One of the biggest challenges facing independent businesses in South Holland is how to adapt to the internet revolution.

Retailers in particular are having to cope with the changing habits of more and more shoppers who are buying their goods online, with potentially devastating consequences for town centres in the area.

This growing trend has made it more difficult for firms to pay overheads such as wages, rent and business rates, despite the Government’s extension of small business rate relief, first introduced in October 2010 for firms occupying premises with a rateable value under £6,000.

That’s why the Spalding Guardian’s Shop Local, Eat Local, Play Local campaign in support of independent businesses in South Holland is after your support in asking the Government to make more changes to the business rates system.

In particular, our campaign wants the Government to give South Holland District Council a bigger say in how cash raised from business rates is used in the area and offer more incentives to new businesses.

Phil Scarlett, president of Spalding and District Chamber of Commerce, said: “The one thing people need to understand about business rates is that although it is collected by the district council, the money actually goes to Westminster.

“Once it goes there, it’s very difficult to influence what then happens to it.

“The British Chambers of Commerce has lobbied the Government to make changes to business rates, including the introduction of a relief period for new businesses.”

South Holland District Council have made a great show of the fact council tax bills for 2014/2015 only went up 0.2 per cent.

This is true for people in work. For those out-of-work, disabled or like me who have disabilities but who are of working age, our bills have gone UP by over 100 per cent.

For the record, I am 60 now and in receipt of ESA at the top rate, DLA at near the top rate, and two small pensions. I do not ask to be unwell, I just am unwell and there is no cure for either of my conditions.

On the February 13, many people like me were notified by the council that we are having our help with council tax limited to 75 per cent for working age people.

Looking at my bill for 2013/2014, I was paying £19 per month from my various incomes towards my council tax. The current bill for 2014/2015 means I will now be paying £35 per month instead, meaning a rise of £16. The total bill I paid for 2013/2014 was £130.56 and the bill I now pay in 2014/2015 will be £346 – a rise of £215.44.

I have recently been notified by the DWP that my ESA will be going up by £1-a-week and my DLA by 80p, giving me an increase in benefits of around £7.20/£8.00 a month which equates to me at a 1% rise.

With the new council tax rise differential of £16 per month, less the £8 per month rise in DWP benefits, it equates to a loss to me of £8, which is my rise in benefits, plus a further £8 I have to find.

When the increase in rent is added, the net loss is around £12-a-month – that’s assuming the council get their act together about council rent rises. One letter dated March 14 says I’ll be paying £39.45-a-month, and the next letter, dated March 17, says I’ll be paying £59.84 a month.

I’m sure another letter telling me to disregard the previous two is being typed up as I write.

My question to the council is this. Whilst it is right and proper in times of austerity to limit the council tax rises to people of working age and who are in work to 0.2 per cent, why is it then right and proper for that same council to discriminate against all people of working age on benefits by increasing the council tax by over 100 per cent.

We don’t ask to be ill, or out of work, nor want to claim benefits if we could work. You owe me, and everyone else on benefits, a far better reason for these huge increases you’ve imposed on us than you’ve currently given us.

Alan Long

via email

A street dog in Turkey has been rescued by a Holbeach-based charity after its British owners and their other two pets died within months of each other.

Liz and Lol Lowe retired abroad seven years ago taking with them two dogs, Posh and Becks, from the local branch of the Lincolnshire, Essex and Trent Boxer Rescue.

The couple had been loyal fundraisers for the charity before emigrating and kept in touch while in Turkey. It was there that they rescued a Labrador cross street dog, which they named Bobby.

Dawn Nicholls, founder of the local branch in Holbeach, said: “Imagine how upset we were when we heard first Becks had died, then Lol, then Posh and finally Liz in just over a year.

“We couldn’t leave Bobby out there to fen for himself. He was taken in by dog rescue in Turkey but they are not like ours - they just chuck the food into the cages.

