UKIP’s parliamentary candidate for South Holland David Parsons has explained the “regrettable” expenses incident that saw him quit as Tory leader in Leicestershire in 2012.

Mr Parsons, who was adopted by UKIP on Saturday, explained: “I think the problem was a couple of years ago, when I was involved in this, I had a heck of a lot of jobs and there were a lot of calls on my time.

“I was leader of Leicestershire County Council, I was the member for this region for the committee of the regions of the EU and I was deputy chairman of the LGA (Local Government Association).

“I had a lot on and cash which should have been transferred from my account more quickly wasn’t (transferred) – and, you know, I said sorry about that and it was regrettable.”

Mr Parsons said all of the cash has been repaid, adding: “Somebody like me has to take responsibility and I do so in all humility. I think people may understand that.”

The parliamentary seat was fought in 2010 by Richard Fairman, now a UKIP county councillor, who says Mr Parsons has his full support.

Coun Fairman said: “When I stood, there was no danger of winning – now that we have got a proper chance of winning, we have got a proper, professional candidate. I shall give him every bit of support.”

Paul Foyster, chairman of UKIP in South Holland and The Deepings, says this constituency is the “tenth demographically most favourable seat for UKIP in the country”.

That calculation is based on population profile, taking into account things like the existing political parties and their supporters, incomes, occupations and housing.

Mr Foyster said: “John (Hayes) has got a huge majority but it could be quite a close fight.”

He said May will be exciting because UKIP is putting together a team for the district council and says the number of candidates so far is in “double figures”.

South Holland District Council’s Conservative leader Gary Porter said he was surprised by UKIP’s choice of parliamentary candidate – simply “on the basis that he’s not local” – but welcomed news that UKIP candidates are stepping forward to contest district council seats.

Coun Porter said he would like to see all 37 seats contested by representatives from each political party so residents get a proper choice when they vote.

MP John Hayes hasn’t commented on Mr Parsons’ selection, but says of the contest ahead: “People know that I live in the heart of the place I represent and I work hard for all of our communities and I am confident they will judge me accordingly.”

Mr Parsons, who lives in Kirby Muxloe, Leicestershire, says: “If elected I will live in South Holland.” He attended university in Salford and St John’s College, Oxford, where he was president of the students’ union, and became a science teacher. He now works as a property and land developer. He was awarded the CBE for services to regional and local government in 2009.

I moved to this area some five years ago, and I feel Holbeach is a small town dying slowly. A great deal of time and money is spent in Spalding, but Holbeach seems to get overlooked.

We have lost two banks, many shops are now empty and the High Street looks very old and tired. There is a pub that looks derelict, and several shops are empty and extremely shabby. I note the Christmas decorations have now been put up, again they look old and tired. There seems little Christmas joy in Holbeach which I feel is very sad. I have recently been informed there is no Christmas Street market this year.

Most of the people I speak to say they go to other towns to do their main shopping, as there is very little in Holbeach. It would be very nice if someone from the Council took some interest in Holbeach and not put all their efforts into Spalding.

Would be interesting to see what our councillors and MP have to say on this matter.

Edna Lambert

Holbeach

South Holland could see a surge in house sales in the first quarter of the 2015 as buyers make the most of changes to Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT).

Buyers are expected to get in quick as the savings announced in the Autumn Statement could change again with an uncertain outcome to May’s general election.

Jacob Bell, branch manager of Spalding’s We’ll Let Your House, said: “We are forecasting a noticeable increase in sales in the first quarter of 2015 and indeed an increase in the purchase of investment property, which in turn will have a positive effect on the currently very buoyant rental market we have in South Holland.

“Usually we would expect to see this surge in the spring and, of course, the busy summer months – but due to the general election in May there is uncertainty about the amount of time people will have to take advantage of this hence the forecast being in the earlier part of the year.”

The overhaul of stamp duty will benefit 98 per cent of home buyers.

