Two men and a youth accused of affray, where it’s alleged an unconscious man was kicked and punched on the ground, are due to stand trial.

Kerren Hackney (21), of Rural Avenue, West Pinchbeck, Callum Redden (18), of St John’s Road, Weston Hills, and a boy of 16, who cannot be named for legal reasons, will stand trial at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court on January 21 and 22.

All three have pleaded not guilty to affray in Spalding’s Westlode Street on January 18 this year.

Both men and the youth are on summons rather than bail.

A Pinchbeck slaughterhouse company has been accused of failing to take a brain stem sample to test for mad cow disease (BSE – bovine spongiform encephalopathy) in 2012.

Neerok Ltd, of Brunel Road, Wardentree Industrial Estate, entered no plea when the case came before Boston magistrates yesterday (Wednesday).

The hearing was adjourned for legal submissions to be made at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court on January 15.

Police in Spalding are using stop and search powers to target burglars as part of Operation Bonus.

A man was arrested on August 8 and later convicted of burglary in Pinchbeck Road and, on August 26, a second man was arrested for burglary at an address in Spalding’s Stonegate.

Overnight on September 9-10, more arrests followed from 25 stop and searches around Spalding. A 26-year-old was arrested on suspicion of burglary and another man was arrested on suspicion of possessing heroin.

Community policing inspector Jim Tyner said: “Inevitably, many of the people that we stop and search are law abiding members of the community going about their lawful business and I am sorry for any inconvenience caused to them.”

He said there were no further burglaries reported on September 9-10.

“This shows the benefits of effective use of our stop and search powers,” he added.

Growers and others in the Spalding area have been asked to help make the county greener.

A Lincolnshire-based tree charity has embarked on a scheme to grow more woodland across the county, the least wooded in the UK. Lincolnshire has only 4.2 per cent cover, compared to a national average of 10 per cent.

The Woodland Trust is looking for people in Spalding who would like to plant trees on their land. Email plant@woodlandtrust.org.uk or call 0845 293 5689.

Popular TV programme the Great British Bake Off is providing a boost to Britain’s farming industry, Environment Secretary Liz Truss has said.

She said the competition helps to bring food and farming “alive” for many viewers.

People living, working and trading in the Deepings can have their say on the area’s new Shop Local maps.

Covering both Market Deeping and Deeping St James, the map shows car parks, churches amd other facilities on one side and a colour coded list of retailers and traders on the other.

You can view the map, produced by South Kesteven District Council, online at www.sothkesteven.gov.uk.shoplocal before emailing charlotte.watson@southkesteven.gov.uk with your comments by October 1.

Cllr Frances Cartwright, the district council’s portfolio holder for economic growth, said: “We want to do all we can to help our town centres and the Shop Local maps are just one of our many business support initiatives.

”We continue to work with partners like business clubs and the town councils and we welcome any feedback, however big or small, as we want to ensure the town maps are as accurate as they can be and that we do our utmost to include everyone.” Andy Pelling, chairman of Deepings Business Club said: “I think this council initiative is great and it’s good to see all the towns’ retailers promoted together like this.”

People looking for advice about retirement and pensions are invited to a free seminar in Spalding this month.

The seminar takes place in the function room at South Holland Centre on Thursday September 25 between 4.30pm and 6.30pm.

It is run by Moore Thompson Chartered Accountants, based in Spalding, Market Deeping and Wisbech, in the light of changes to pensions announced in this year’s Budget.

Managing partner Mark Hildred said: “Every retiree wants to enjoy a comfortable standard of living in their later years, so making the right choices about accessing pension funds is crucial.

“The government’s proposed changes to pensions and annuities will have a major impact on retirees and those looking to retire, so it is essential they are given detailed information to help them make the right choices.

“By attending our free seminar, people will get to know more about the pension changes and how it will affect themselves and their pension contributions.”

For more details, call Louise Hildred on 01775 711333.

Several businesses in Spalding have had windows at their premises smashed over the space of a few weeks.

