The much maligned Common Agricultural Policy was recently criticised (again) by environmental pressure groups and the BBC who highlighted that grants designed to protect the countryside have been controversially switched to pay England’s farmers to grow peas and beans, writes Simon Fisher, county adviser for Nottinghamshire and Holland (Lincolnshire) County Branches.

Farmers apparently watered down the policy!

Firstly, policy is not decided by farmers. We make a case to politicians just as the very active environmental groups do. It is politicians and civil servants in Brussels and Westminster that decide policy. What was obliquely being referred to were new CAP greening measures which a farmer is obliged to do to receive direct support payments from Brussels.

The measure highlighted is the ability to use a nitrogen fixing crop such as peas and beans to qualify for the ecological focus area greening measure. While making the CAP more complicated and less market orientated, the measure is far from being a waste of time. It is something that will help the environment. Firstly, these nitrogen fixing crops help improve the soil. Secondly, they provide flowers for pollinators from April to June and later. Readers growing broad beans in the veg patch will know they are full of pollinators. That is great for bees and other insects. Thirdly, it is great fledgling bird food. Bearing in mind that the environmental groups often berate us for the reductions in farmland birds and bees this measure would appear to be quite a positive one!

Leicester Longwool breeder Barry Enderby of Whaplode returned home from the Lincolnshire Show with a clutch of rosettes.

Barry, responsible for bringing home the Malton Agricultural Society trophy for ewe Leicester Longwool champion from the Yorkshire Show last year – the first time the cup came out of the county – was not able to beat that record.

He was reserve for the Champion Prize for the best male in the 2014 Lincolnshire Show.

He also took first place in the Shearling Ram class for any pure-bred native breed; he was second in the Ram Lamb class for any pure-bred native breed; fourth in the class for pure-bred native breed ewe of any age that has reared lambs; fourth and sixth in the pure-bred native breed Shearling ewe class; and second in the class for pure-bred native breed pair of ewe lambs.

In the Wool on the Hoof section, Barry took fourth in the lustre wool class for native sheep including Leicester.

The potato trade will be homing in on Holbeach Hurn on Wednesday, July 2 for the East Midlands Potato Day at QV Foods.

Registration is from 9am, with the day’s programme of events starting at 10am.

The millions of tons of slurry produced on British farms each year could be turned into sustainable forms of energy and low-carbon fuel.

Slurry from livestock can be converted into biogas through anaerobic digestion and used to power equipment such as tractors.

The Royal Agricultural Society’s report Refuelling the Countryside suggests the 90 to 100 million tons of slurry produced on British farms each year could be turned into the farming fuel of the future.

The government must properly maintain flood defences and watercourses if farmland is to be better protected from flooding, MPs have warned.

The warning is contained in a Report on Winter Floods by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee.

It calls for fully funded plans to address a backlog of dredging and watercourse maintenance – as well as to maintain the growing number of man-made flood defences.

Committee chairman Anne McIntosh said: “Funding for maintenance remains at a bare minimum. Ministers must take action now to avoid a repeat of the devastation caused by the winter floods.”

Budget cuts affected regular work to dredge and keep rivers clear.

The team at Garford Farm Machinery Ltd celebrating after their recent success at the Cereals 2014 event.

The company based in Frognall was awarded the Gold IMMA Award for its Robocrop Spot Sprayer.

A former manager of a care home in Spalding has admitted to cheating a resident in his care out of £4,500.

John Eric Valmoria (38), of Pennygate, Spalding, will be sentenced on July 17 after pleading guilty to fraud by false representation at Lincoln Crown Court on Monday.

Valmoria was charged in connection with an incident that took place between November and December 2012 when he was manager at The Bungalow Care Home in Park Road where he wrote out a cheque of £4,500 to himself before paying it into his own bank account.

DC Steve Nesbit of Spalding CID, the detective in charge of the case, said: “Valmoria was trusted by a vulnerable person in his care and he abused that trust despicably. 
“He initially denied the offence and only later acknowledged what he had done by pleading guilty at this week’s court hearing.”