“Bobby’s so soft and lovely he wouldn’t have fought for it - he would have died.”

Dawn went to the charity’s website and asked forum members what they should do and opinion was unanimous - rescue him.

An appeal was launched raising £2,800 to cover the cost of shipping him back.

Bobby arrived in Holbeach by courier after travelling three days.

Dawn said: “He was really pleased to get out of the van and get something to eat.

“We kept him overnight and he’s such a lovely dog. I’d love to keep him but my own Boxer wouldn’t have it.

Now we just want to find him the home he deserves.”

Until a home is found, Bobby will be cared for at the Blazegate Boarding Kennels in Lutton.

Aged seven, he has been fully vaccinated, neutered and micro-chipped.

Anyone interested in adopting him should call Dawn on 01406 490350.

With reference to the proposed housing development on Wardentree Lane, Pinchbeck by Larkfleet Homes and the letter in last week’s Spalding Guardian claiming “the land is teeming with wildlife”. I have to take issue with the majority of the totally-exaggerated content.

The land concerned is an arable field surrounded by dykes and hedges between an industrial estate and the rear of existing homes on Wardentree Lane and Spalding Road. My wife and I live nearby and walk and drive past this site on a daily basis. No doubt there is some wildlife here as there is in any field anywhere, but to describe it as “teeming with wildlife” is, quite frankly, preposterous.

Also to use the term “green belt” hardly describes this small pocket of land surrounded on all sides by buildings and roads.

The letter writer says that “nobody wants it” – rather a grandiose statement. I wonder how many local people were consulted to arrive at this conclusion?

Also, since when was 169 houses “nearly 200”? Some way off I would suggest.

As for increased traffic – the area is well served by decent roads with access from different directions with the bypass only a short distance away.

By “medical problems”, I assume that means access to services. Again, we are well placed for these either in Spalding or the nearby surrounding area, plus we have a hospital less than a mile away on Spalding Road.

Flooding, as far as I am aware, is not an issue in this location and nor is it likely to be if these houses are built.

As most people know, planning decisions are based on factual information, objective reasoning and the likely impact on the locality and community – that’s what I regard as common sense.

In the final analysis, the letter writer did get one thing right – democracy will rule.

Tom Bell

Pinchbeck

Ladybirds pre-school in West Pinchbeck have received a cash boost.

Ian Smee of the Rotary Club of South Holland visited them and handed over a cheque for £800 to Carla Holmes, manager of the Ladybirds.

I refer to the letter from Coun Rowe and Ms Treacher (Guardian, March 13) in response to my earlier letter.

I take this opportunity to dispel any thoughts that the many Lincolnshire County Council officers who have been involved with this project, have been “.... professional, diligent, intelligent and hardworking ....”.

Perhaps we should ask the following questions: Why didn’t they ascertain the ownership of the river before buying the pontoons?

Why has it taken them 14 years to get to this stage? Why will the vast majority of the income go to Fenland District Council? Have they provided Sutton Bridge Parish Council with the ‘revised’ business plan? Mrs Rowe is still a member of Sutton Bridge Parish Council, who should be protecting her electors.

I have no problem with her taking the opposite view about the Biomass Power Generator. However the marina project will at most, provide one part-time job, and nothing like the £200,000 per year ‘spin-off’ benefit for the village.

Whereas the people wanting to build the generator have indicated many jobs in the building phase and some 70 jobs in the future, many of which would be available to residents of Sutton Bridge.

They also promise funds for the village to use to improve facilities, for some years to come. On a purely financial comparison basis, the marina project does not stack up.

Chris Brandon-King

Sutton Bridge

The point Mr Harrison (Lincolnshire Free Press letters, February 25) doesn’t seem to grasp is that the Environment Agency (EA) flood risk maps for planning (January 2014) more or less show the entire area of South Holland and The Deepings as a flood zone level 3 – the same as the Somerset levels.

This is clearly incorrect and fails to take into account the first class drainage system which our excellent local Internal Drainage Boards (IDBs) manage.