Two weeks ago a window at Tulip Tandoori Restaurant on Pinchbeck Road in Spalding was broken, which has left owner Abu Rasel £400 out of pocket.

He said: “It doesn’t look very nice and because of health and safety regulations we can’t let anyone sit near the window because it is dangerous.

“We’re putting new glass in over the next few days, but the cost of this isn’t good - especially not for a small business.”

A similar turn of events occured at USA Chicken on New Road in Spalding - across the road from Tulip Tandoori - where another window was smashed four weeks ago.

Owner Huseyin Yildiz said: “It happened on a Tuesday night or the early hours of Wednesday morning, which is my day off, but when I came in I looked at the CCTV and saw a group of five boys around it, then one kicked the glass and broke it, but they haven’t been found yet.

“When I see the window it makes me very angry because it should not look like that and there was no reason for someone to break my window.

“I cannot afford to pay for a new window because it is very expensive, but it has an effect on my business as well.

“My regular customers are fine about the window but new customers can be put off by the it and some might not come in because of that.

“This isn’t the first time it has happened, a man once pushed his girlfriend into another window of mine during an argument and it smashed but he admitted it and paid for the damage straight away, so that was better than this because no one is paying for the damage.”

Protester Nina Wells claims she was gagged by council officials moments before she was due to speak against EDF’s proposed gas-fired power station at Sutton Bridge.

Mrs Wells, a member of the Wash and Sutton Bridge Protection Group (WSBPG), received an email from a district council officer confirming her as a public speaker at the planning committee where the application was discussed.

She said: “On arriving at the council offices, I spoke to one of the officers, who informed me that I was not on their list to speak and they had no record of it (the email).

“I protested and was, after some considerable time, confronted by a planning officer who informed me that, email or no email, I was not to be allowed to speak.”

South Holland District Council was a consultee on the application, made under the Electricity Act, and the planning committee voted 7-6 to impose a string of conditions having raised no objection at a previous meeting.

WSBPG chairman Colin Blundell said: “I think that the officers were terrified that we would be able to sway them (the committee), which is what we almost did.”

Mrs Wells is now pursuing a complaint against the council for denying her the chance to speak.

A council spokesman said: “We have received complaints which are currently under investigation and as a result it would be inappropriate for us to comment further at this stage.”

Among questions Mrs Wells wanted to ask were: “What possible justification can there be for building on greenfield agricultural land and a flood plain?

“How many other villages in this country would be expected to have two power stations, a possible incinerator and a wind farm on their doorsteps.”

Sutton Bridge people will live in the shadow of 17 chimneys – two at the existing power station – if the EDF plan and an even more controversial wood-burning biomass power station from EnergyPark Sutton Bridge get the go-ahead.

More than 600 villagers voted in a local referendum – a parish poll – for both plans to go to a public inquiry, but so far their wishes have been ignored.

A boy of 14 with a rare and painful skin condition is raising awareness of the UK children’s charity, Genetic Disorders UK, and its big fundraising event, Jeans for Genes Day.

Daniel Dicker, from Surfleet, has epidermolytic hyperkeratosis (EHK) ichthyosis – a skin condition so little understood that he’s felt “excluded” by a few children at school who don’t want to touch things he’s touched for fear it might be contagious.

Daniel’s mum, Alison (39), went to school to help improve children’s understanding of ichthyosis and to explain it’s not something you can catch.

His dad, Mark (42), said: “There was a lot of nastiness towards Daniel at school. He is resilient and tries to ignore it.”

Daniel inherited ichthyosis from Mark, but the EHK form is more severe and means Daniel is registered disabled and uses a wheelchair for distances.

Mark said: “Walking is a big challenge for Daniel. He can be ok one day and then have three days where he isn’t great at all.”

Daniel was born seven weeks premature – his skin was inflamed, he had open sores and thickened skin on the soles of his feet.

Alison said: “We found it very difficult when Daniel was a baby. I was scared to hold him in case I damaged the skin. At baby clinics other mums would look at him as he had red patches where the skin came off.

