years ago the survival rate was only one in five (21 per cent).
This improvement reflects advancements in early diagnosis, cancer treatments and cancer care.
Serious illness can bring with it financial problems as many future sufferers will face long periods when they are unable to work.
This may be temporary or permanent. To protect your home and your family you should consider critical illness cover which pays a lump sum on diagnosis of many recognised critical illnesses or life assurance, although this only pays out on death.
This means critical illness has a key role to play in protecting you and your mortgage. If you should suffer a critical illness, being able to repay your mortgage in full will rid you of, probably, your largest monthly financial commitment.
Removing this financial worry will leave you to concentrate on your recovery. There are many extremely cost effective options available to you so get in touch to discuss the best solutions for your personal circumstances.
Deeping St James Parish Council is already preparing for an England victory in this summer’s football World Cup.
At a recent meeting, the council resolved that “in the event that the England football squad win a semi-final at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the parish council will take the necessary actions to load and light the Jubilee beacon in celebration on the night of the World Cup Final”.
The beacon, which is sited on Jubilee Park in Deeping St James, was erected in honour of the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth.
However, it is planned that the beacon will also be used to celebrate other historic occasions, and an England World Cup victory could be the next one.
Coun Ashley Baxter, who proposed the resolution, said: “We want the whole village to get behind the team.
“Who knows? The knowledge that our small community is confidently preparing to celebrate may be just the spark of inspiration that Roy Hodgson needs to lead our squad to victory.”
“Some councillors expressed concern regarding the logistics of a beacon-lighting event, especially given the time difference between Rio de Janeiro and Deeping St James, but I am sure such details can be ironed out nearer the time.”
MP John Hayes has been trying his hand at pool and table football with a little help from young experts at Sutton Bridge Youth Club.
The club recently received more than £7,000 from People’s Health Trust, using money raised by HealthComplete through the Health Lottery, which has enabled them to fund a youth worker.
The South Holland and The Deepings MP visited the club to see it in action.
He said: “It is so important for young people to feel part of the community, and to get involved in worthwhile activities outside of school time.
“It is great to see groups like Sutton Bridge Youth Club being supported in our area through this funding.”
Club secretary Chris Brandon-King said the club’s place in the heart of the community will continue to grow now it has a youth worker to deliver more activities.”
Based in The Curlew Centre, the club has sessions for seven to 11-year-olds and those aged 12 and over.
People’s Health Trust chief executive John Hume said: “Sutton Bridge Youth Club is a fantastic group that we’re delighted to be able to support.
“This funding means that young people have a choice about what activities are provided for them through the support of a youth worker, and more importantly, have somewhere to go, have fun and make friends.”
MP John Hayes says a public inquiry would be a good way to examine the potential flood risk at the proposed multi-million pound power station at Sutton Bridge.
EDF’s Sutton Bridge B gas-fired power station will go alongside the existing gas-fired power station on the banks of the River Nene, a site identified as a flood risk area, if the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) gives the go-ahead.
The MP and residents are speaking out following a 10ft tidal surge that swept up the river in December.
Mr Hayes said: “Disaster was averted but it just fires a warning shot – if you are going to build power stations you have probably got to be very careful where you put them.
“We need to think very carefully about where we locate generating infrastructure in a way that perhaps hasn’t happened previously and I will certainly be making that argument.”
Sutton Bridge resident Jenny Rowe says the new power station with its three, 80m high chimneys will be around twice the size of the existing power station and have a carbon capture and storage (CCS) plant alongside.
She’s concerned about the impact on The Wash – an internationally protected marine wildlife area – and called for a full, independent environmental impact assessment. The county and district councils could force a public inquiry if they object to EDF’s plan. The county will deliver its verdict next week and the district in April or May.
The Environment Agency recommends flood risk mitigation and EDF says it expects to agree a “package of measures” with the DECC, which includes raising part of the site to 4.33m above sea level.
It is with great sadness that I read, despite my pleas in direct correspondence with Coun Davie (the recently appointed county council executive member for economic development), he has chosen not to do as I asked.
I suggested that as he is newly appointed, a fresh eye being cast over the plans for a marina would reveal a potential waste of taxpayers’ money, based on grossly inaccurate claims that it would generate £200,000 a year ‘spin-off’ benefit for Sutton Bridge.
What did he do instead? He asked the most interested officers at LCC, who have been cobbling together this flawed plan, not surprisingly, who convinced him that the project should go ahead. I even asked him to visit Sutton Bridge so he could see how bizarre the claims connected with the plan are, have been and still appear to be so. He did not respond.
Perhaps he is being quite clever? If the speed with which LCC, Fenland District Council and Nene Marine CIC Ltd have moved at for the past five or six years is anything to go by, we can all rest in the knowledge that nothing will happen by July 31.
As a result, it will just be the money wasted on the pontoons, bought when the ownership of the riverbank had not even been established; and the substantial costs in time and ‘consultants’ fees, since the idea was hatched by Nene Marine CIC Ltd.
