A seven-year-old boy has been seriously injured after a collision involving a car in Tydd Gote.

It happened in Station Road where the boy was hit by a green Ford Mondeo, driven by a motorist from the Wisbech area, shortly after 4.10pm on Friday.

The boy was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, where he is expected to remain in hospital for several days.

Anyone who saw the collision or has any information relating to it should call the Lincolnshire Police Collision Witness Hotline on 01522 558855 or 101, quoting incident 318 of December 5.

Final rehearsals were taking place last week for the William Stukeley Primary School, Holbeach, nativity play.

The play, which was performed yesterday and will be performed again today, is entitled “Christmas with the aliens” and features aliens who have crash landed their spaceship.

The aliens go on to meet some children who introduce them to a nativity play.

The children have been rehearsing for the play since the beginning of term and are said to be very excited. Pictured: Some of the children take a break. SG051214-304TW

More young people in South Holland could find themselves in work with the abolition of employers’ national insurance on apprenticeships.

Harry Drury, from Spalding Chamber of Commerce, said the step to cut employment costs for businesses will improve the skills of individuals and teams as well as building a stronger Lincolnshire economy.

“We hope that more businesses will hire apprentices,” he said.

News on apprenticeships was also welcomed by county councillor Colin Davie, executive member for economic development, who said: “We’ve been helping smaller employers understand the benefits of apprentices, and this move could encourage more to take them on.”

Both men also welcomed the reduction in business rates announced by the Government in the autumn statement as well as measures to make it easier for businesses to access loans.

Coun Davie said: “Some local firms have been held back through a lack of finance.”

Schools in Bourne reacted quickly to warn pupils following the attempted abduction of a boy of 11.

A man in a small black van attempted to force a Bourne Academy pupil into his vehicle between 8am and 8.30am on Tuesday and left the lad “very frightened”.

Police were called as soon as his school, Bourne Academy, became aware of the incident and officers were quickly on the scene.

Headteacher Laurence Reilly said: “We also contacted all other schools in Bourne to alert them to the situation.

“I then arranged for all our students to attend special assemblies during the afternoon where they were informed of the incident.

“We impressed on them the need to be extra vigilant when out and about and to report any further incidents and sightings of suspicious behaviour immediately to the police.

“The students were then given a letter to inform parents of the incident.”

Police are still appealing for witnesses and their investigations are continuing as they try to track down the man responsible.

Speaking after the incident, Det Insp Pete Grayson said: “This is a worrying turn of events and we need to identify the van driver as soon as we can. In the meantime I would urge parents to be aware of the whereabouts of their children and not to let them venture out alone.”

Police have reviewed CCTV footage, but still hope witnesses who saw the van – either moving or parked – will step forward to help.

The man is described as white, in his mid to late 40s, and 6ft tall.

He is of medium to heavy build, with dark brown hair that’s short and “spiky” and has a tattoo on his neck.

At the time of the abduction attempt, the man wore a dark jacket and dark clothing. Police want to speak to anyone who was in the North Road or Stanley Street area between 8am and 8.30am on Tuesday.

A police spokesman said: “It would have been quite busy on the roads in the area at that time and people may have noticed if a van was parked up.”

nAnyone with information about the man or his van is asked to call Lincolnshire Police on 101 – or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.

Callers should quote incident 92 of December 2.

Residents in South Holland are being reassured that there will be minimal disruption during strikes by fire and police staff.

Last week, police staff voted to strike in a row over pay. Police community support officers (PCSOs) and 999 call handlers were among the staff who voted for the action.

The unions involved want a three per cent increase in wages, but no date has been set for the strikes yet.

However, residents are being reassured that during the strike by civilian staff, they will be able to go along to Spalding police station as normal.

A spokesperson for Lincolnshire Police said: “Visitors to Spalding police station are dealt with by Town Enquiry Office (TEO) staff in the first instance and then referred to a police officer if required.

“TEO staff are employed by G4S, and as the strike does not involve G4S staff so there should not be any effect on the Town Enquiry Office.

“Police officers are also not involved in the proposed action so unless a visitor to Spalding police station needed to see a PCSO, they may not be affected.”

Today, firefighters across the country are staging a 24-hour strike as part of a row with the government over pensions.

The Fire Brigades Union gneral secretary, Matt Wrack, said:”Firefighters in England are reluctantly calling further strike action as a direct result of the Westminster government’s failure to listen and negotiate over pensions.

“Firefighters will fight for however long it takes to secure a fair pensions deal – this dispute will no end as long as regulations remain unchanged.”

Before the councils...

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).

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 Ltd, 8 Market Place, Market Deeping. Submission of details.