There will be no tax on the first £125,000 paid – then two per cent up to £250,000 and five per cent up to £925,000. Higher rates apply for homes costing £1.5million or more.

Graham Wakefield, senior partner with Holbeach solicitors Mossop and Bowser, said: “The changes to SDLT will initially be of great benefit to the vast majority of house buyers locally and, as a result, to the local economy generally.

“However, should 2015 see a significant rise in house prices, the new SDLT rates will need to be indexed to that inflation and I trust that the Government will bear this in mind.”

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.

Boston Magistrates’ Court

October 29

Darren Taylor (39), of Franks Close, Kirton. Resisting a police officer (Boston). £75 fine, £20 victim surcharge, £85 costs.

Dorota Podlasinska (31), of Cygnet Court, Spalding. Used threatening or abusive words or behaviour or disorderly behaviour (Spalding). 6 months conditional discharge, £15 v/s, £50 costs.

Daniel Tholi (36), of The Hollies, Holbeach. Drink driving (Holbeach). £360 fine, £36 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 14 months.

Mark Watson (51), of Boston Road South, Holbeach. Drink driving (Spalding). £110 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 14 months.

Committing an offence during the operational period of a suspended prison sentence order – operational period of suspended sentence extended from 12 months to 15 months.

November 3

Kevin Carberry (28), of Park Range, Victoria Park, Manchester. Speeding (Spalding). £35 fine, £20 v/s, 3pts.

Gena Depear (56), of Broad Lane, Sutterton. Speeding (Spilsby). £170 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Pawel Drozdz (30), of Tasburgh Close, King’s Lynn. Driving while using a hand-held mobile phone (Quadring). £105 fine, £20 v/s, 3pts.

Brant Evison (51), of Town Drove, Quadring. Driving while using a hand-held mobile phone (Quadring). £200 fine, £20 v/s, 3pts.

Pauline Hill (58), of Inkerson Common Bank, Spalding. Failing to give driver ID (Nettleham). £600 fine, £60 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Nerijus Dusevicius (35), of Haff Close, Swineshead. Driving while using a hand-held mobile phone (Boston). £200 fine, £20 v/s,£85 costs, disqualified from driving for 6 months.

Neal Wheatley (29), of Willington Road, Kirton. Speeding (Wildmore).£265 fine, £27 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Sara Clark (44), of Holmes Road, Kirton Holmes. Failing to give driver ID (Nettleham). £600 fine, £60 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

William Graham (50), of St Marys Street, Bedford. Speeding (Crowland). £300 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Chad Sharman (38), of Cowbit Road, Spalding. Speeding (Spalding). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Palius Svaldenis (23), of Priory Road, Peterborough. Speeding (Crowland). £160 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 5pts.

Szymon Trusilo (25), of Dickens Street, Peterborough. Speeding (Crowland). £85 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Grantham Magistrates’ Court

October 30

Rafal Bakowski (32), of Balmoral Way, Holbeach. No TV licence. £200 fine, £20 v/s, £120 costs.

Michelle Creasey (51), of Fen Road, Dowsby. No TV licence. £300 fine, £30 v/s, £120 costs.

Rosemary Healey (31), of Atton Avenue, Spalding. No TV licence. £300 fine, £30 v/s, £120 costs.

Kimberley Lamb (28), of Batemans Close, Gedney. No TV licence. £500 fine, £50 v/s, £120 costs.

Clive Lewsey (62), of Risegate Road, Gosberton. No TV licence. £300 fine, £30 v/s, £120 costs.

Vitalijs Vigups (25), of Langley Mews, Kirton. No TV licence. £200 fine, £20 v/s, £120 costs.

David Sanford (60), of Godsey Crescent, Market Deeping. No TV licence. £200 fine, £20 v/s, £120 costs.

Mark Clayton (42), of St Johns Road, Spalding. No TV licence. £200 fine, £20 v/s, £120 costs.

Lauren East (23), of Little London, Spalding. No TV licence. £300 fine, £30 v/s, £120 costs.