Thus the bulk of the S106 funds will be saved for the benefit of the village.
Come on Coun Davie, get a grip and pull the plug, thus draining the marina now, rather than allow it to ‘dry out’ and fail eventually!
Chris Brandon-King
My local council wrote to me recently asking me to confirm who lived at my address for the electoral role register.
I forgot to respond as I was very busy. Therefore I received a reminder asking me to respond by March 6 – otherwise they would conclude that I no longer lived there.
I decided to send an email to let them know I was still in the house and here is my response, enjoy:
Dear Sir/Madam
Further to your recent letter requesting details of occupancy, I am writing to advise that I Mark Street live at that address.
You recently wrote to me at the above address and addressed the letter to “The Occupier” requesting confirmation of who resides here. I have lived at the address for the last 12 years and should I leave or someone else move into that address I am more than capable of advising you so.
I intend to continue residing at this address for the foreseeable future and would also like to advise that I intend to live alone; although you may find this hard to believe I’m often accused of being patronising and miserable and therefore not fortunate enough to meet anyone willing to put up with me, let alone reside at the above address with me.
I would like to advise you by me not responding sooner is merely an indication that I have more important things to do and I am extremely busy; your assumption that I no longer continue to reside at the above address is absolute nonsense.
If I do not hear from you by the March 16, I will NOT conclude the offices are empty and that you are all unemployed as that would simply be ridiculous.
Mark Street
via email
Spalding butcher George Adams has been crowned the tastiest sausage maker in the area for the second time in three years.
Adams claimed the Butchers’ Pride title on Friday in a competition that continues to attract growing numbers from the region’s independent butchers.
The event was launched in 2012 by local MP John Hayes, who heads the judging panel.
This year 29 entries came in from butchers in South Holland, Boston and the Deepings.
The Sage Coffee Shop – part of Boston College’s Red Lion Quarter in Spalding – hosted the occasion and college chefs cooked the sausages.
The competition is organised by George Bell (Boston College employer engagement manager).
Accompanying Mr Hayes on the judging panel were regulars Jeremy Ransome (Free Press editor) and Amanda Mosek (Boston College principal), as well as Alan Stennett (Lincolnshire writer and broadcaster), Chris Paveley (Federation of Small Business) and Sophie Loweth from Abbey Parks farm shop and restaurant in East Heckington.
As ever the judging was blind and entries were drawn randomly to ensure fair play.
The first category judged was speciality sausages. Tried and tested combinations such as pork and apple and pork and stilton went head to head with fresh ideas such as a low fat, gluten-free, venison and cracked pepper.
Of the four gold medals awarded in this category, three went to Gosberton’s Trevor Sharpe, who was fighting hard to hold on to the overall winner’s trophy. The fourth went to Donington’s Tulipland butchers.
After a short break the judges then turned their attention to the 14 Lincolnshire sausage recipes that had been submitted. Judging on appearance, taste, texture, smell, flavour and seasoning, the marks showed a clear preference for our own Lincolnshire sausages and again just a handful of marks separated the gold medallists.
These were Bycrofts, Andrew Beeson of Boston and Bennetts of Spalding, along with the overall winner George Adams of Spalding.
It was their 1910 recipe which once again made the biggest impact on the judges. The bread for the recipe is provided by Pacey’s in Spalding.
Mr Hayes said: “Everyone was a winner in a competition like this which highlights the quality of the true Lincolnshire sausage and the strength of the independent butchers who produce them”.
Boston College would like to thank all the other butchers who entered – M&H Butchers, Dawsons, Swepstones, Hargrave, T Law and Sons, Wimberley Hall and Bennetts.
A driver was more than three times the legal drink limit when he ran into the back of a car – and almost four times the limit when police stopped him again six days later.
Lajos Takacs (54), of Bourne Road, Spalding, was handed a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for a year, and an outright three-year driving ban by magistrates sitting at Boston on Thursday.
As part of the court order, Takacs will be supervised by probation for nine months and undertake a non-residential alcohol treatment requirement for six months.
He must also pay £85 costs and an £80 victim surcharge.
Takacs pleaded guilty to both drink-drive offences on February 24 and the three year ban will run from that date.
Marie Stace, prosecuting, said police were called to an accident at 1.20pm on February 3 in Winsover Road, Spalding, when Takacs collided with the rear of another car.
His alcohol reading was 110mcgs – the legal limit is 35mcs.
Miss Stace said police saw Takacs again at 4.05pm on February 9 when his car turned out of a car park onto Station Road.
Police stopped him in Winsover Road and this time the reading was 136mcgs.
Solicitor Rachel Stevens, mitigating, said: “Clearly this was a week in his life when he made some very, very bad judgements.
“He is a mature man of previous good character who had been through a very difficult time, having lost his mother suddenly.
“He fully accepts that he was drinking too much – he fully accepts that’s a problem.”
Miss Stevens said he had sought treatment from his GP
She told the court: “He has sold his car and he has sent his driving licence back to the Hungarian driving agency and he has no intention to ever drive again.”