People pretending to be police officers have been carrying out phone scams in Bourne, Skegness, Chapel St Leonards and Boston.

A Lincolnshire Police spokesman said the force had received about 20 reports of attempted scams in the last few days.

People said they had received phone calls from men purporting to be detectives from Skegness police station, asking for bank card details because they had somebody in custody on suspicion of falsely using the cards. The potential victims were asked to hang up and redial 101 to verify that the “officer” was genuine.

The spokesman said: “This scam is a variation on recent frauds where the caller claims to be from the Metropolitan Police. The fraudsters keep the line open so that when the victim makes a call thinking they have got through to the police or to their bank, they are actually still speaking to the criminals.

“This scam has led to victims across the UK losing many thousands of pounds, often their entire life savings.

“Fortunately, increased awareness about the scam is helping to protect people and none of the people targeted this week fell victim to the scam so Lincolnshire Police want to thank Lincolnshire people for helping to spread the message. However, it is a reminder that scammers are still operating in our county and we should all be vigilant.

“Ensure your relatives, neighbours and friends all know about the scam and what to do if they receive a suspicious call.”

Read more about the scam at {http://www.lincs.police.uk/News-Centre/News-Releases-2015/It-s-a-Scam-Fraudsters-Want-Your-Money.html|www.lincs.police.uk}.

Holbeach may get a new dog grooming salon if plans are passed by South Holland District Council.

Jacqueline and Simon Quant, from Wyberton, are seeking consent to change the use of the former Munton and Russell estate agents office at 14 Fleet, Street, Holbeach.

If approval is given, the salon will be run by the Quants’ daughter, Georgina.

Mrs Quant said: “She has recently trained to City and Guilds level three in all aspects of dog grooming and to show standards.”

• An Essex based company is seeking planning consent to convert the former Telecom building on Gore Lane, Spalding, to four homes.

The 2,000sq ft building behind the Hall Place shops was also formerly occupied by Act II Theatre Company.

It has four parking spaces.

The applicant is AMS London Ltd.

A house near Bourne Westfield Primary Academy was targeted by burglars between Monday and 10.25am on Wednesday.

Anyone with information should call 101, quoting incident 120 of May 13.

You can also call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Meanwhile, police are warning people in Bourne to be alert after reports of several attempted phone scams in the town this week.

Callers claiming to be detectives based in Skegness are asking for bank card details because somebody is in custody on suspicion of falsely using the cards. Potential victims were then asked to hang up and redial 101 to confirm that the caller was genuine.

A Lincolnshire Police spokesman said: “This scam is a variation on recent frauds where the caller claims to be from the Metropolitan Police.

“The fraudsters keep the line open so that when the victim makes a call thinking they have got through to the police or to their bank, they are actually still speaking to the criminals.

“This scam has led to victims across the UK losing many thousands of pounds, often their entire life savings.

“Fortunately, increased awareness about the scam is helping to protect people and none of the people targeted this week fell victim to the scam.

“However, it is a reminder that scammers are still operating in our county and we should all be vigilant.”

Elderly people in Holbeach supported by Here-4-U outreach group can take aim on a new indoor carpet for bowls donated by a women’s club in the town.

Outgoing chairman Justine Johnson, along with Sarah Connabeer and Karen Johnson of Holbeach Ladies Circle donated the sporting gift to dementia patients and others who go to meeting of what is also known as Littlebury Patient Participation Group.

Justine said: “Holbeach Ladies Circle is an organisation for 18-45 year-olds who help out different charities where we can.

“We were approached by Here-4-U to see whether we could help the charity with anything as they support people with dementia in different ways.

“Our group has celebrated its 34th birthday so we agreed to buy the bowls carpet for them and they love it.”

A review has been launched over the drug and alcohol treatment service provided by Lincolnshire County Council.

The current contracts – worth about £7 million – with various providers end next year, so the authority is now reassessing them with a view to getting a better service that also offers best value for money.

The council is responsible for the commissioning of substance misuse treatment in the county, and as part of a review of what is currently provided, it is carrying out consultation with people who have used these services in the last few years.

However, it is also interested in learning more from those who have not used these services but have concerns that they, or a friend or family member, should be receiving treatment.

A survey is available to fill in until May 29 {http://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/alcoholanddrugs|here.}

Paper copies are available on request – see the website for more information.