Tracy Edwards (44), of Glen Avenue, Pinchbeck. No TV licence. £200 fine, £20 v/s, £120 costs.

Lloyd Fish (31), of Rowan Avenue, Spalding. No TV licence. £200 fine, £20 v/s, £120 costs.

Sarah Johnson (31), of Maple Grove, Holbeach. No TV licence. £200 fine, £20 v/s, £120 costs.

Tammie Morton (35), of East Street, Crowland No TV licence. £500 fine, £50 v/s, £120 costs.

Hayley Peacher (34), of Greenwich Avenue, Holbeach. No TV licence. £300 fine, £30 v/s, £120 costs.

Rachel Roberts (21), of Stennett Avenue, Spalding. No TV licence. £40 fine, £20 v/s, £120 costs.

Anthony Rout (29), of Stukeley Road, Holbeach. No TV licence. £200 fine, £20 v/s, £120 costs.

Ieva Zilteka (23), of Winsover Road, Spalding. No TV licence. £200 fine, £20 v/s, £120 costs.

Skegness Magistrates’ Court

November 4

Dariusz Bosek (32), of Lewis Court, Spalding. Motor insurance offence. £200 fine, £20 v/s, £110 costs.

Lynda Briggs (63), of Richard Busby Way, Lutton. Motor insurance offence (Spalding). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £110 costs.

Michael Coupland (45), of Honeysuckle Way, Spalding. Unlicensed vehicle. £200, £51.25 back duty, £90 costs.

Maria Cox, of Acacia Avenue, Spalding. Unlicensed vehicle (Spalding). £400, £53.34 back duty, £90 costs.

Nigel Fuller (55), of Park Avenue, Spalding. Motor insurance offence (Spalding). £135 fine, £20 v/s, £110 costs.

Remigijus Kurpeikis, of Meadow Walk, Cowbit. Motor insurance offence (Spalding). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £110 costs.

Benedito Saits (42), of Hannam Boulevard, Spalding. Motor insurance offence (Spalding). £135 fine, £20 v/s, £110 costs.

Garry Sandford (25), of The Pollards, Bourne. Failing to notify transfer of vehicle (Bourne). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £90 costs.

Lee Smart (28), of Pegasus Grove, Bourne. Motor insurance offence (Bourne). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £110 costs.

Ronualdas Urbonas (56), of Cannon Street, Wisbech. Unlicensed vehicle (Spalding). £200, £19.17 back duty, £90 costs.

Up to eight new industrial units could be in the pipeline for Crowland, which would allow existing businesses to expand and attract new firms.

South Holland District Council’s cabinet will be asked on Tuesday to release £60,000 from the £365,000 held in the Crease Drove industrial estate fund so a future project can be drawn-up and taken through to planning consent stage.

In a report to councillors, senior economic development officer Nigel Burch says: “The benefits to the district from any additional development would be the creation of new workspace in Crowland, which in the past proved to be attractive to both local businesses expanding, and in attracting two businesses from outside South Holland, due in part to the proximity of Peterborough some ten minutes away.

“The council’s existing starter units at Horseshoe Yard are fully let and two businesses are utilising two units each due to there being no larger units in town for them to expand into. The construction of new units would facilitate the expansion of these two businesses, at the same time freeing up the mini units that they currently occupy for new start-up businesses.”

If the project is approved, the council would have £305,000 to put towards match-funded schemes to build the units.

Imagine a cold Christmas night: the early hours of December 25. Children are tucked up in bed, eagerly anticipating the arrival of Santa. Party-goers have wended their way home. The stars are twinkling brightly in the sky, reminiscent of Childhood Christmases long ago.

Imagine a cold Christmas night: Instead of Christmas lights, the night is illuminated by flashing blue lights. The tableau before you is one of the most tragic you have seen, made worse still by the timing.

Imagine a cold Christmas night: there has been a head-on collision and thoughts of festivities are gone from your mind. One person is very obviously dead, thrown through their own windscreen and draped on the bonnet of their own BMW.