The problem which (MP) Mr Hayes has correctly highlighted is that these flood risk maps bear no semblance to the reality of flood risk across the wider area.

That is why Mr Hayes has been pressing the EA to update their maps so they take full account of the work of our IDBs and reflect the real risk of flooding across the majority of his constituency.

In this respect, I have absolute confidence that John Hayes will keep up his excellent work and maintain the pressure on the Environment Agency and the Government to ensure that our sea and river defences are up to the job and adequately financed.

Yes, the risk to sea and river defences has to be addressed to take account of tidal surges like those experienced in December. However, this has to be tempered by the fact there has been no evidence of rising sea levels over the last 20 years, nor is there likely to be in our lifetime.

I posed an annual question when I worked at a local Internal Drainage Board, both when I worked there and when I was a member of the board as a councillor. I always received the same response: “There has been no evidence of an increase in sea levels.”

Therefore our attention needs to move to tackling the more immediate threat to our area over the next 200 years of tidal river surges and ensuring the proper maintenance of our existing sea defences.

Our forefathers managed to cope with weather change and keep the sea at bay, so I am sure that the engineering brains of the 21st century and Mr Hayes’ Government are more than capable of rising to this challenge.

Craig Jackson

via email

Public response to a charity’s bid to raise £16,000 to get a popular children’s play park reopened was described as “a fantastic show of community spirit” at a presentation last week.
The play area at Surfleet’s Glen Park closed last May because of safety concerns, but donations flooded in from dozens of individuals and public and private organisations and the equipment was back in action within five months. 
Coun Sue Wray, who handed over a plaque recording Lincolnshire County Council’s £6,295 contribution, congratulated the community for pulling together and Surfleet Play and Recreation Committee (SPARC), the charity that owns and runs Glen Park, on its achievement. 
Glen Park trustee Sheila Whyles, who received the plaque and also a cheque for £3,357 from the three Pinchbeck and Surfleet district councillors - James Avery, Sally Slade and Elizabeth Sneath - paid tribute to everyone who had supported the project, including Surfleet mums Jodie Nied and Aimee Littlechild, who launched a door-to-door collection the day the park closed.
A public appeal launched by the Lincs Free Press and Spalding Guardian, who contributed £500, raised £1,357.40, and there were major donations from RylattFord, of Spalding (£1,000), Surfleet Parish Council (£500), Celebrate Surfleet (£250), the Black Swan, Spalding (£225) and Spalding Hockey Club (£150).
But there was criticism over lack of support from South Holland District Council who, according to Mrs Whyles, turned down their application to their Community Fund in favour of Springfields Horticultural Society to refurbish their hall.

Pictured are (from left): Jeff Towler, Coun Sally Slade, Coun James Avery, Coun Sue Wray, Tony Wright, Coun Liz Sneath, Sheila Whyles, Daphne Ledward, Roy Sell, Mary Towler, Tony Blissett, Karen Brown, Keith Charlesworth and Mary Hurst (Surfleet Parish Council). Front: Fran Healands and daughters Olivier and Alicia.

The following decisions have been made by magistrates at court hearings. In all drink-drive cases the legal limit is 35 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, 80 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood or 107 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of urine. Addresses of defendants published here are taken from the legal records held by the magistrates’ courts.

Grantham Magistrates’ Court

February 20

Christopher Valentine (33), of Chalk Lane, Sutton Bridge. Speeding (Skegness). £75 fine, £20 victim surcharge, £85 costs, 6pts.

Simon Westwood (36), Hardwick Estate, Kirton. Speeding (Sibsey). £235 fine, £23 v/s, £85 costs, 4pts.

Michael Crooks (59), of Westbourne Park, Bourne. Drink driving (Bourne). £325 fine, £32 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 18 months.

Stephen Thurston (60), of Edinburgh Crescent, Bourne. Drink driving (Bourne). £330 fine, £33 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 12 months.