The latest figures show that the number of people in treatment for drug and alcohol misuse in Lincolnshire has increased by 21 per cent over the last three years.

Coun Patricia Bradwell, executive councillor for public health at the council, said: “We know these services are in demand because of the increase we’ve seen in the uptake.

“However, there are also a lot of people who feel they cannot function normally without drugs or alcohol and have not sought help.

“We need to better understand what the barriers are to people taking those first steps to getting treatment, to shape future services.”

South Holland District Council Elections 2015:

Just a quick letter to say “thank you so much” to everyone that voted for me, and helped and supported me during the election.

I am thrilled to be elected and really looking forward to being able to represent Holbeach alongside Francis and also Paul.

Congratulations to everyone that worked so hard and who also got elected. There are a number of newly-elected candidates, like myself, that I feel really will work so hard to represent their areas and I look forward to working with them.

Also I would like to say thank you to the Free Press and Spalding Guardian who featured all candidates in their papers. It gave readers a good chance to be able to read about us and learn a little more.

So once again, many thanks indeed everyone and I look forward to the challenge ahead.

Coun Tracey Carter

Holbeach


I would like to thank all the residents of Pinchbeck and Surfleet ward who put their trust in me, by voting for me. I am honoured to be one of those elected. Firstly, I must thank returning officer, Anna Graves, and the hard-working teams at the polling stations and later at the verification and the count. The whole event was extremely well-organised and conducted with quiet efficiency and good humour.

I would also like to thank my fellow elected Conservative councillors, James Avery and Elizabeth Sneath, for their energy and good humour, even at the most testing of times. I am grateful to our opponents for standing, particularly Geoff Garner, who conducted a civilised and honest campaign.

A dedicated group of volunteers have helped us by delivering leaflets, displaying posters, lending sites for banners, acting as polling agents and signing my nomination papers. Thank you all!

Thank you too, to my children, all of whom were leaflet deliverers; I wish they could have been at the declaration. Finally, a big thank you to my husband, who has put up with my worries, made many helpful suggestions and promoted my cause loyally.

I look forward to representing the interests of all residents in the ward during the next four years; thank you for giving me the opportunity.

Coun Sally Slade

Pinchbeck and Surfleet

May I take this opportunity to thank electors who voted for me, and other Independent candidates .

I am delighted to be re-elected to serve the residents of Spalding Monks House Ward and promise to do so to the best of my ability.

People wishing to raise council issues with me can do so by emailing me at anewton@sholland.gov.uk or ringing me on 01775 762210 or 07939 559764.

Coun Angela Newton

Spalding Monks House

Everybody in the land must be delighted that the General Election and district elections are finally over.

The three of us can now change our day to day election strategy way of working and start thinking about council work and looking after the good people of the Moulton, Weston and Cowbit ward.

The district election appeared to be a very long drawn out affair and we would like to thank the other four candidates who stood for election in the ward for the professional way they fought the election.

I don’t think that any of us slept for two days over the Thursday/Friday period but it was very worthwhile. You, the electorate, have voted us back in to be your district councillors for a further four-year term so it’s goodbye door knocking and leaflet dropping and hello council work.

The two of us promise to continue to support ALL of our electorate and it will be very nice getting back to normal.

During this very long election campaign we met some amazing people, we received fantastic support and ate lots of cake and drunk lots of tea.

We listened to your concerns and had many doorstep debates. All of your ideas, suggestions and comments will be in our thoughts when it comes to council work.

We also have to thank our wives, family, friends and numerous helpers.

Once again good people of Moulton Weston and Cowbit many thanks for your support.

Normal service will now be resumed.

Couns Rodney Grocock, Andrew Woolf and Anthony Casson

Trish Takes Five by blogger Trish Burgess

Have you been watching the new Peter Kay series, Car Share?

We’re totally hooked in the Burgess household. It’s such a simple concept: two people travelling to work, listening to the radio and gradually sharing their lives with each other. It’s also very funny: a great vehicle for Peter Kay (Did you see what I did there? Vehicle?)

Having just watched the third episode, where work colleagues John and Kayleigh sing along to tunes on Forever FM, I realised how much car journeys and music go together. Trying to harmonise with the track and your passenger can be painful yet immensely satisfying.