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

Some residents in South Holland will see their recycling and refuse collections altered over the festive period.

Changes to collections will take place for households who have a collection on Christmas day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

For people who normally have their bags collected on a Thursday (Christmas day and New Year’s Day) the collection date will be moved to the following Saturday, December 27 and January 3 respectively.

For people who are due a collection on Boxing Day (Friday) the collection will take place the following Friday, January 2 2015.

If you are still unsure of your revised collection date or for more information contact 01775 761161 visit www.sholland.gov.uk or tweet @SHDCWaste on Twitter.

Increased production and prices boosted UK farming income to £5.6billion last year, according to new figures from Defra.

British farmers defied bad weather and a variable harvest to boost economic output by 15 per cent.

According to statistics, total income from farming rose by £743million between 2012 and 2013.

Output of top quality foods, such as potatoes, poultry, milk and barley rose, taking the value of overall output of crops to £9.4billion, a growth of 5 per cent, or £436million.

The biggest contributor was the value of the potato crop, which rose by £282million (38 per cent) to £1billion.

We’ve heard stories about young boys altering their age in order to join the Army in the Second World War.

Teresa Stevenson, of Gosberton, says her grandfather John George (Jockey) Neal, also of Gosberton, lied about his age too – except in his case he claimed to be younger than he was in order to get into the Home Guard.

Teresa says: “He lied about his age so he could join. He would have been 67 years old when this photo was taken on December 3, 1944.

“When he joined he told them he was 60. When asked his age on leaving, he told them 60.”

In fact Platoon Commander Edward O Garrett seemed to be in on the falsehood, as it was he who gave the picture to John, and wrote on the back: “Just a little reminder and a token of appreciation to the youngest and keenest Home Guard in enthusiasm in the platoon, though the oldest in years.”

UK farms could contribute 10GW to the country’s renewable energy systems – equivalent to more than three times the capacity of the proposed nuclear power plant at Hinkley Point C, according to Forum for the Future.

The research was carried out on behalf of Farm Power coalition, which is made up of a growing number of farming bodies, businesses and NGOs.

A Sutton Bridge farmer is at the forefront of a campaign to safeguard against major flooding in this area.

Stafford Proctor, who chairs the Wash Frontagers’ Group (WFG), is one of a group of farmers calling for a strategic approach to sea defences.

He and other farmers and landowners met at Vernatt’s Sluice at Surfleet Seas End on the first anniversary of the 2013 tidal surge. To emphasise their point, they stood on a footbridge that was under water in last year’s deluge.

Stafford said: “The Wash sea defences protect some of our most productive farmland, which in turn supports a massive food production, processing and packing industry, thousands of jobs and vital infrastructure of huge enonomic importance.

“Last year’s tidal surge showed just how vulnerable our land, homes, businesses and the whole area is to sea water inundation. In Boston alone, 700 homes and businesses were affected. Just think what the effect of a massive inundation would have on the economy of the whole Fen region. It would be devastating.

“The Somerset floods had a serious impact but they would look like a drop in the ocean compared to what would happen to the fens. What we need is a strategic partnership approach to protecting homes, businesses, jobs, roads and farmland that in the next ten years would see all this economically important activity protected by raising the sea defences where it is most needed.

“The Frontagers’ Group will be meeting with local MPs, our county and district councils and government partners in the coming months to discuss how we can better protect the land, homes and businesses behind the sea defences.

“We’ll also be seeking a meeting with Defra Secretary of State Liz Truss to emphasise how important we feel this project is.”

Winter has arrived. Sugar beet is the last crop to harvest, rapidly followed by the plough, the wheat drill and herbicide application, writes Stafford Proctor.

It is also time to plan next year’s crops and develop the farming methods we use.

Friday marked the first anniversary of the 2013 tidal surge and flooding along the Wash coastline. It was a warning and showed that we need to improve our flood defences along the sea frontage and tidal river embankments. We have much to protect: people, communities, towns, the food industry, agriculture, nature, transport links as well as power generation and infrastructure.

The good news in this week’s Autumn Statement is that flood protection has been recognised with £2.3billion invested over six years to prevent more than £30billion of economic damage caused by flooding. Target areas include the Thames Estuary, the Humber Estuary and Boston Barrier (£73million).

Unfortunately greater Fenland is not yet included in the plans. The economic analysis and justification for improved flood defences needs to be developed by Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire stakeholders. The Humber Estuary proposals are well identified, funded, researched, prepared, promoted and achieved their objectives.

We all need to recognise the risks we face in the Fens from climate change, tidal surges and coastal and river flooding.

We must engage with politicians at all levels to secure the future prosperity of the Fens.