A care home in Spalding is to close after being run by the same family for 30 years.

Grenoble Rest Home in Cowbit Road has nine residents and 17 members of staff.

Sarah Corlett has been manager for 28 years and says taking the decision to retire has been very difficult.

She said: “It is very sad, but the care home sector is very challenging these days.

“Running a small one just isn’t viable. Banks won’t lend money and there is so much red tape.

“But the closure is being managed and we are finding alternative homes for the residents locally, so they will still be able to see their friends and family.

“Although I am discussing redundancies, some members of staff will be moving to the care homes where residents are going, which I am very pleased about.

”They have been brilliant and have all worked incredibly hard for me and they have all been incredibly supportive as has healthcare services in offering jobs.”

Mrs Corlett said she will remain a silent partner at a care home in Grantham, which is run by her business partner and ex-husband Christopher Dunmore.

Lincolnshire Show was a rare day away from the day job of looking after hundreds of sheep and cattle for Moulton stockman Josh Bustance.

Josh, of Moulton, has his own flocks of commercial and Blue Texel sheep and British Blue and cross-breed cattle to look after as well as his dad Chris’s animals.

However, the day away from the ‘office’ proved profitable for Josh, in terms of results in the sheep and cattle classes.

Josh came away with a first, a second and a fifth as well as reserve supreme champion overall for his Texels. He was also presented with a first and fifth for his British Blue heifers.

“I was really happy about that,” said Josh (22). “It’s the first time I have taken the sheep out and it’s definitely given me confidence to take them to another show. Reserve supreme champion is special as it wasn’t just for the breed but against other breeds as well and it was a fairly big class.”

Josh has only had the Blue Texels a year but has been showing the cattle since he entered the ring as a young handler as a five-year-old.

He grew up helping care for the cattle and sheep his dad keeps on 120 acres of grass and at about eight began keeping his own animals.

The 15 Blue Texels and 150 commercial sheep, plus the cattle and his father’s animals keep him pretty busy.

He admits it’s hard to find time for showing and that going to four or five a year – summer shows as well as fatstock shows in winter – is “an expensive hobby”.

He said: “You have to start halter training the cattle two months before the show, training them to walk and be calm. With the sheep you just have to fatten them up.”

The meat from Josh’s animals supplies his father’s wholesale meat business as well as going into Wimberley Hall farm shop.

On The Beat with Inspector Jim Tyner

Caravans are a common sight on our roads. However, they are less common during the night, so it raised an eyebrow when PC Craig and I saw three caravans being towed by three 4X4 vehicles through Spalding town centre one rainy June night.

It was 2:20am on a Sunday morning in June 2000 and the nightclub was emptying out. I was an Acting Sergeant. PC Craig and I had just returned to our police car when the caravanning convoy passed us.

Anyone who has seen the long-suffering cops in ‘Last of The Summer Wine’ can imagine the quizzical ‘did you see what I saw?’ expression that passed between us. By the time we turned the police car round the caravans had vanished from sight. We had a quick look and couldn’t find them. We were just about to give up when another officer called up on the police radio to say he was travelling north through Pinchbeck, behind three caravans.

While we and other officers started to make our way towards Pinchbeck the officer following the caravans provided a running commentary as they turned left through the village and then onto Northgate towards West Pinchbeck. We eventually stopped the cross-country convoy outside the old Horse and Jockey pub in West Pinchbeck.

I went to speak with the driver of the lead 4X4. It was dark with very dim street lighting. The wind was building up to a fenland gale and the rain soaked through to my skin within ten seconds of stepping out of the police car. The 4X4 was being driven by a man from Doncaster, with his wife sat in the passenger seat. I could see kids’ bicycles on a bike rack on the back of his 4X4. The number plate on the back of the caravan matched the 4X4’s number plates. He explained that they had been caravanning in Norfolk but had got rained off and were trying to find their way back to Doncaster, but got lost in Spalding. This was the days before sat-navs. I asked where the kids were and he explained that they had gone on ahead with an auntie in another car.