In the early 1980s I used to share the morning car ride with my dad. We had just moved house and I was studying for my A levels. As my school was on the way to Dad’s office, I stopped getting the bus and nabbed a lift instead. Occasionally we just sat in companionable silence whilst I did some last ­minute homework but more often than not we would sing along with the radio. Our favourite number was Ebony and Ivory by Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder. I think I was Macca, taking the high notes. We weren’t always in perfect harmony but it felt wonderful when we were.

Fast­forward to the late 1990s and the CD of choice was a compilation of children’s songs we had bought from a hotel in Majorca, where the evening entertainment always began with the kiddie disco. For a year or so we tolerated endless loops of Agadoo, Veo Veo and The Music Man, often with accompanying actions from our toddler in the back seat: the driver was obviously banned from joining in with Hands Up.

I’m sure many performers have routines they must adhere to before going on stage. Whenever I’m en route to the South Holland Centre to sing in a SADOS production, I have to listen and sing to the Pieces of a Dream album by Anastacia. The CD happened to be in the car in 2006 when I was in a production of Oklahoma.

Since then it’s become an essential part of my preparation for a show, along with ensuring I find the same parking spot in Herring Lane. I refuse to listen to anything else; that would surely tempt fate.

I asked my husband what car music he remembered from his past and a shadow passed across his face. His childhood is scarred because of an old cassette tape his parents would play relentlessly on the trip from Edinburgh to the south coast of England for their annual holiday. Surprisingly it kept his dad awake.

Max Bygraves: Singalongamax. Imagine, over and over again, the jolly refrain of Gilly, Gilly, Ossenfeffer, Katzenellen Bogen by the Sea.

Join in everybody. ­ There’s a tiny house....

You can follow Trish on Twitter @mumsgoneto and read her blog at

www.mumsgoneto.blogspot.com

After reading John Hayes’ recent comments following his election victory in South Holland, I would like to make a few points.

Firstly, it was a disgusting statement to call UKIP ‘a blemish on civilised society’ and one that, in the process, insulted 10,736 South Holland voters, and almost 4million people nationwide who frankly have had enough of the Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal Democrats.

Secondly, on watching the video of the local results being announced, Mr Hayes purposely applauded all other results until it came to UKIP’s, when he refused to applaud or recognise Mr Parsons, the UKIP candidate. Disgusting.

Mr Hayes was keen prior to the election to tell all that would listen that he was the only candidate ‘that lived in the area’.

Five more years of hell for us all, broken promises, longer waiting times at hospitals, fuller classrooms.

More austerity cuts to come while John Hayes will undoubtedly enjoy his near £70k salary, plus expenses and other perks, while us ordinary folk struggle and our elderly citizens make tough choices between eating or heating.

Sleep well Mr Hayes.

Vincent Pulling

Cowbit

I was disappointed to read the text of Mr Hayes’ speech on being re-elected as MP for South Holland.

Regardless of personal political views, to describe UKIP as a ‘blot on civilized society’ is faintly bizarre and I would like to ask him to respond by explaining which of UKIP’s policies have ‘no place in civilized society’?

A grammar school in every town? Increased support for the NHS and our armed forces? Controlled immigration on a points system? Perhaps he regards Australia as uncivilized?

Mr Hayes has, perhaps unintentionally, insulted many of his constituents. Having always regarded him as a gentleman, this is not how I expected him to behave in his victory speech.

Pupils at St Paul’s Community Primary School and Nursery will be keeping their eyes on the sky this summer because a brand new kitchen will be delivered by crane.

The Spalding school is getting a pre-built “kitchen pod”, which means pupils can enjoy hot meals cooked on site for the first time in years after St Paul’s was awarded around a £190,000 slice of Government cash given to Lincolnshire.

The school has around 208 pupils – with another 52 in the nursery – and currently the youngsters have to order their meal choice a fortnight in advance as the food is prepared at Spalding High School and shipped across town in “hot boxes”.

From September St Paul’s pupils will be able to order from the menu choice on the day, whether it’s something piping hot or a leafy choice from the fresh salad bar.

School business manager Nicky Effield said: “We are very happy about it.”

Mrs Effield said St Paul’s, in common with many schools, had its kitchen taken out some years ago and has been using external suppliers ever since for its hot midday meals.

“I have been here for nine years and the school didn’t have a kitchen when I came,” she said.

St Paul’s has held consultation evenings with parents to get their views on what they would like to see from the in-house service – and pupils have given their opinions on a range of food options, themed days centred on particular cuisines, such as Italian, and healthy eating menus.