Aivars Volans (54), of Wygate Road, Spalding. Failing to provide specimen for analysis (Grantham). Community order with 150 hours unpaid work, £60 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 36 months. No separate penalty for driving without reasonable consideration for other road users.

Danny Hedges (23), of Grosvenor Road, Bourne. Assault (Bourne). 8 weeks prison sentence, suspected for 12 months with alcohol treatment requirement and supervision requirement, £50 compensation. For criminal damage and failing to surrender to custody. 7 days prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, £100 compensation for the damaged caused and anti social behaviour order. No action taken on breach of conditional discharge and no separate penalty for being drunk and disorderly.

February 21

Rimantas Kocius (39), of NFA. Theft of diesel belonging to H Ripley and Co (Baston). 12 months conditional discharge, £600 costs.

Edmundas Mizaras (30), of St Giles Court, Reservoir Road, Rowlers Regis, West Bromwich. Theft of diesel belonging to H Ripley and Co (Baston). 12 months conditional discharge, £600 costs.

Mark Rose (55), Lowgate Avenue, Bicker. Driving without due care and attention. £415 fine, £41 v/s, £43 costs, 5pts.

Janis Kalnins (65), of Westlode Street, Spalding. Failing to give driver ID (Nettleham). £600 fine, £60 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Jacqueline Papworth (49), of Deldale Road, Wyberton. Driving otherwise than accordance with a licence (New York). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs.

Myfanwy Watts (66), of Market Place, Downham Market. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

February 24

Gavin Landen (19), of Badger Lane, Bourne. Owner of dog that was dangerously out of control, injuring a man. £320 compensation, £85 costs, bull terrier to be destroyed unless an appeal lodged within 21 days.

February 26

Neville Nichols (63), of Heathview, Lynn Road, Dersingham. Speeding (Whaplode). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Graham Pitts (57), of Church Street, Donington. No insurance (Spalding). £400 fine, £40 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Alan Kinghorn (35), of Beech Park, Brandon, Durham. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £135 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Martin Rowett (33), of Bourne Road, Spalding. No insurance (Spalding). £400 fine, £40 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Paul Huckle (22), of Main Road, Gedney Drove End. Speeding (Wyberton). £110 fine, £20 v/s, £100 costs, 6pts.

Ibrar Shah (41), of Heywood Street, Bury, Lancashire. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £80 fine, £20 v/s, 3pts.

Stuart Shorting (36), of Baptist Road, Upwell. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £225 fine, £23 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

John Smith (25), of Roman Bank, Holbeach Bank. Speeding (Deeping). £135 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

February 28

Richard Cooper (48), of Sheppersons Avenue, Gosberton Risegate. Speeding (Crowland). £75 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 4pts.

Anrius Kazlauskas (28), of Parthian Avenue, Wyberton. Speeding (Boston). £60 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Boston Magistrates’ Court

February 24

Terry Parbury (28), of NFA. Stole saw blades and drill bits worth £495.43 belonging to B&Q (Spalding) and theft of ten DVDs worth £61.90 belonging to Martins Newsagents (Holbeach). 28 days prison sentence, suspended for 6 months, £557.33 compensation.

February 26

Mantas Dacys (23), of St Thomas Road, Spalding. Harassment (Spalding). 12 month conditional discharge, restraining order, £85 costs.

Vitalijs Vilovs (31), of Widegate, Spalding. Driving while disqualified (Spalding). Community order with 200 hours unpaid work, £60 v/s, £500 costs.

No separate penalty for driving without due care and attention.

February 27

Randoslaw Kandalski (26), of Hawthorn Bank, Spalding. Threatening behaviour. £218 fine, £21 v/s, £85 costs.

Donatas Soblevicius (31), of High Street, Spalding. Threatening behaviour (Spalding). £185 fine, £20 v/s, 385 costs.