It was time for my good deed for the day. I advised the driver to follow me to the A151 Bourne Road. Once we got there, I waved him towards Bourne and Colsterworth and the A1. The driver waved a cheery goodbye to me and I returned to the police car. As I did, I got a radio message from PC Neil, who was still speaking to the driver of one of the other caravans. Because of the atrocious weather, radio signals were very poor, but eventually, through Norman Collier-style staccato speech, PC Neil explained to me that he was a caravanner and was able to tell that the other two caravans were stolen and he had arrested the occupants of the other two 4X4s.

Oh, what had I done? Not only had I let some caravan thieves get away, but I had actually helped them to find the main road. Oh dear. Oh very dear. Oh very dear indeed. There was a knot of ice in the pit of my stomach. There was only one thing for it... I had to own up straight away. I would have to deal with the ridicule later. In those days there was no direct radio contact with officers at Bourne, so I contacted the force control room and asked them to get the nearest police car in Bourne to stop a 4X4 and caravan heading their way. I went to read out the registration number of the 4X4 but my notes were rain-sodden and unreadable. Oh, I sounded really professional, as I said: “Just get them to stop any caravans being towed in Bourne. I’m on my way, I’ll explain later!”

PC Craig and I went as quick as we could towards Bourne, but the poor weather meant we couldn’t make great progress. Was there a police car near Bourne? Would we catch up in time? Would I ever live this down? All these thoughts were going through my mind.

As we drove through Bourne and on to West Street I could see the glow of a blue flashing light. The 4X4 and caravan had been stopped just outside Bourne Police Station. I jumped out of the police car and went to speak to the driver again. This time I carried out a better check of the caravan and it was now obvious that the door lock had been forced.

Cursing myself for not noticing this earlier, the man and woman were swiftly arrested.

So now we had three men and three women, all from Doncaster, arrested.

We had three suspected stolen caravans and three seized 4X4 trucks.

In the morning a caravan showroom in South Holland reported the theft of three caravans. The men were interviewed by CID and admitted they had travelled down, brought planks with them to form a bridge across a dyke at the rear to tow the caravans across a neighbouring field. They had deliberately brought their wives with them, as well as spare number plates and put kids’ bikes on the back so that, if stopped by a gullible cop, their story about being rained off would seem plausible.

Oh, how they must have laughed! Oh, how they must have chortled as I waved them on their merry way! Well, I had the last laugh: each of the men received two years’ imprisonment at Crown Court.

After all this excitement I needed a holiday... I was right off caravans, though!

UPDATE THURSDAY 9.30AM: Police have renewed their appeal for information after six men of Eastern European origin were violently attacked in Spalding at the weekend.

Three men, all Lithuanians living in Spalding, needed stitches for cuts to their arms or head after they were injured during a fight in Hall Place at about 12.45am on Saturday.

On Sunday, three Polish men were attacked on the riverbank opposite The Vista with one of the man receiving eight deep cuts to his back.

Another man was slashed on the hand and a third man was left with a cut to his eye after the attack which happened between 1am and 1.30am.

Police arrested a 19-year-old man from West Pinchbeck in relation to the Hall Place incident and he was released on police bail until September 5.

Spalding community policing inspector Jim Tyner said that both incidents were alcohol-related but aren’t connected.

Insp Tyner added: “Both of these incidents took place during the early hours at the weekend and in both cases, it would appear that alcohol was a factor.

“We will not tolerate any form of disorder and there are likely to be further arrests as the full circumstances become clearer.”

Anyone with information should call 101 or Crimestoppers, anonumously, on 0800 555 111.

You should quote incident numbers 19 of June 21 (Hall Place) and 44 of June 22 (The Vista).

SUNDAY 2.30PM: Police sealed off two areas of Spalding after a pair of assaults over the weekend, including one earlier today.

An area around St Nicolas Church Hall in The Vista was sealed off after an attack took place there this morning.