Mrs Effield said: “The children quite liked the option of roast dinners and also the salads – and they quite liked the opportunity of doing themed days.

“We want the kitchen to be an integral part of what we do in terms of encouraging the children to eat more healthily.”

The school is seeking planning consent from South Holland District Council for the kitchen pod to be sited at its Queens Road base.

The steel fabricated pod will be built off site by PKL Group Ltd and delivered to a spot west of the main building.

“They literally crane the pod into position,” said Mrs Effield. “They make it sound incredibly easy.”

The school is now in the process of recruiting a kitchen supervisor and catering assistant – it already has supervisory assistants who oversee mealtimes in the hall.

The new kitchen will include a hot production line with an integrated extraction canopy and areas for preparation, refrigeration and dishwashing.

St Paul’s Community Primary School opened in 1955 and celebrates its 60th anniversary this year.

If planning consent is given, it’s likely the kitchen pod will arrive at the school in June or July so it’s ready for use at the start of the autumn term.

• St Paul’s is having a new kitchen as a result of increased demand for meals through the launch of UIFSM (Universal Infant Free School Meals).

It is proposed that the kitchen pod will be coloured Goosewing Grey and Wedgwood Blue – like the Wedgwood pottery ware – so it complements the existing buildings.

A design statement submitted to the council says: “The proposed construction has been designed to have minimum impact on the surrounding area.

“The building has a flat roof design to reduce the visual impact, and the external colours are modern which complement the current red brick facing buildings.

“This ensures the school will maintain its overall contemporary building style.”

Fire crews extinguished a kitchen fire in Glebe Gardens, Crowland, this afternoon (Saturday May 16) which is believed to have started after a cooker ring was left switched on accidentally.

Crews from Crowland, Spalding and Cambridgeshire Dogsthorpe attended the scene shortly after 1pm today.

The fire was extinguished using one hose reel and two breathing apparatus.

A horticultural nursery and day service for adults with learning difficulties has relaunched as a co-operative.

Thistles Market Garden in Sutterton now has a more secure future since a not-for-profit co-operative took over from Lincolnshire County Council (LCC).

The service offers a safe and caring learning environment for adults to develop life skills while also operating like a commercial horticultural nursery.

Liz Judge and Sue Corr have been at the helm for the past few years – employed by LCC as community support workers. The two have now been made directors – on a board of volunteer directors.

Liz and Sue said the future now promises ‘more flexibility and access to funding that the county council could not access’.

“Now Thistles is a co-operative, all of the profits generated go back into improving the service provide,” they said. “Continuing to work in close partnership with LCC, this in turn allows us to accommodate the individuality of this niche market more efficiently, which will benefit not only the people accessing the site but also the local community.”

Adults attend five days-a-week and get hands-on experience of raising seedlings and caring for plants, fruit and vegetables.

Numeracy and literacy is also built into the programme. For the last three years, Thistles has supported Boston in Bloom, growing and supplying plants and helping out with planting. The nursery receives support from the community and helps cover costs by selling some of the produce and by making up baskets for customers.

Justin Hackney chief commissioning officer at the county council said: “Thanks to Thistles entrepreneurial plans, more people could benefit from the services they offer which means the services are likely to be more sustainable.”

The handover was marked with a ribbon-cutting ceremony by Boston Mayor Coun Alison Austin to signify the new beginning.

She also handed out WEA certificates to students for learning life-skills.

On reading recent quotes by both the town centre manager and John Hayes, it becomes apparent that both believe there is now a full ban on street drinking, while on the other hand the police stated there is not. So my question is ... what is it? Ban or no ban?

Is this a case of people we trust not knowing what they are talking about, or do we have a ban that we don’t know about?

Regarding the anti-social issues that come with street drinking, these quotes would be perfect if there was a full ban as the vast majority now back it.

To constantly witness this activity, day and night, from the break of dawn right into the early hours, is not acceptable.

We have a declining pub trade. Maybe if these people used our public houses, then it would be beneficial all round.

Reducing the number of shops with licences to sell alcohol would also decrease the number of street drinkers too, in my opinion.

South Holland District Council Elections 2015

After being elected as one of three district councillors for Pinchbeck and Surfleet at the local elections I would like to take this opportunity to thank those that helped Liz Sneath, Sally Slade and myself during our successful campaign. I would also like to congratulate all successful candidates, irrespective of their allegiance.

