Young people who have decided to vote to stay in the European Union at the upcoming referendum, or who simply can’t be bothered to vote at all, need to think again.

It is their future that is at stake and taking the advice of self-serving elites who have lined their pockets at the public’s expense is a dangerous game.

This country is on the skids, with a national debt of nearly £2 trillion – a daunting figure that can be more than doubled if public sector pension liabilities are taken into account.

The EU is in a similar perilous financial state, with its disastrous Euro-zone on the verge of implosion.

A vote to stay in is not a vote for the status quo unless a slide into bankruptcy can be defined this way.

Youth unemployment in most EU countries is between 30 per cent and 50 per cent, so no comfort there.

The future for young people will be much brighter once they wake up to the fact that generations of politicians have sold them out.

A start would be to vote to leave on June 23 and get decision-making back to our own parliament.

This way, young people with drive and vision should stand for election and set this country on a path where all its citizens may have a brighter future.

It is in their hands.

After all the negative publicity surrounding the Gleed School and Post 16 Centre, I would like to highlight how positive my daughter’s experience has been.

Emma, who has cerebral palsy, started at the Gleed School in 2007 and has progressed to the Post 16 Centre, where she completed her BTEC NVQ Level 3 this year.

During this time, the staff and management have been supportive in helping her to achieve her potential and have inspired her to reach her own personal goals, at school and at home.

The support from her many teaching assistants has been invaluable and they have solved numerous complex problems by thinking outside the box.

At the recent Post 16 Awards evening, Emma was presented with the Overcoming Adversity Award, which would not have been possible without the caring and supportive staff at the Post 16 Centre.

The young people who attend the centre have also contributed in encouraging Emma.

The standing ovation she received from the young people at the awards evening showed clearly how accepting and understanding they are.

Many thanks to all at the Gleed School and Post 16 Centre.

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. V/S means victim surcharge.

Boston Magistrates’ Court

May 9

Davids Strauss (36), of The Courtyard, Bridge Street, Deeping St James. Failed to comply with community order to attend unpaid work. Order to continue, £175 fine.

May 11

Roy Hayes (43), of Gaunt Close, Spalding. Drink driving (Spalding). £120 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 16 months.

Evaldas Latoza (18), of Havelock Street, Spalding. No insurance (Spalding). £250 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts. No separate penalty for driving otherwise than accordance with a licence.

Bernard Porter (45), of Boston Road, Gosberton. Possession of a weapon, namely a taser (Boston). £300 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs. No separate penalty for possession of a weapon, name a cattle prod. Taser and cattle prod to be forfeited and destroyed.

Wayne Rous (34), of Harrington Croft, Holbeach. Failing to provide a specimen of breath for analysis (Boston). £720 fine, £72 v/s, £85 costs, 10pts.

Andrew Allen (56), of Parthian Avenue, Wyberton. Drink driving (Boston). £300 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 28 months.

Maryann Jobson (33), of Hereward Road, Spalding. Stole pens worth £167 belonging to W H Smith (Spalding) and meat worth £70 belonging to Co-op (Kirton). Community order with drug rehabilitation requirement, £167.93 and £70 compensation respectively. No action taken on breach of supervision requirement.

Stacey Ruck (40), of Silt Pit Lane, Wyberton. Possession of shotgun without holding a certificate (Wyberton). £400 fine, £40 v/s, £85 costs, shotgun and ammunition forfeited and destroyed.

Jack Fitzjohn (26), of Tolls Lane, Holbeach. Driving without due care and attention (Holbeach). £400 fine, £40 v/s, £85 costs, 5pts.

Maria Pridmore (36), of St Matthews Close, Holbeach. No insurance (Spalding). £120 fine,£20 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 12 months. No separate penalty for driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

May 12

Peter Evans (32), of Albert Street, Spalding. Stole a Makita drill worth £180 and compressor worth £160 (Moulton Seas End). £170 compensation, £85 costs.

Romas Jonikas (28), of Independence Drive, Pinchbeck. Assault (Spalding). 12 months conditional discharge, £15 v/s, £620 costs.

May 16

Graham York (41), of Backgate, Cowbit. Speeding (Boston). £40 fine, £20 v/s, £40 costs, 3pts.

May 18

Zorig Batayav (35), of Rose View Drive, Holbeach. Stole two cartons of wine worth £8 belonging to Tesco (Holbeach) and resisting a police officer. 6 months conditional discharge, £20 v/s.

Jaroslaw Misiak (31), of double Street, Spalding. Possession of 39 tablets of 2CB. 12 months conditional discharge, £15 v/s, £85 costs, drugs to be forfeited and destroyed.

Karen Pullen (55), of London Road, Wyberton. Drink driving (Boston). £180 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 24 months.

Mantas Radajevas (18), of West Elloe Avenue, Spalding. Drink driving (Spalding). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 18 months.

Scott Lewis (44), of Station Street, Donington. Failed to comply with a shotgun certificate. 3 months conditional discharge, £20 v/s, £85 costs.