James Caraccio (43), Balmoral Avenue, Spalding. Stole £20 jacket from Peacock (Spalding). 6 months conditional discharge, £20 compensation, £15 v/s, £85 costs.

Hugh Connors (34), of Carsholton Road, Surrey. Trespass in pursuit of game (Whaplode Marsh). £700 fine, £70 v/s, £85 costs.

John Connors (19), of Carsholton Road, Surrey. Trespass in pursuit of game (Whaplode Marsh). £700 fine, £70 v/s, £85 costs.

John Connors (24), of Carsholton Road, Surrey. Trespass in pursuit of game (Whaplode Marsh). £700 fine, £70 v/s, £85 costs.

Zena Lunness (34), of NFA. Stole drill/saw bits worth £420.49 belonging to B&Q (Spalding). 6 weeks prison sentence. Possession of diamorphine (Boston). 6 weeks prison sentence.

Money Matters by Scott Woods

The Bank of England could raise the base interest rate from its record low level before the end of this year.

That’s according to Christine Johnson, head of fixed income at Old Mutual Global Investors, formerly Old Mutual Asset Managers.

Ms Johnson, manager of Monthly Income Bond and Corporate Bond funds, said investors needed to “start thinking about how to protect themselves from rising rates.”

She added: “I think there is a good chance that there will be a rate rise this year.

“Bank of England governor Mark Carney is signalling that we have to think about what a rate rise might mean because it’s happening sooner rather than later.

“The UK economy is doing much better and I expect there is going to be a little hop in growth expectations for the UK in the Chancellor’s Budget Statement this month.”

Ms Johnson’s views echo that of M&G Investments multi-asset managers Stephen Andrew and Eric Lonergan who have positioned their funds to benefit from their forecast that interest rates in the UK will rise sooner than expected, before settling at a level lower than expected.

The base interest rate has been 0.5 per cent for five years since the height of the financial crisis in a bid to force investors out of cash and stimulate asset growth.

The Bank of England initially indicated that it would reassess the case for ultra-low rates when the unemployment rate reached seven per cent, but it has since removed this as an indicator.

Whilst this news will give some comfort to investors whose cash holdings have been languishing, those with non-fixed rate mortgages could perhaps start to look at their options.

This is especially so if the recent upturn in the housing market has led to increased property equity and therefore the potential of better re-mortgage options.

In our article (Lincolnshire Free Press, March 18) featuring the visit of four South Holland pupils to the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camps in German-occupied Poland, we neglected to make it clear that these camps were built and operated by the Germans.

We regret any offence caused, in particular to the Polish community who have quite rightly campaigned consistently for this truth to be stated categorically.”

UPDATE 2pm: An articulated lorry carrying fruit has overturned on the A16 near the Moulton Chapel roundabout this morning.

Police say the accident blocked the southbound carriageway, but traffic was kept moving.

Drivers are warned the road will be closed while the vehicle is recovered but that work is expected to be completed in half-an-hour’s time.

Lincolnshire Police described the driver as “unhurt”.

The accident happened at about 9.25am and all three emergency services attended.

Holbeach Town Band are looking for a new bandroom and for help with funding from the local community.

The band has been asked by Holbeach Parish Council to move from their current rehearsal room in Back Lane and has two years to find alternative premises.

The band is seeking help from the local community to either find alternative prem-ises to use as a bandroom or find a suitable site where a band room could be built.

It will be seeking grants to assist in the cost but is also looking for financial assistance to help fund this exciting project. The band is setting up an online fundraising website through BT’s MyDonate.

A spokesman for the band said: “By supporting us, people would be enhancing the development of young musicians in Holbeach, Spalding and the surrounding areas, and helping to ensure the future of what is a highly respected band and part of the heritage of Holbeach.”

Holbeach Town Band has a 43-year history of performing in South Holland. However, being a registered charity, it has limited resources. Money is raised through concerts, engagements, collections, fund-raising and members’ subscriptions.