Approximately 2,000 residents of Pinchbeck, Pinchbeck West and Surfleet voted for us. To you all, I am exceptionally grateful for your confidence in us and we will do our best to fulfil our promises during the next four years.

To those that proposed, seconded and signed my nomination form – thank you.

To those that helped design and print our literature, and especially those that walked many miles with us to deliver leaflets and speak to our voters, a sincere and genuine thank you.

Thank you to the team conducting the ballot verification and vote counting. A difficult and time consuming job.

Geoff Garner – you conducted a diligent and positive campaign, and I know you worked hard and covered a lot of ground.

Douglas Dickens, you conducted a ‘stealthlike’ campaign, but it was by no means negative.

It goes without saying that if I did not have the support of my family it would be difficult to find the time to be involved in campaigning, let alone be a councillor.

Liz and Sally, I have enjoyed the last four years. Thank you for your support and sense of humour and I look forward to the next four years.

Finally, to the candidates that worked hard but were unsuccessful. Be positive and please do not let the result put you off having another go in 2019.

PS: I would like to thank David Turp for his tireless and determined promotion of the Pinchbeck Chimes, and hope this publication now goes on to achieve even greater success as a community magazine. Very well done.

Coun James Avery

Pinchbeck and Surfleet

I would like to thank everybody in Gedney that voted for me and helped me in the district council elections.

Despite polling of 33 per cent of the vote this was insufficient as Jo Reynolds (Conservative) succeeded with 47 per cent.

Jo and I both fought a fair and honourable campaign and I am sure that the residents of Gedney will be served well.

Like many candidates from all parties I have heard the comment that “we are all the same”. This is true and this is why:

Every single candidate in this election, whatever the hue, believes in democracy. Friday, May 8 was the 70th anniversary of VE day. As everybody bowed their heads for the silence in the room at Springfields during the district election count there was not one of us that did not give silent thanks for the sacrifices made by so many that enabled us to stand in that room and exercise the democratic rights which have been passed down to us all. Everybody is entitled to their own opinions. The right to express those opinions at the ballot box is a precious and hard fought for thing which we should all treasure.

Andrew Parks

UKIP

The excitement of the parliamentary and local elections seems to be over now. It is not so for me. This year I stood for the first time as a candidate for the district council on behalf of the Labour Party for Moulton, Weston and Cowbit Ward.

As it was the first time, I had not high expectations, but I was resolved to put up a good fight and I have clocked many miles canvassing and leafleting. As the results were declared I was pleasantly surprised and delighted to learn that as many as 486 people had voted for me. This is truly humbling and encouraging.

I would like to thank, from the bottom of my heart, all of you who voted for me. I am also grateful to all those who supported my nomination and encouraged me throughout the campaign.

I would also like to express my appreciation of and, indeed, thanks to all candidates standing for other parties for their civility and kindness towards me.

It was a great experience, which leaves me with even greater appreciation of the British democracy and the civility and quality of our local politics. I will stand again.

Voyteck S. Kowalewski

A sincere thank you message to the residents of Pinchbeck, West Pinchbeck and Surfleet who voted last week to re-elect me as one of their councillors on South Holland District Council.

It will be my honour and privilege to continue to serve you all fairly, honestly and equally for the next four years.

I am also really grateful to all of the family, friends and volunteers who helped in the campaign by displaying posters or by delivering leaflets to the villages, roads and droves in the ward.

Coun Elizabeth J Sneath

Pinchbeck East,

West Pinchbeck and Surfleet

I write to express my thanks to all those who have renewed their confidence in me to represent you at local government level as your district councillor.

I confirm that I will continue to work to the best of my ability to represent the interests of all of the residents of Whaplode and Holbeach St John’s Ward and for the wider interests of South Holland.

During the run-up to the elections, I talked with many residents who have confirmed my belief that there are a number of recurring concerns around the setting of speed limits in residential roads, speeding of vehicles, fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour of many kinds.

Over the coming months and years I will work with my colleagues at district, parish levels and with the other agencies to bring pride in the community as a high priority in our community.

Again my thanks for the confidence you have placed in me and my pledge to ensure that it shall be fully justified.