Imagine a cold Christmas night: emergency services desperately fighting to save the lives of a newly-wed couple trapped in another car. A few minutes earlier they had been on their way home from a Christmas Eve celebration. Despite valiant efforts, it’s to no avail and they are both lost to us.

Imagine a cold Christmas night: three people dead in the middle of a road that should have been taking them home. I’m not going to go in to graphic details and don’t wish to cause anguish to anyone that recognises the incident I’m referring to. I mention it because this was entirely preventable and was the result of the man in the BMW driving after he had been drinking.

My experience, above, is not unique. Police officers, fire fighters, paramedics, doctors and nurses have to deal with the tragic consequences of drink/driving on a daily basis. Yet somehow it’s more poignant during the festive season.

This week Lincolnshire Police launched its Christmas Drink/Drive campaign. Of course, we don’t target drink/drivers only during the Christmas period. I should also add that I know that drink is not the only cause of road collisions. However I think our campaign is important if it focuses people’s minds on the tragic consequences of drink/driving.

In South Holland my officers will continue to target drink/driving. If you know of a regular drink/driver you are able to report them using a short code text service. Simply text the word DRINK to 80800 with details of the vehicle, (registration number) where the person will be drinking and when. For example: ‘DRINK AB52XYZ every night at The Golden Nugget pub. Leaves at 9pm.’ My officers, supported by roads policing officers will use the information to stop, arrest and process the driver through the courts.

This is only to be used for non-emergency cases and you can still telephone 101 in the normal way.

If you see a drink/drug driver actually driving, you should treat this as an emergency because lives are at risk and call 999.

This December we will be naming those people who are charged with drink/driving. Not everyone agrees with this policy. Remember, when we name someone who has been charged with an offence (any offence: burglary; theft; assault; drink/drive, etc) that is a statement of fact. The courts will determine guilt or innocence. It’s not about naming and shaming. It’s about providing the same factual information that is publically available on the court lists.

Of course, naming people charged with drink/driving won’t deter everybody. But it may, just may, cause some people to stop and think about their actions. Anything that helps prevent further unnecessary deaths on our roads has to be worth trying.

Imagine a cold Christmas night: where motorists make it safely home. Where families aren’t devastated by the loss of a loved one. Where lives aren’t ruined by life-changing injuries.

This is a Christmas dream that you can help fulfil by telling us when you suspect a drink/driver.

By South Holland District Council’s waste and recycling officer Laura Simpkins

With the festive season fast approaching please remember to be a recycling star and make sure Christmas does not cost the earth.

When you are out and about this Christmas remember to follow these simple tips to ensure you have a green festive season:

n Remember to take reusable bags shopping with you. With the carrier bag charge coming in next year it would be good to change your habits now.

n Instead of giving to landfill this Christmas, remember to bag up your recycling. You can check what to recycle online at www.green baglottery.co.uk. For any specific enquiries please contact our recycling team.

n Why not re-use old jam jars for storage or use to put Christmas presents in? You could also have a go at making wrapping paper from paper and string you have lying around your house.

n Buy an artificial Christmas tree that you can reuse year after year. This will reduce the amount of wastage at the end of the festive period and provides a reusable item for the whole family to enjoy.

n Remember to recycle any packaging that presents come in. Please note polystyrene cannot go in green bags.

Follow these top tips, reducing, reusing and recycling to make sure your festive season is eco friendly.

Remember to look out for your festive season recycling and refuse collection information to make sure your bags are presented on the right day. For more information call the recycling team on 01775 761161 or email recycling@sholland.gov.uk.

Young stars were honoured for their outstanding achievements at GCSE when the Thomas Cowley High School, Donington, held its awards night.

It was an opportunity for last year’s and this year’s Year 11s to meet up again and celebrate together.

Among the students recognised on the night was Macauley Ealham, who received five awards.