“He had thicker skin on his feet and hands and some areas (where) the skin was thin or had peeled off. I’ve had people ask if he had been in a fire, which of course is upsetting.”

As Daniel got older, he caught the skin infection impetigo, which made his condition worse, and he had to stay in hospital. “The skin on his back is scaly like a fish and his skin sheds everywhere,” said Alison. “His bed and bedroom are worse. I have to vacuum the house around three times a day.”

nThe Ichthyosis Support Group will receive £8,000 from Jeans for Genes Day. The event on Friday, September 19 encourages people to wear jeans for work or school and donate. More details on www.jeansforgenesday.org

One hundred years ago today, “extraordinary and most exciting scenes” were witnessed in Moulton.

A farmer and bulb grower from the village came under a military search just weeks after he appeared before magistrates in Boston for carrying a loaded revolver at Fosdyke Bridge, which led to him being “suspected by the military” of espionage.

Those in the village were also suspicious of the man, a Mr Cunnington, and his family which often included German governesses.

Villagers said: “There is resentment that we law abiding people should have to put up with such a man in our midst.”

At around 5pm a military lorry arrived in Moulton carrying officers in full uniform, carrying riffles.

News quickly spread around the village and a crowd gathered outside the man’s house as it was searched by the military.

Although the search was fruitless, the man was still booed as he walked into the village to purchase a bottle of water.

The crowd around him became nasty, so he struck two men with a “suspiciously heavy” stick.

The man was then picked up and carried to the village water pump where he was doused with water by the very angry villagers.

Nuclear test veterans who missed out on a chance to lobby MPs in parliament may get a second chance.

The vets hoped MPs would watch a film highlighting the effects of what they experienced on Christmas Island in the 1950s – but it was not seen because of an international crisis.

But now Moulton test veteran Douglas Hern (77) says the British Nuclear Test Veterans’ Association is in talks with a general release company having secured funding for the project.

Mr Hern has dedicated his life to winning justice for the veterans and their families.

Twenty thousand servicemen who were made to watch the nuclear bombs explode have already died of cancer – and many of the personnel still alive are suffering illnesses which they claim are linked to radiation exposure.

They are seeking a £25 million fund from the Government for those directly affected and their offspring – many of whom have medical conditions now believed to be linked.

The 92-minute film includes interviews with veterans and widows, as well as children who are suffering now. Excerpts can be seen by visiting http://vimeo.com/98679554 and http://vimeo.com/98715625

More cinema screens could be added to The South Holland Centre to help Spalding compete with neighbouring towns that offer multi-screen complexes.

The centre has one screen – a ‘temporary’ fixture put up above the stage – and usually shows blockbusters weeks after the general release date.

For years cinema audiences were in decline in the UK, but the silver-screen is enjoying a new heyday and reviving town centre fortunes with restaurants and coffee shops springing up around cinemas.

However, South Holland District Council deputy leader Nick Worth has revealed a feasibility study is underway and the result should be known before the end of the year.

He said: “I think they are just looking at all options, essentially more screens.”

Coun Worth said there’s room at The South Holland Centre to divide it up into smaller seating areas with additional screens.

If extra screens are put in, he believes the centre could get “more popular films in quickly” and perhaps show them for longer periods.

The potential boost to the town centre – in particular its night-time economy – is a huge bonus if any scheme gets the go-ahead.

Coun Worth said: “What we don’t really want is people going off to Peterborough and Boston – I would rather they spend their money in Spalding.”

The feasibility study will also look at bringing “bigger names” to appear live on stage at the centre.

Coun Worth said there’s a lot of work to do before decisions are made – any real action is likely to come after the elections in May – but an enhanced South Holland Centre would have to at least break even or make money to pay towards other services.

His leisure portfolio also includes sporting facilities.

Coun Worth said: “We are going to need another leisure centre in the next couple of years so that’s going to have to be sorted out.”

l Write to us with your ‘big idea’ for breathing new life into our towns at: Letters, Spalding Guardian, Priory House, The Crescent, Spalding PE11 1AB. Or email jeremy.
ransome@jpress.co.uk

I went to my first ever South Holland planning meeting (actually it was my first ever district council meeting) and what an experience.