May 23

Kevin Fletcher (51), of Westhorpe Road, Gosberton. Failed to comply with Town and Country Planning Act 1990 notice in particular failed to cut down all grasses, nettles and any other weeds on the property to a height not exceeding 5cm (and failed to remove any cut materials resulting from such works). £1500 fine, £150 v/s, £230 costs.

Archie Bushell (19), of Donington Road, Kirton End. Assault (Boston). Community order with 100 hours unpaid work, rehabilitation activity requirement, £60 v/s, £85 costs.

Davy Herron (19), of South Parade, Spalding. Two counts of assault (Spalding). Community order with 150 hours unpaid work, restraining order, £60 v/s, £85 costs, £50 compensation.

May 25

Ionut Catana (21), of Daniels Crescent, Long Sutton. Drink driving (Spalding). £220 fine, £22 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 18 months. No separate penalty for no insurance and for driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

Vitalij Dmitriev (27), of Akita Close, Spalding. Assaulted a police officer (Spalding). £100 compensation. Drink driving. £250 fine, £25 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 18 months. No separate penalty for failing to stop after an accident whereby personal injury was caused to another person.

Jordan Sesstein (21), of Spalding Road, Sutterton. Drug driving (Boston). £350 fine, £35 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 12 months.

Lucia Matias (42), of Friars Gate, Boston. Driving while disqualified (Algarkirk).£665 fine, £67 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 12 months. No separate penalty for no insurance.

May 26

Glyndon Church (68), of Seagate Road, Long Sutton. Drink driving (Holbeach). £300 fine, £30 v/s, £200 costs, disqualified from driving for 20 months.

Jamie Prosser (26), of Asterley Drive, Middlesbrough. Trespassed on land in search or pursuit of game, woodcocks, snipes or conies (Sutton St James). £300 fine, £30 v/s, £620 costs.

Paul Jezard (50), of Cranberry Lane, Friskney. Speeding (Crowland). £85 fine, £20 v/s, 3pts.

Grantham Magistrates’ Court

May 4

Clive Richley (49), of St Guthlac Avenue, Market Deeping. Failed to give driver ID (Nettleham). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £100 costs, 6pts.

May 9

Luke Hilton (26), of Station Road, Morton. Assault (Morton). 18 months conditional discharge, £20 v/s, £85 costs.

Robert Goodman(64), of The Pollards, Bourne. Drink driving (Rippingale). £120 fine, £30 v/s, 385 costs, disqualified from driving for 36 months.

Kirsty Butler (29), of Hereward Street, Bourne. Stole a Sony Bravia TV and Sony sound bar worth £560 (Bourne). 12 months conditional discharge, £15 v/s, £85 costs.

Robert Lister (29), of Kirkby Underwood Road, Stainfield. Assault (Bourne). £55 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs.

Piotr Jankowski (25), of Chapel Lane, Spalding. Three counts of assault (Spalding). Community order with 150 hours unpaid work and rehabilitation activity requirement, restraining order, £60 v/s, £750 costs.

May 16

Casey Robinson (34), of Cekhira Avenue, Moulton Chapel. No insurance (Spalding). £120 fine, £20 v/s, £45 costs. No separate penalty for driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence, disqualified from driving for 3 months.

Mindaugas Juskevicius (26), of Hannam Boulevard, Spalding. No insurance (Spalding). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Leonards Lagzdins (24), of Chandlers Reach, Church Street, Spalding. No insurance (Spalding). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Walter Lound (72), of Meadow Close, Bourne. Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence (Bourne). £220 fine. No insurance. £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Mark Loveridge (40), of Willington Road, Cople, Bedford. Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence (Deeping St Nicholas). £220 fine, £22 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

May 18

Dawn Williams (49), of York Road, Stevenage. Speeding (Quadring). £120 fine, £20 v/s, £100 costs, 5pts.

May 23

Nick Edwards (25), of West Road, Pointon. Two counts of assault (Bourne). Community order with 50 hours unpaid work, requirement to participate in building better relationship and rehabilitation activity requirement, £60 v/s, £40 costs.

May 25

Matthew Kirk (35), of Waterloo Drive, Morton. Failed to stop for a police officer (Bourne). £320 fine, £250 costs. Dangerous driving. 6 months prison sentence suspended for 2 years, rehabilitation activity requirement, £80 v/s, disqualified from driving for 2 years. Drink driving. 6 months prison sentence concurrent suspended for 2 years, disqualified from driving for 16 months.

Lincoln Magistrates’ Court

May 13

Stefan Dimitrov (38), of Warrenmount, Old Warren, Lisburn, County Antrim. Speeding (Whaplode). £440 fine, £44 v/s, £85 costs, 4pts.