Coun Malcolm Chandler

Whaplode and Holbeach St John’s Ward

No words can describe the overwhelming honour of being elected in your good faith to represent you and your family on our district council.

These past nine months have been a privilege beyond any I can compare. The confidence that you have demonstrated will soon see itself a new face, tackling local issues and fighting local causes. As I have said before – not only a week ago – your time will as always remain ours, but this time I can tell you, your vote has extended its grasp to generations past and generations yet to come.

Coun Jack McLean

Spalding St John’s

I would like to thank everyone who voted for me in the district council election.

Your continued support is doubly appreciated in the unusual circumstances of local elections occurring at the same time as a general election.

Whether you voted for me or not at all I will do my utmost to represent you whilst working for the good of the district and particularly for the ward I represent.

Bryan Alcock

Crowland and Deeping St Nicholas

The family of a little girl from a village near Sleaford are supporting the launch of a charity’s poster campaign to use moblie phones to detect childhood eye cancer.

The Childhood Eye Cancer Trust (CHECT) has launched the poster campaign which parodies advertising by popular smart phone manufacturers and urges viewers to use their phones for more than gaming and social media.

CHECT’s ads encourage people to put their phones to better use, by helping detect and defeat a rare, deadly childhood eye cancer called Retinoblastoma (Rb). It is World Retinoblastoma Awareness Week from May 10-16.

The camera function on a phone, for example, can detect Retinoblastoma through flash photography. When a tumour grows inside a child’s eye, it can reflect back as a white pupil in flash photos, allowing for early detection of the eye cancer, which can save a child’s life.

CHECT’s campaign draws its inspiration from real-life cases such as that of one-year-old Arwen Somers, from Harmston, where Rb diagnosis was assisted by a smart phone. Arwen’s mother, Eloise, noticed a picture on her phone showed the affected eye with a white rather than a red reflex and used this to discover the symptom could mean a tumour. After visiting her GP and eye specialisists she was diagnosed at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

Her mum said: “We first noticed a glow rather like that of a cat in a headlight in Arwen’s left eye when she was about four-months-old. A Google search of the symptom gave no information so I monitored it for a couple of weeks. Wanting to know what it was, I made a doctor’s appointment.

“At this stage the appointment was classed as non-urgent so we had to wait for two weeks to be seen. The night before the appointment I took a photograph of Arwen on my phone and noticed for the first time how the affected eye showed as a white rather than red reflex. Google was able to offer much more information and at this stage we discovered the symptom could mean a tumour. The following day the GP confirmed what we feared.”

They were eventually referred to a specialist who confirmed there was a growth in Arwen’s left eye and Birmingham Children’s Hospital gave the definitive diagnosis of Retinoblastoma, grade D+.

Arwen’s mum said: “At this stage we found ourselves making the heartbreaking decision to remove the affected eye. This was the Friday and the operation itself took place the following Monday. Since the operation Arwen has made a full recovery and is now a happy and contented nearly one-year-old. She has met all her current developmental milestones early and is turning into a funny, quirky and beautiful young girl of whom we are very proud.”

The campaign is also suggesting that viewers simply text ‘EYES91 £3’ to 70070 to donate £3 towards CHECT’s work that aims to defeat this disease for good.

Joy Felgate, the CHECT chief executive, said: “Our hope is that, years from now, Retinoblastoma ceases to exist, and no child ever has to experience the trauma of losing their eye, their sight, or their life. It’s this mission that drives our research into a cure for the disease – which really is within our grasp.

“Retinoblastoma is one of the most devastating illnesses children and families can face. Not only does the child have to endure aggressive bouts of chemo and radiotherapy, they also need to have their prosthetic eyes sized and fitted every six months as they grow – which, as you can imagine, is particularly traumatic for a toddler.”

Paul Foyster’s latest missive shows him to be the very epitome of a bad loser.

As those who venture online will already be aware, there are several contributors openly declaring an affiliation with his party and claiming to espouse the principles of free speech, while, at the same time, indulging in vile personal abuse and smearing of anyone with whom they disagree.

In speaking for the vast majority of local voters who chose not to support UKIP, John Hayes has clearly riled the UKippers. As a widely-shared opinion and in a free society, he’s perfectly entitled to express his distaste – after all, we live in a democracy and the people have spoken.

It is the local UKIP chairman who should be making the public apology for foisting upon us a wholly unsuitable parliamentary candidate.