There was also an assault near Red Lion Street, Spalding, just after midnight on Saturday, although there are no details yet of those involved in either incident.

Anyone with information should call 101.

Cabinet Call - this week with Roger Gambba-Jones, South Holland District Council portfolio holder for waste and recycling

Like most residents I become frustrated at the sight of litter, graffiti and fly tipping, as well as the early out refuse and recycling bags, all blighting our streets, roads and open countryside – and, as ‘rubbish man’, my colleagues and others are quick to point out the problems to me.

Yes, for my sins I am ‘rubbish man’ in council circles. I don’t think they’re calling me rubbish, but instead that I’m the cabinet member for waste and recycling, though I’m never absolutely sure!

My role also includes parks and open spaces which itself is shortened to ‘cutting the grass’ – both descriptions are fair but don’t tell the whole story.

Alongside planning issues, keeping local community areas clean, tidy and pleasing to the eye is seen as the most important thing we do for residents and businesses.

Quite rightly every other cabinet member will tell you the same about their services, and that’s okay, because I know better!

But seriously, South Holland is overwhelmingly rural, with scattered communities to be served and isolated homes to be reached.

It is therefore a great source of pride to me that, unlike other councils, we still provide weekly refuse and recycling collections for more than 38,000 South Holland properties.

Our 14 refuse and recycling freighters work across the district five days every week, providing the weekly service so highly-valued by residents.

Our small street cleansing team is also out and about all year round. The team empty and maintain more than 460 litter bins, eight sets of public toilets and tackle litter and fly tipping problems wherever they find them. They also sweep South Holland’s town centres every morning.

South Holland’s grounds maintenance team put in long hours preparing and planting to bring splashes of colour across our communities – work which can be undone in a matter of seconds through mindless vandalism.

The team take great pride in their work and always appreciate a kind word from members of the public.

Finally we are always looking to bring new and improved services for residents.

Our textiles recycling pilot in 5,000 homes is proving a great success and we are just now consulting on a new garden waste service.

Please go to www.shol land.gov.uk/environment/waste/GardenWasteCollectionSurvey and let us know what you think about the proposal.

Spalding-based engineering firm Welland Power Limited can set new goals for itself after securing a £25,000 cash windfall from a project promoting business growth.

The firm, which supplies diesel generators from a site in Welland Business Park, Clay Lake, has been awarded a grant from South Holland District Council’s Grants4Growth programme aimed at promoting efficiency and environmental excellence in business.

Grants4Growth is an £11 million project being run across Lincolnshire and eastern England where firms can apply for capital grants to fund new and efficent manufacturing processes, equipment and technology.

Welland Power managing director Charlie Farrow said: “A friend recommended that we look into funding to help make the most of the sections of our warehouse that are too cold and dark to work in which are just wasted space.

“After a little research, we found Grants4Growth and the application process for it was quick and easy, with minimal paperwork.

“Thanks to Grants4Growth’s support, the entire factory is now fit to work in - something that wouldn’t have been possible without this financial support.”

Grants4Growth project manager Antony Gough said: “We pride ourselves on offering a simple and straightforward process for businesses to receive the funding needed to grow, create jobs and develop a more sustainable future.”

Lincolnshire is piloting a new approach to mental health emergencies, with nurses, police and paramedics together to provide the best possible care for vulnerable people.

The pilot, launched on Tuesday and jointly funded by the NHS and Lincolnshire Police, has mental health nurses and paramedics attending incidents where police officers believe people need immediate mental health support.

The dedicated car and team of healthcare professionals are operating throughout the county to ensure people with mental health issues are kept out of police custody and receive the right treatment and care. The pilot service is activated by 999 emergency calls received by the ambulance service central call centre seven days’ a week.

The pilot service is already having an impact by reducing unnecessary demand on A&E resources.

On Tuesday, Spalding watched as dozens of former servicemen and women marched through the town centre in remembrance of past and present forces personnel.