He gained 16 GCSEs, including ten at A*, but his grand total was beaten by school record-breaker Torie Morrissey, who gained 18 GCSEs, including eight A*s and three As.

The school this year had its best ever GCSE results with 100 per cent of students gaining at least one A*-G grade and 53 per cent gaining five A*-C subjects, including English and maths.

School deputy head Ian Dawson said: “It was nice to see the ‘old faces’ and see how they have matured already in the short time since they left us to go into further education.

“We congratulate all our former students and wish them every success for their futures.”

Some of the school’s current Key Stage 4 students were also recognised for the efforts and progress they have already made in their subjects.

A motorist says it is a miracle he is still alive after his car catapulted into the air across a field in Spalding like “a scene from TV’s Dukes of Hazard” .

Malcolm Garrard was on his way to visit family in Pinchbeck when his sat nav took him along a stretch of the old B1173 Cowbit Road, near the A16 bypass.

Mr Garrard, of Northampton, said: “It was a foggy night and I was on my way to my parents’ home in Pinchbeck.

“The sat nav took me down a lane and I’d probably picked up speed to 40mph when I suddenly ran out of road and was flying in the air and bouncing across a field.

“When I got out I saw I had narrowly missed some posts. I drive an Alfa Romeo – it’s Italian and like paper.

“At that moment it definitely felt like I’d had a near-death experience. It’s a miracle I’m still alive.”

Mr Garrard said his car has since been written off, but in investigating the road he said he was shocked to see an article in the Spalding Guardian from two years asking the same question.

The report featured Cowbit resident Ed Mitchell who claimed over three weeks, cars, lorries and even an ambulance had been stuck in a “bog” on the stretch of road.

Mr Mitchell said there were signs but accidents were still happening. He said: “The first couple of times I saw it, I thought it was funny. But then I saw another four cars stuck there, as well as a HGV and an ambulance.”

Mr Garrard said: “I can’t believe after all this time nothing has been done. The guy who towed me out said cars are still getting stuck down there.

“I felt I had to call you (the Spalding Guardian), because I couldn’t live with myself if someone got killed.”

A spokesman for Lincolnshire County Council said signs warning about the no-through road had been in place on the A1175 and A16 since since 2010, when work was underway to build the A16 bypass.

The spokesman said: “Obviously in this case there were some other factors too, like fog and the satnav and, as always, we’d encourage people to drive to conditions and make sure their satnavs are updated so they have the latest info about any changes to the road network.”

I read with some surprise your article regarding business leaders visiting Downing Street. What surprises me most is their concern now, compared with their apparent lack of concern just a few years ago.

After the publication of the proposed new A16 plans, to replace the old A1073, there was a consultation period leading up to the public enquiry.

Lincolnshire County Council’s reason for the new road was the enhancement of “the distribution hub”, to improve the conveyance of goods from the Boston and Spalding area to the A1.

We in Cowbit Road Action Committee who, among other things, were campaigning for a shorter, more direct route to the west of Cowbit and Crowland, and dual carriageways, thought that the haulage industry might be pushing for similar improvements. We were wrong.

We wrote to all the major hauliers and growers in the Boston and Spalding area and the Road Haulage Association. We received just one reply from a major Spalding haulier who told me that they would not be supporting our campaign, because it would slow down the planning process and they wanted a new road, any road, straight away.

As the appointed advocate for the objectors, I received copies of every objection. There were none from the haulage industry, nor, as far as I’m aware were they represented at the public enquiry. I would like to know why they did not have an input at the right time?

Doug Braybrooks

Cowbit

WHAT NEXT: We’ve been asking which grot spots need looking at now South Holland District Council (SHDC) has tidied up the old Bull and Monkie pub site.

Reader Rodney Marks said the site of the old outdoor swimming poolin Pinchbeck Road, Spalding should be next. “A site run and owned by SHDC as a tip for soil and garden rubbish.