I went with a group of others hoping that the committee would object to plans for the ‘Energy Park’ at Sutton Bridge.

Imagine this. You live in a small village in Lincolnshire near the borders of both Cambridge and Norfolk. They put a huge electricity generator there, and a wind farm. OK, it has to go somewhere and we all want electricity.

Next there are quiet plans to build another much bigger generator as well as the existing one, and yet a third installation, an incinerator. Three huge, ugly generators.

The small population of the village really don’t have much clout. They don’t want them, no one would. They have polls to say they don’t want any more, they already have one and that is enough. They send in petitions. They do what they can. They try to stand up against the overwhelming odds. The feel bullied.

At the meeting several points from the plans were questioned, and thank you to the councillors who did speak out.

If there had been a formal objection to the plans then there could have been a public inquiry, which would have highlighted that three massive generators in one place is very much against Government policy.

It would also have addressed the very disturbing concerns we have about pollution, the monitoring of pollution, noise, traffic, flood plane, unsound ground and for wildlife.

The plans were passed on the premise that the final decision rests with the Department of the Environment.

I have little confidence that the minister or his civil servants will comb through the plans. I think he is entitled to believe that if no objection was raised at the planning committee stage then the plans may be deemed clear and satisfactory.

He will assume that the planning committee have taken care to address the points raised by the people of the village. By passing the plans they showed they had no appetite to support their residents and shame on you.

J Ansell

Sutton Bridge

Regarding the gasifier/biomass power station and second power station at Sutton Bridge. Despite the ‘anti-gasifier/power station’ group’s best endeavours, there is no guarantee that they will be successful in stopping the additional gas powered generator and/or the ‘gasifier; being built in Sutton Bridge.

That being the case, we need a proper ‘air-quality monitoring station’ installed in Sutton Bridge now.

Without one, how would we, the Environment Agency or councils, be able to tell whether or not the power stations of either type are polluting the atmosphere – after they are built?

Under the circumstances, we all need to be pushing South Holland District Council and/or the Environment Agency to install such a monitoring station in Sutton Bridge immediately, so that there will be a proper ‘base-level’ of current pollution recorded, against which any future increases could be properly measured. I understand that the nearest one is in Wicken Fen south of Ely!

Without an accurate base-level record, it could never be proved [or disproved] that pollution has increased after the building of the power stations, as is being claimed will happen.

Chris Brandon-King

Sutton Bridge

Gary Porter, the leader of South Holland District Council, stated in your paper on June 6 that the members of the cabinet claim to be listening councillors.

We all know that many claims are made that are not true. It seems the Council only listens to those it wants to hear and it takes steps to gag other less welcome voices.

A few minutes before the August planning committee I witnessed such a gagging. A senior council officer told Sutton Bridge residents that the Wash and Sutton Bridge Protection Group would not be allowed to speak.

The group were registered to speak against the proposed EDF B 1800MW power station application.

In a local poll, 98 per cent of votes cast by Sutton Bridge residents called for a public inquiry to be called by the Secretary of State before a decision is made on the EDF B power station or the proposed biomass incinerator.

The group that was not allowed to speak expresses the

opposition of the local community to these proposals to turn our village in to a dumping ground.

We already have a large gas-fired power station, an on-shore wind farm and cables from an off -shore wind farm in our small rural community. We do not want another two power stations dumped on us.

In the event the planning committee was evenly divided with six members voting to object and seven voting not to object. The question remains: Why was the group not allowed to present its arguments to the committee?

So much for government policy that the views of those most affected by planning decisions should be listened to.

Brian Collins-McDougall

Sutton Bridge

Two of our local district councillors attended the power station planning meeting. Just one of them spoke up to convey the feelings of those who voted for him – Coun Michael Booth is to be hugely congratulated for having made a forceful and impassioned declaration in support of the residents of Sutton Bridge.