Running a brass band is expensive and the money is used to buy musical instruments, equipment, uniforms and music. Good quality instruments cost up to £7,000, so surplus funds are in short supply.

A key factor in the band’s ability to play at concerts and other events is the continued investment in getting children interested in playing brass instruments.

Open days and an annual Learn to Play week are organised and individual training is given towards music grade. Band members also visit local schools to demonstrate brass instruments.

These, and other promotional activities, encourage people to join the Saturday morning learner group, where they can practice their playing for an hour a week, before progressing to the Wednesday night Holbeach Victoria Training Band rehearsals, and then onto the main band.

On Tuesday, April 8 the Band is holding an open day where children, and others, can come along to try out brass instruments. During the afternoon the Holbeach Victoria Training Band will be demonstrating their skills.

For further information contact Mel Hopkin on 01775 712420, or email mel@hol beachtownband.org.uk

Holiday photographs and postcards to ‘mum and dad’ are a reassurance that everything is going well on a trip away from home.

Except in this case it’s not teenagers taking holidays with friends that’s the potential cause for concern.

These are dogs spending time with ‘foster families’ while their owners take a holiday of their own.

Kerry Wells is proprietor of the local franchise of an organisation called Barking Mad and she has about 350 dogs that she ensures are looked after when their mum and dad go away.

Of those 350 dogs, about 150 are “active” says Kerry, referring not to their energy levels but to the regularity that their owners go away and they need an alternative home.

Kerry says: “My job is to match dogs where their owners don’t want them to go into a kennels and want them to be in a loving home.”

There are about 26 host families, each carefully vetted by Kerry, whose many years in banking locally have given her an insight into human nature.

She says: “I love people as much as I love dogs, so I knew I could find the right people who did it for the right reasons.”

Hosts are predominantly active retired people who are at home during the day. They are paid a nominal sum and everything the dog needs is provided.

Kerry said: “Hosts do it for the companionship and the love, a reason to get out for a walk, particularly ladies on their own, but they haven’t got the long-term responsibility, so they are effectively borrowing a dog for a short period of time.

“The dog becomes the centre of attention in that house and is loved and cared for in the same way and with the same routine as it would at home.”

The dogs too are vetted to make sure they are suitable for the service, and a trial visit is arranged with the host family to make sure it settles well before the holiday proper.

Kerry and her assistant Cherylyn Marriner are then on call to co-ordinate veterinary care should it be needed.

Kerry says: “The dogs go home with holiday photographs or a video and postcards from the hosts telling the owner what they have most enjoyed about them.”

Lots of those postcards are from Carol and Ron Sudbury, who live in Spalding.

Kerry has been running the local branch of Barking Mad for eight years and Carol and Ron have been hosting eight or nine dog visits a year from the start.

They say they do it because they “just love dogs”.

Hosts Ted and Deirdre Procter, of Holbeach, find it “a real pleasure to have dogs again”. Ted (83) was a gamekeeper and so always had dogs but didn’t think it was fair to have one of his own at his time of life.

There are currently about 26 host families working with the local branch of Barking Mad.

Kerry Wells, proprietor of the service that matches dogs with host families as an alternative to kennels, regularly invites people interested in becoming a host family to meet some of her more established hosts.

Last week, she held a tea party at Wimberley Hall Farm Shop at Weston so that newcomers could find out more .

There, existing hosts were able to catch up with friends and chat to potential hosts.

Kerry said: “Events like these are key. Today is about thanking my hosts by paying for a tea, but also about inviting people who are interested in hosting to come along.

“Five lots of people here are interested in hosting and have been talking to existing hosts.”

The only requirement of hosts is that they have a secure garden and that they are at home for a large part of the day. Kerry will meet anyone interested and can establish if they are suitable.

Those interested in finding out more should contact Kerry on 01775 720382.

MP John Hayes writes for the Lincolnshire Free Press

The famous economist John Maynard Keynes, in a statement of the obvious, decreed that “in the long-run we are all dead”.