The Armed Forces Parade, which also commemorated a century since the outbreak of the First World War, was organised by the Spalding Royal Naval Association as part of a series of related events, which saw the Armed Forces Flag raised the previous day by South Holland District Council.

The parade proceeded from Hall Place to Market Place and was led by the Spalding Marching Ambassadors, followed by the Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire, Tony Worth, and the chairman of South Holland District Council, Coun Robert Clark.

The procession commenced in the market place, where Rev John Bennett gave a short service of remembrance and Major Dennis Hammond performed “Abide With Me”.

This was followed by the national anthem and a recital of the Lord’s Prayer.

BREAKING NEWS THURSDAY 9.45AM: A 42-year-old man is being treated for head injuries after the van he was driving collided with a lorry in Holbeach.

The injured man, from Whaplode St Catherine, was driving a Vauxhall Astra van when it collided with a 7.5 tonne lorry in Hurdletree Bank shortly before 8.45am yesterday morning.

Firefighters had to cut away part of the van to avoid the risk of a possible blaze because of leaking petrol before the van driver was taken to Pilgrim Hospital, Boston, for treatment.

The lorry driver was unhurt.

The 50,000 men whose lives were lost during the D-Day landings were remembered with a poignant poppy drop into the sea at Hunstanton on Sunday.

Thousands of people went along to the town to support the 1940s day, which raised £2,500 for the Royal Anglian Benevolent Fund.

A pilot from Fenland Aero Club dropped the poppies but unfortunately arrived early and was 200 yards out due to a communications problem on the beach.

Organiser Harold Payne said: “It’s just like the beaches of Normandy. It’s been a wonderful weekend and it’s done the veterans proud.”

Highlights of the day also included a flypast by a Dakota, along with 35 military vehicles, including a tank.

Mr Payne will be running a free military and vintage vehicle rally at the Anglia Motel in Holbeach on Saturday and Sunday, July 5 and 6, when £11,000 will be presented to the fund.

The latest news from our girl about town

Come on England is the logo on the front of T-shirts currently in the window of a large shop in Spalding. Angel thought how sad it is that the store will have to get rid of the T-shirts, but then had another idea. How about changing the meaning without altering the words too much: Come ON (underlined) England!

* Angel spotted The Crown Inn at Crowland had a sign outside at the weekend offering topless girls and football, but admitted that only one of them was true. Those Crowland lasses obviously have no daft hang-ups about nudity.

* Angel saw an interesting sight in Spalding’s town centre the other day: a bit of male grooming was going on with a young lady applying an electric appliance to the nostrils of a young male friend. Get them trained early I say.

* A Brazilian friend of Angel’s has a small version of Rio de Janiero’s famous statue of Christ the Redeemer in her new en suite.

When Angel visited recently with another friend, she pointed towards the ornament and said, quite seriously: “Who’s that little fellow?

* The sprint triathlon that took place in Spalding on Sunday, June 8 produced some very impressive performances... but Angel thinks there must have been some very slow times clocked too. Perhaps that’s why there’s still a sign up in Spalding telling motorists to expect delays.

*Angel was at University Academy Holbeach on Friday when it became Lincolnshire’s version of the Hacienda in Manchester for a charity concert in aid of LIVES First Responders. One band of youngsters showed they weren’t too young to cover The Monkees’ number one hit of 1967, I’m A Believer, putting the phrase “High School Musical” in a totally different light.

A 27-year-old man has been arrested after swearing inside a bank in Spalding.

The man from Gedney was arrested at Barclays Bank in Hall Place after reports that he was verbally abusing people inside the bank at about 1.25pm on Tuesday.

He was eventually fined for commiting a public order offence.

A woman driver has gone to hospital to be checked for a minor neck injury following a two-car road accident at High Road, Moulton, this morning.

The injured woman was driving an Audi, which demolished a garden wall at the front of the house.

It is understood the driver of a Peugeot involved did not require hospital treatment.

The accident happened at about 8am and police closed one carriageway of the A151 – and directed traffic – while the crash vehicles were recovered.

The accident was close to High Road’s junction with River Lane.