Overrun with rats.A total disgrace on a main road close to the town centre and next to an old peoples residence centre. A bit of in house cleaning up and change of use called for here. A little bit of the pot calling the kettle black.”

In response to Edna Lambert’s letter in last week’s Free Press.

I note that as a relative newcomer to the area Ms Lambert seems to have a very negative view of Holbeach.

Her observations about the closed banks and shops in the High Street are quite correct and anyone who has lived in Holbeach for any length of time will agree that it has always appeared that there is more time and money spent on Spalding than the surrounding area.

Holbeach is not alone in losing many of its shops over a period of time and whilst it is sad, it is a sign of the times.

However, before criticising the Christmas lights she should spare a thought for the army of volunteers who not only provide the machinery but also give up their time for free every year to put our lights up.

This year the weather was atrocious but they still turned up and spent most of a very wet Sunday putting the decorations up to bring a bit of cheer to the High Street and will also give up their time to take them all down in January. Without these people, Holbeach would look very dreary at this time of year.

Holbeach does have a Christmas Fayre this year. Organised by the church and other volunteers, it has taken on a very different look but hopefully will be as successful as the previous event and prove that Holbeach does have some Christmas joy.

If Ms Lambert joined some of these voluntary groups or attended Parish Council meetings she would see there are some residents in Holbeach who are prepared to stand up to help their town instead of standing back and criticising.

Carol Johnson

Holbeach

May I thank all the residents living near Tesco Express at Matmore Gate who helped us in our opposition to Tesco’s application for increased licensing hours by either signing our petition and/or writing in their own objections and attending the licensing panel meeting.

I am only sorry that we were not successful in limiting the hours granted.

I would like to think that in a democracy the collection of 72 signatures with only seven people declining to sign would be considered an overwhelming majority in favour of maintaining the status quo. However, under the Licensing Act the weight of local feeling unfortunately is not sufficient to prevent a licence being granted.

Richard Knipe

via email

I would like to reply to Terry King’s letter in last week’s Guardian. He refers to Peterborough where he moved from, bemoaning his loss of several wheelie bins used to collect refuse , as opposed to the green and black bags used in South Holland.

My view of towns and cities who use wheelie bins is one of constant ugliness in residential streets caused by bins being strewn all over the place, particularly after collection, and the narrow city streets where they often have to remain on pavements because there is nowhere to store them. Added to this is the extra cost of collection – just observe the speed at which South Holland’s refuse collectors move down the streets, compared to those manoeuvring wheelie bins.

As a member of UKIP, I frequently oppose matters decided upon by our district councillors, but on this occasion I know we couldn’t do better.

Peter Bird

UKIP

Before the councils...

South Holland District Council

Mr and Mrs P Goddard, 6 Maytime Close, Spalding. Extension and alterations.

JP Builders, Elsam Cross and Co, 5 London Road, Spalding. Details of written specification for installation of proposed basement water proofing system.

Mrs M Greenacre, 27 West Cob Gate, Moulton. Divide bungalow into pair of semi-detached bungalows, including extension.

Religious Society of Friends Quakers, 53 Westlode Street, Spalding. Works to tree in conservation area.

ILA Developments, 27 Quadring Road, Donington. Modification of condition to allow amendments to garage details and windows and door positions to two detached houses.

South Holland District Council, Lime Court, Spalding. Additional car parking bays.

Dr K Doran, 122 Pinchbeck Road, Spalding. Works to TPO.

D Brand and Sons, Birds Drove, Surfleet. Permeable parking area.

Mr J Hoey, Foremans Bridge Caravan Park, Sutton Road, Sutton St James. Extension and alterations.

Mr D Booty and Ms T Hendy, Weydike Bank, Fleet. Stables, menage and caravan store (retrospective).

Mr A Taylor, 2a Gedney Road, Long Sutton. Extension.

Mrs W Court, The Old Three Tuns, Roman Bank, Holbeach Clough. Extensions and alterations amendments (partially retrospective).

Ms J Moss, 66 Woodrow Place, Spalding. Conservatory.