Simon Fisher, NFU county adviser, was at the sea defence meeting at Vernatt’s Sluice in Surfleet Seas End, along with the CLA’s Nicola Currie, farmer Simon Disley, NFU Holland branch chairman Stafford Proctor and vice-chairman Gavin Lane.

Simon said: “The Fens Strategic Area is an incredibly important area economically. A recent study on the economic value of food production in the Fens said that for every £1 of economic value generated at the farm gate, a further £3 is added by processing, adding value and transport.

“So, if we looked at the true value of local agriculture and its upward supply chain, it is £3billion plus and supports in excess of 60,000 jobs in the Fens.

“We need to protect land and businesses surrounding the Wash and find the funding to raise the sea defences that so many people depend on.”

It’s a little know fact, but Spalding was captured by the ‘enemy’ during the Second World War.

Our foes stole through road blocks set up around the outskirts of the town by cunningly laying down flat on the floor... of a Lincolnshire Road Car bus. They were waved through the blockade by friendly Spalding Home Guard members.

Luckily for the people of Spalding, the ‘enemy’ were members of Holbeach and Long Sutton Home Guard, according to Spalding resident Gordon Nottingham.

Gordon, of Regent Street, says he lived with his uncle Charlie Mawer, known as Ike, and Charlie’s parents.

Charlie worked at the sugar beet factory and was a member of the Home Guard, equipped with a rifle, a bayonet, and one round of ammunition.

Gordon used to see the Home Guard practising throwing hand grenades and recalls one landing at the feet of the man who’d thrown it.

He said: “While on exercise in Clay Lake the officer ordered his men to follow him through a dyke filled with water. He came out soaked while the men went further up the field and crossed the dyke on a wooden plank!”

The Home Guard existed to protect those at home from invasion by the Nazis, and Gordon recalls one evening the ‘real thing’ was enacted.

He says: “On that exercise a local vet suffered a severe injury. Rumour has it he looked down a gun barrel to see why it was not working and it went off.”

Gordon experienced the wrath of one officer when, on the way to the Odeon Cinema in Priory Road, he was challenged with the words, ‘Halt. Who goes there? Friend or foe?’. Gordon cheekily responded ‘foe’ and says now: “I was told in no uncertain manner if I did it again he would shoot me!”

However, he also earned their praise on another occasion when he allowed a ‘German officer’ to walk into a trap on the corner of Park Road and Pennygate.

He says: “The Home Guard to a man was dedicated to protecting us. They were part-time army of men who were dedicated to the task of our defence and the enemy would have been faced with a fighting force.”

The annual general meeting of South Holland Growers’ Club is to be held next Monday at Whaplode Manor, Saracen’s Head (7.30pm).

Following the formal business of the evening, Kate O’Shea is due to talk to members about her time in the flower industry and her career to date.

She will also discuss her work with the horticultural charity, Perennial, the gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Society, the only UK charity dedicated to helping people who work in horticulture.

Residents have lost their fight to stop Spalding’s Tesco Express selling booze for extra hours.

Their campaign was backed by district council leader Gary Porter – and more than 70 people signed a petition – but South Holland’s licensing committee gave the Matmore Gate store the go-ahead on Wednesday with conditions designed to deter anti-social behaviour.

Alcohol sales had been allowed from 8am-11pm Monday-Saturday but can now take place between 6am-11pm Monday-Sunday – Sunday alcohol sales had been restricted to 10am-10.30pm.

Residents say the store now closes at 10pm, but fear the extra hour at night could result in more anti-social behaviour with drinkers drawn to the area when other outlets are closed and more problems with drivers parking on yellow lines and more litter in the streets.

Resident Richard Knipe said: “Naturally I am disappointed at the decision of the licensing panel. Councillor Porter, one of our ward councillors, put in an objection but it is a pity that no-one else in authority, particularly the police, saw fit to support our cause.

“The conditions that were added to the licence are a small step in the right direction but we lost on the key issue of longer hours. The central theme seemed to be that we could produce no evidence as to what might happen because there had not been enough trouble in the past. Surely the job of licensing law in these circumstances should be not to respond to harm once it has occurred but to make judgements to avert the risk.

“The Licensing Act seems to favour applicants over concerned residents and I can only hope that the new extended hours do not lead to the sort of problems we fear.”

Coun Porter said the licensing panel’s “ability to manoeuvre is pretty limited”.

He accepted the panel had imposed conditions on the licence, but said: “It’s not a substitute for not having it in the first place.”

A Tesco spokesman said: “We want to be good neighbours and part of that is selling responsibly, which is why we have a strict and stringent Think 25 policy and will play our part in upholding this.”