He said that Sutton Bridge had lost trust in South Holland District Council and its planning committee and expressed deep concern about the clustering of three power stations in one locality .

He concluded that, in order to avoid the PREL fiasco (which cost the taxpayer £10,000) the committee should push for a public inquiry to look at all the issues relating to both proposed developments taken together.

Needless to say, his comments were totally ignored by the seven councillors, including the chairman Coun Gammba-Jones, who voted to accept the conditions.

He gace the strog impression he had made his decision before listening to any of the arguments.

In his concluding remarks Mr Gambba-Jones made the outrageous statement that Government policy is for the greater good and local concerns have to be overruled for the benefit of the whole country. Is it any wonder that Sutton Bridge has no trust whatsoever in SHDC planning committee?

Colin Blundell

via email

Regarding your stories on pub closures. The various different legislations targeted at pubs over the recent past – drink driving, no smoking, and other aspects affecting the public’s disposable income, including the ‘credit crunch’ and the ‘bedroom tax’, have all contributed to the closure of pubs.

However, the most effective way to close pubs has been the way the Government has allowed supermarkets to sell alcohol at well under the price charged by pubs.

Despite my occasional letters to our MP and Ministers, suggesting ways that they may create a level playing field, they have all come to nothing. As a ‘card carrying’ member of CAMRA, I have joined just about every petition to improve the lot of publicans; unfortunately they too, have only been partially successful.

It would appear that pubs which sell good quality food, at a reasonable price, are the only ones that are likely to succeed.

Take for example, The Anchor at Sutton Bridge and The Granary at Long Sutton and the Red Lion at Wisbech, all of which seem to be doing well.

Chris Brandon-King

Sutton Bridge

An overseas trip has provided a great insight into lifestyles and cultures for Girl Guide Gemma Overson.

The 17-year-old was one of just eight girls from the county chosen to take part in the educational trip to Minsk, in Belarus, where she got to camp with Minsk Guides, stay with a Russian family and take in some of the country’s sights.

“When we arrived we were greeted by the Belarussian guide leaders with lots of food for our journey to camp – they were very generous to us all,” said Gemma, of Wingland, Sutton Bridge.

“The next day someone had kindly set up our tents before our arrival – they were just so kind and welcoming. Our host families, too, always tried to provide us with the best and make our stay enjoyable.

“When it came to leaving it was quite emotional – I left a small amount of money and a thank you letter under my pillow. They earn so little and gave us so much, it was the least we could do.

“We exchanged gifts, too, and tears were shed at the airport and I know will keep in close contact.”

Gemma, an A-level student at Lynn’s King Edward VII Academy, had to raise £1,000 to secure her place on the trip which is now part of an annual tradition dating back to 1992, when it was established to strengthen relationships with units in Belarus.

Increasingly public opinion, regrettably, is that police officers are almost extinct, as far as ‘being on the street’ is concerned.

I have not seen a police officer on the streets of Bourne for years. However and, perhaps strangely, a road accident is invariably visited by at least four police cars.

At a point in time wqhen Bourne had six PCSOs, all very pleasant people, I asked, via the chief constable, the salaries of newly-appointed police officers and, similarly, PCSOs.

A secretary replied to say that they would have to check me out – was I a person entitled to have that information?

I posed the question: “What if I am an 18 to 20-year-old wishing to become a police officer, who would quitwe normally wish to know the salaries?”

Eventually and reluctantly I was advised that PCSOs receive approximately 90 per cent of a police salary.

I then asked why not have five police officers in lieu of six PCSOs – those who could apply the full spectrum of the law rather than a small part of it – my comments were ignored.

At Bourne police station one can only discuss matters with a clerk who, at best, completes a four-page A4 questionaire.

Apparently when it is completed it is put in a police officers’ tray and the first available officer will review it!

Could democracy and red tape be the reasons why police officers are kept from the streets, or thinking of hare coursing, has our chief constable a poor sense of priorities and allocation of resources?

Brian Fines

Bourne