But to disregard the future is to cheat those born later; surely we all care about the long-term security of our children and their generation.

The flaws in Keynes’ thinking explain how Britain became addicted to debt. We became a nation living on the never-never, as thrift was replaced by an eagerness to satisfy ever greater material desires.

The future of the country, however, depends on those hard-working, thrifty people who plan for the long-run and save for it.

Interest rates are at a historically low level, vital to borrowers and mortgage payers who wouldn’t have been able to weather the economic storm otherwise.

But these conditions have been less favourable to savers, particularly those looking to convert their savings into a pension.

Constituents often tell me that they want to save for their future – indeed 24million people have an Individual Savings Account (ISA). Many say to me that they would like to save more than the current tax free limit of £5,500 on cash ISAs. So it’s good news that the chancellor has tripled the limit.

Currently, most people preparing for their retirement find they have to buy an annuity, even though the rate of return is unimpressive, the timing not right, or they’d prefer to free up more of their savings.

Those saving for their future should be able to make decisions about their own money, so it’s time we trusted them rather than telling them what to think.

In future, pensioners will have the freedom to draw down as much or as little of their pension pots as they want, when they want and no one will be forced to buy an annuity.

Just think of the opportunities this change will offer. People in their sixties and beyond deserve the chance to fulfil unrealised ambitions or embark on new adventures.

Calls from bingo petitioners for a financial boost to keep the game alive have been answered by the Chancellor.

George Osborn slashed the tax on bingo in half from 20 to ten per cent in the Budget.

Regent Bingo Club in Spalding, part of Majestic Bingo Clubs Ltd, is calling it an investment which “really has saved bingo”.

The cut comes following the ‘Boost Bingo Campaign’, which Majestic Bingo Clubs Ltd particpated in. They proposed cutting bingo tax in order to modernise centres.

Hundreds of bingo enthusiasts signed the petition, while MPs visited the clubs and supported the campaign in Westminster.

The company operates seven clubs in the UK providing entertainment for more than half a million visitors every year.

Mark Jepp, managing director, said they knew it would be a challenge when they bought the business.

He said: “The taxation put a lot of people off and not have confidence in the future of bingo.

“Now we can give something back to the community, modernising buildings and improving food and drink, parking and smoking facilities.”

He said the Budget announcement will save many bingo clubs on the brink of closure.

The Budget has delivered an extra £200million to repair potholes nationwide.

And Lincolnshire is getting a £3.3million share of the pot.

Lincolnshire County Council has spent more than £16million on the sprawling network of roads in the south of the county in the last three years.

In 2013 alone, the council resurfaced almost 80,000 metres of roads in south Lincolnshire.

Coun Richard Davies, the county council’s executive member for highways, said: “Getting the best out of our roads will also help boost the county economy, meaning this money will benefit everyone, not just motorists.”

The councillor added: “We will ensure that this money is put to good use and will do all we can to keep the county’s roads in the best possible condition with the cash that’s available.”

We all forget things from time to time.

But in some cases the cause of memory loss can be down to an onset of a medical condition.

A dedicated memory clinic is now available at the Sutton’s Medical Group – Long Sutton surgery and Sutton Bridge surgery.

If you are over the age of 50 and have concerns about your memory the surgeries are 
encouraging you to get in touch.

The clinic offers patients a simple stepped memory assessment with a trained assessor.

It is only able to run for a very limited period and is hoped to be continued
until the middle of April.

It is recommended to book an assessment at the earliest convenience.

Any one registered as a patient at Long Sutton surgery can call 01406 362081 for more information or to make an appointment.

Those who are registered at Sutton Bridge surgery should call 01406 350217 for the same facilities.

New blood donors are always needed.

The next chance to donate is at South Holland Centre in Spalding, on Thursday, March 27, from 12.30pm to 3pm and 4.30pm and 7.30pm. Make an appointment at www.blood.co.uk.