A council spokesman said: ”The panel took into account that there were no representations from the police or any other responsible authorities to support concerns of anti-social behaviour, littering or street drinking in the area being attributed to the premises.”

He said there was “no evidence that the new licence will lead to an increase in these issues”.

Police are appealing for witnesses after a road traffic collision on King Street Langtoft, which has now proved fatal.

The incident was called in to police at 4.54pm on Monday, November 17, having occurred approximately a mile north of the junction with the A1175.

There were two vehicles involved in the collision, a white Mitsubishi Colt (small hatchback), from which the front seat passenger, a woman in her 80s, has now sadly died.

The driver was not seriously injured. The second vehicle was a red McCormick Tractor towing a large set of rollers.

Investigating officers would like to hear from anyone who witnessed the collision, or saw either vehicle prior to the collision.

Anyone with any information is asked to call the Lincolnshire Police Collision Witness Hotline on 01522 558855 or the non-emergency number 101 quoting incident 302 of 17/11/2014.

Businesses can boost their food hygiene knowledge by attending locally run courses.

This can also boost compliance and help firms achieve a better Food Hygiene Rating.

South Holland District Council has its own in-house training centre that provides nationally recognised qualifications on food hygiene and health and safety.

Over 2,600 people have been trained here with courses run in the evenings or during the day at the offices in Priory Road, Spalding, or at a firm’s own premises.

The Food, Health and Safety Team can also provide one-to-one coaching and consultancy on food hygiene and health and safety matters.

Interactive workshops are also planned from January 2015 focusing on the new Allergen Legislation coming into force on December 13 2014.

The workshops will cost around £25 per head, be held at the Council Offices and run for 2-3 hours.

Business owners, employees and members of the public can ask questions and discuss issues with officers.

For further information or to book a place on a course visit www.sholland.gov.uk/environment/food/training/ or email the team at foodhs@sholland.gov.uk.

MONEY MATTERS: By Scott Woods

Pensions minister Steve Webb is to meet with mortgage trade bodies to urge lenders to abandon their “unintelligent” approaches to pension contributions when assessing borrowers’ affordability.

Money Marketing reported last month that some lenders take pension contributions into account while others do not. Some mortgage brokers, inadvisably, said this is pushing them to consider advising borrowers to stop their pension contributions.

Webb wrote to the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) and the Association of Mortgage Intermediaries (AMI) to express concerns about the practice. Responding to the letter, CML director general Paul Smee says: “The scale of a pension contribution is, in many cases, material and the lender will need to take it into account to make sure the customer can afford the mortgage. I have contacted our members and can assure you they do not encourage customers to stop or to reduce pensions saving to obtain a particular level of mortgage.”

Speaking to Money Marketing, Webb says: “I welcome the reassurance from CML that borrowers will not be encouraged to stop saving into a pension, but I remain concerned that this is exactly the type of behaviour which could be encouraged by the approach of some lenders. I’m now keen to get AMI and CML representatives together to discuss how we can get a fairer deal for mortgage borrowers which doesn’t penalise responsible pension saving.”

Webb says he is hopeful the CML will issue guidelines to members in the New Year which require them to treat pensions differently to other outgoings.

He says: “A person who is putting money aside for their pension is a better risk to lend to. Just taking that as a minus number on the balance sheet is not a very intelligent approach.”

South Holland has been named as one of the most unaffordable places to rent in the East Midlands.

According to a report by the National Housing Federation, South Holland is number 16 on a list of 20 areas where renters pay a high percentage of their earnings towards rent costs.

The average cost of rent for properties in South Holland is £542 a month, against the average annual earnings of £23,587, leaving people in the area spending 27.6% of their earnings on rent, making it increasingly difficult for families and those trying to save to buy their own home.

Harry Drury, director of We’ll Let Your House, said: “One resolution to this is to encourage builders to invest in to the area and build affordable housing. Having knowledge of plans for this is the near future, I believe that the situation will now slowly improve.

“It’s true that the wages to rent ratio is tight but we as an agency are responsible when letting property to low earners and ensure that correct affordability checks are carried out. That said, we are finding ourselves currently receiving expressions of interest from around 14 prospective tenants per property advertised.

“I believe the situation has changed due to the increased education offered by the local authority on Houses in Multiple Occupation and we have noticed the reduction in private landlords asking us to rent properties by the room but instead to families which, in turn, has reduced the number of smaller units available at a lower rent. I believe that the positive outcome as a result of this is the increase in standards of rented accommodation and a better quality of living for tenants and their neighbours.”

A spokesperson for South Holland District Council said: “As a council one of our aims is to increase housing supply to meet demand and we currently have plans to build more private rent and affordable housing.

“We also offer advice and help to people experiencing affordable issues through our housing advice team.”