Mr P Bright, 65 Town Drove, Quadring. House and garage.

Mr J Pile, The Barn, Cold Hurn Lane, Quadring. Details of landscaping and boundary treatments.

South Kesteven District Council

Morton Church of England School, Station Road, Morton. 2.4m v-mesh welded steel fence.

Cooper, 23 Mill Drove, Bourne. Change of use to residential curtilage and retention of 1.8m fence.

Gibbons Holdings Ltd, Manor Farm, 72 Main Street, Baston. Dwelling.

Arcade Properties (Peterborough) Ltd, 8 Market Place, Market Deeping. Submission of details.

Hare, 35 Mill Drove, Bourne. Garage, car port and porch.

Boston Borough Council

A Arundell, land adj The Firs, West End Road, Wyberton. Residential development (up to 23 dwellings).

Dennis, 22 King Street, Kirton. Conservatory.

N Garner, plot 2 Coles Lane, Swineshead. Approve details (one detached house, detached double garage and vehicular access).

HEALTH MATTERS: By Dr Miles Langdon

Christmas is a time where we enjoy special moments with our families, so the last thing we want is having it spoilt by not being able to take our regular medication.

If you take repeat medication you should make sure that you request your repeat prescriptions in good time to ensure that you have adequate supplies for the Christmas and New Year period.

During December GPs are happy to take early requests for repeat prescriptions.

Your GP surgery will be closed on Bank Holidays and not all pharmacies will be fully open either, so it’s important that you pick up repeat prescriptions in advance.

Most practices need at least 48 hours to process a repeat prescription request.

Young people and the elderly are particularly susceptible to winter illnesses so make sure your medicine cabinets are well stocked.

Make sure you have stocks of cold remedies, painkillers, antiseptic cream and plasters. Always keep medicines out of the reach of children.

Many of us are out and about getting organised for the festive period and it’s important not to forget about putting your winter health necessities on our ‘to do’ list.

It only takes a few minutes to collect some over the counter remedies for winter ailments.

If you think you need to see a doctor but your surgery is closed, just phone your usual surgery number and you will be redirected to the out of hours service.

You can also call NHS 111 for advice 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

With so much going on in the run up to Christmas, sometimes less exciting tasks like repeat prescription ordering can get forgotten, but this can make it more difficult for patients to get the medication they need nearer Christmas.

If you are going away it is always useful to take your repeat prescription request slip with you, as it contains details of all your medication should you need this information while you are away.

A rising star says he owes his road to success to his grandma – who at 70 just happens to be his manager.

Will Silver (15) has proved the title of the song he chose, Lemar’s It’s Not That Easy, wrong by wowing the judges and earning a place in the national grand final of Open Mic UK at the Birmingham NEC in January.

A coach load of family and friends went along to Dewsbury Town Hall on Sunday for the area final – all organised by Will’s grandma Jenny Crunkhorn.

Jenny, of Primrose Crescent, Pinchbeck, said: “The Rotary Club donated £150 towards the coach and 28 of us went to watch Will.

“We are all so proud of him. There were 30 acts and only four got through to the next stage.

“I love music and going to all of Will’s gigs.

“I organise it all – I’ve run around for all of the grandchildren. I really don’t mind.”

Open Mic UK is a nationwide music competition which attracts more than 12,000 acts.

The search for the UK’s best singers, singer/songwriters, rappers and vocalists also saw Will get through at the regional finals, which were held at the Britannia Hotel in Nottingham in October.

Music industry judges are at every stage of the music competition, with judges from the three major record labels Universal, Warner and Sony attending last year.

Bourne Academy student Will, of Church Fleet Lane, Gosberton, is competing in the aged 13 to 15 category.

Readers may have seen him perform on stage at the Spalding lights switch-on and he also took the role of Danny in Grease for the Polka Dot Academy.

Will said: “Performing is what I want to do. It’s great having my grandma as my manager. When I got through to the final her face was priceless. She is my biggest fan – no-one else comes close.”