There are no unusual delays or incidents on the roads around Lincolnshire this morning other than planned roadworks already in situ.

All train services are reported to be running to time.

Seen a queue or delay?

{mailto:paul.fisher@jpress.co.uk|Email paul.fisher@jpress.co.uk|email us}​ or let us know via {https://twitter.com/PaulFisheredit​|​Twitter ​​@PaulFisheredit​|Go to Twitter.com}​​​.​

House prices were driven up again in April as the data showed the third consecutive monthly decline in supply with new instructions falling at their fastest rate since May 2009, according to the latest RICS UK Residential Market Survey.

While 11% more surveyors in the East Midlands saw prices rise in April, the highest reading since last summer, new instructions slipped to a net balance of -6% - the thirteenth drop in the last fourteen months in the region. Moreover, the flow on second hand stock onto the market dropped in most parts of the country.

Alongside this, for the first time since August 2014, respondents’ reported an increase in prices in every area of the UK; the reason for this being the shift in tone in the London market where 28% more respondents saw prices in the capital rise (compared with 6% more surveyors in March who saw house prices fall).

Near term member expectations for prices and sales continue to point to relatively modest gains, but 56% of members in the East Midlands expect prices to rise over the course of the next twelve months. Meanwhile, in the lettings sector, there is no slowing in the growth of tenant demand, which is helping to underpin higher expectations for rents.

Although anecdotal evidence suggests that these trends may have in part been a result of uncertainty ahead of the election, they are also reflective of deeper underlying problems. The downward trend in owner-occupation rates across the country is a visible sign that affordability constraints bite ever deeper, as does the squeeze on household budgets from higher rents.

Commenting on the picture in the East Midlands Chris Charlton FRICS, said: “Surprisingly buoyant market given ‘election fever’. There have been a great number of new listings up to £1.5 million across our region. Concerns will inevitably grow post-election outlook over the next few weeks so we will continue to hold our breath.”

Simon Rubinsohn, RICS Chief Economist, said: “It is conceivable that the decisive outcome to the election could encourage a pick-up in instructions to agents and ease some of the recent upward pressure on house prices but it is doubtful that this will be substantive enough to provide anything more than temporary relief. Alongside an increased flow of second hand stock, it is absolutely critical that new government focuses on measures to boost the flow of new build.’’

Jeremy Blackburn, Head of Policy, said: “The affordability and availability of homes in the UK is now a national emergency and addressing this crisis must be the priority for the new government. The last time we were building 300,000 homes was in 1963 under Harold Macmillan’s Conservative government, which utilized both public and private building.

RICS calls for a coherent and coordinated house building strategy, across all tenures. This should include measures that will kick-start a supply-side revolution, such as mapping brownfield, addressing planning restrictions and creating a housing observatory to assess the underlying economic and social drivers of housing and provide the impetus for solutions.

Introducing demand-side measures, such as extending ‘Right to Buy’, will not see the Conservatives deliver on their promise of 1m homes by 2020.”

A Spalding motorcyclist has suffered broken bones in a collision on the A17 at Heckington, near the junction with the B1394.

The collision occurred at around 1.15pm today (Sunday May 17)and involved a Suzuki motorbike and a Seat Leon.

The motorcyclist, a 37-year-old man from Spalding, is being treated at Boston Pilgrim hospital for a fractured leg.

Any witnesses who have not already spoken to police, should contact 101, quoting incident number 204 of May 17.

Lincolnshire County Council seems to have spent a substantial amount of money on a new pothole rectifying machine which, to be quite honest, is making a huge mess and should be parked up at the depot and left there.

Not only is it now impossible to see where the potholes are, but the stuff it is laying in is six inches deep in some of the holes (over the top of water-filled muddy muddles) and not setting.

It won’t take the weight of a person standing in it, never mind a 44-tonne lorry.

The “repairs”, if you can call them that, are a road traffic hazard for cyclists.

I spotted one last week which a tractor had driven over – it is now like riding across a corrugated shed roof with two-inch deep ridges and holes.

On another, the bodged repairs were coming away where they were applied over the top of mud. It doesn’t take a qualified civil engineer to work out the fact that it isn’t going to stick to mud, surely? What happened to common sense?

What a complete waste of taxpayers’ money. Any other trade that left behind work of this quality would soon end up named and shamed on Rogue Traders.