Our busy postmen and women are already dealing with online shopping parcels and cards. Here are some tips for readers to help them plan for the last minute rush.

Order early, post early and use the postcode. Ordering early means you have time to return Christmas presents if they are not quite right.

Posting early will enable people to enjoy their cards for longer and helps us spread the workload at its busiest time. Our postcode finder can help you locate address details for people. Using the postcode helps Royal Mail sort the cards and letters by machine rather than by hand.

Latest recommended

posting dates

December 18 – Second class

December 20 – First Class

December 23 – Special Delivery Guaranteed

International last posting dates:

December 12 - USA

December 13 – Western 
Europe (excluding Greece,

Poland).

Tony Fox

Operations Director, East of England, Royal Mail

CABINET CALL: By South Holland District Council leader Gary Porter

I thought I would use this week’s column to write an update on the blighted sites campaign.

Hopefully everybody will have seen the progress made at the Bull and Monkie in Spalding (pictured above).

We served an S215 Notice on the owners and they failed to take the appropriate action.

This meant that the council were able to step in, do the work and re-bill the owners.

Through this route we have been able to tidy up the site and put in suitable fencing to secure the area from further anti-social behaviour. We also rectified a couple of serious safety defects that could have resulted in a possible fatality.

We then served a further notice to remove the graffiti.

This is a relatively new piece of legislation that we were not aware of until we were told the original notice didn’t cover this aspect.

Once the handmade gates are fitted we will be submitting a bill for all of the work to the owners and if necessary will pursue this through the courts for payment.

However, I still hope the owners come forward with immediate payment and that they talk to the council about their plans for the site’s future or its disposal. Councillors agreed at the meeting on November 19 that the next site to be cleaned up will be the old Red Cow Hotel at Donington and a reserve site, the former butcher’s shop in Bull Lane, Long Sutton, was picked.

We also agreed that the next site after these would be the subject of a poll of readers.

Our proposal was that the list of potential sites that have been selected through cross checks with our planning, environmental and legal services team will be published in the paper and readers will select the worst of these as the next target.

Our hope is that owners of the remaining sites will then understand that we are serious about this campaign and choose to do the right thing by our community, and fix the problems themselves.

This would obviously be a lot cheaper for the owners and a lot quicker for the community. We have done the right thing by tolerating some of this during the recession, but now that land and house prices are starting to recover the owners need to do the right thing by all of us.

People power is said to be playing a key role in discussions on the future of Boston Pilgrim Hospital – as more people join in the fight to save services.

There is intense speculation that United Lincolnshire Hospital Trust is considering the future of Boston’s Accident and Emergency and Maternity departments as part of a massive savings programme.

However, Colin Mair - the UKIP leader on Lincolnshire County Council - has revealed he understands any changes could be scaled back.

More than 300 readers of the Spalding Guardian, Boston Standard, Skegness Standard, Sleaford Standard and Horncastle News have filled out coupons opposing any closures.

Retired doctor Cyril Nyman has thrown his support behind our campaign.

In a passionate letter, he stresses the key role the public played in helping to fund services at the Pilgrim.

He writes: “It must never be forgotten that Pilgrim Hospital – the services it has offered and the care given to our patients – comes from the support given to us by local people.”

He adds: “We must not let the Pilgrim Hospital nor the services that it has provided, be taken away.”

Coun Chris Brewis, of Sutton Bridge, is vice-chairman on Lincolnshire County Council’s Health Scrutiny Committee.

He said: “There are some really serious, deep-rooted problems facing health services in Lincolnshire.

“People don’t realise how much local services are under threat.

“It doesn’t seem to have sunk in at Westminster the distance people would have to travel if services were cut.

“The time to fight is now while there is an election on the horizon.”

The Guardian will continue to collect coupons to present to the trust and has also launched an online petition to try to force a debate at County Hall. That can be signed at http://epetitionslincolnshire.firmstep.com