Trevor Glendinning (37), of Cross Avenue, Westmoreland Estate, Wallsend, North Tyneside. Speeding (Whaplode). £220 fine, £22 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Robert Goodwin (51), of Blows Lane, Sutterton. Speeding (Great Ponton). £220 fine, £22 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Emmeline Grunnill (34), of Fleet Road, Fleet. Speeding (Whaplode). £220 fine, £22 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Nicholas Horne (32), of New Road, Sutton Bridge. Speeding (Shepeau Stow). £220 fine, £22 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Jason Sullivan (35), of Pilgrim Gardens, Fishtoft. Speeding (Pinchbeck). £220 fine, £22 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Michael Warren (50), of Red Cow Drove, Moulton Marsh. Speeding (Moulton Seas End). £220 fine, £22 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Nigel Wilson (53), of Meadway, Market Deeping. Speeding (Spalding). £275 fine, £27 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Philip Wright (55), of Washway Road, Fleet. Failed to give driver ID (Nettleham). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Madara Otanke (24), of Spring Gardens, Spalding. Failed to comply with requirements of community order. Order to continue. £80 fine.

May 17

Jamie Bunn (37), of Woad Lane, Long Sutton. No insurance (Holbeach). £120 fine, £20 v/s, £40 costs, 6pts. No separate penalty for no MOT.

Simon Neal (34), of Ingelow Avenue, Boston. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £220 fine, £22 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Christopher Collins (22), of Wood View, Bourne. Failed to stop after an accident (Bourne). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, 7pts. No separate penalty for failing to report an accident.

Robert Scrimshaw (70), of Fen Lane, Ashwicken. Failed to report an accident (Bourne). £610 fine, £61 v/s, £85 costs, 5pts.

May 18

Nigel Dawkins (62), of Greenfields Lane, Folkingham. Failed to stop after an accident (Morton). £80 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 5pts. No separate penalty for driving without due care and attention.

Heather Faulkner (54), of Primroses, Deeping St James. Speeding (Thurlby). £125 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 4pts.

Daniel Naisbett (27), of Willmore Street, Sunderland. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £145 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Amandeep Samra (34), of Collingham Road, Leicester. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £150 fine, £20 v/s, 3pts.

Julie Brown (49), of Winter Way, Wyberton. Failed to give driver ID (Nettleham). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 2 years.

Darius Ketvirtis (25), of Eleanor Court, Rose Fair Close, Wisbech. Speeding (Langtoft). £100 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Ernestas Zasciurinskas (44), of Burton Road, Spalding. Failed to prove samples of breath (Grantham). £210 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 18 months. No separate penalty for failing to surrender to custody.

May 19

Olawunmi Aiyfola (49), of Osborne Road, Wisbech. Speeding (Whaplode). £100 fine, £20 v/s, 3pts.

Norman Dennis (51), of Vermuyden Road, Moorends, Doncaster. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £90 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Andrew Field (47), if Sculthorpe Avenue, West Lynn, King’s Lynn. Speeding (Whaplode). £146 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

John Harding (44), of Gaunt Close, Spalding. Failed to give driver ID (Nettleham). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Juris Petersons (31), of Bridge Street, Deeping St James. Failed to give driver ID (Nettleham). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Darren Rawthorn (31), of Green Street, March. Speeding (Whaplode). £230 fine, £23 v/s, 4pts.

Rebecca Sharp (22), of Sluice Road, Holbeach St Marks. Speeding (Tydd Gote). £244 fine, £24 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Yiannos Antoniades, of George Borrow Road, Norwich. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £440 fine, £44 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Ian Bailey (29), of Tooley Lane, Wrangle. Speeding (Spalding bypass). £370 fine, £37 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Salen Balan (31), of Chain Lane, Staining, Blackpool. Speeding (Whaplode). £220 fine, £22 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Janas Kudzma (46), of Aalsmeer Rise, Spalding. No insurance. £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, 8pts. No separate penalty for using a vehicle when the number of passengers carried by it, namely six passengers, was such that its use involved a danger of injury.

Paul Lessiter (40) of Lavender Way, Bourne. Failed to give driver ID (Nettleham). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Rafal Marchwacki (35), of Austerby, Bourne. Failed to give driver ID. £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Iris Mason (78), of Eastgate, Deeping St James. Speeding (New York). £120 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Ben Mastin (27), of Main Road, Gedney. Speeding (New York). £419 fine, £41 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Jewellery has been stolen from a house in Bourne where someone broke through a side gate and then smashed a patio window at the back to get in.

It happened at a house in West Road, Bourne, at about 4pm when an alarm was activated for several minutes.

Anyone with information should call 101, quoting incident 286 of June 9.

CABINET CALL: By South Holland District Council leader Coun Gary Porter

Progress on the Greater Lincolnshire devolution deal continues at pace and very soon you’ll be able to have your say on the proposals.

Last Thursday Boston Borough Council was the final authority to agree to the plans meaning that all 10 councils in the Greater Lincolnshire area are now on board with the scheme.

We’re now preparing for a public consultation due to take place between June 27 and August 8.

This will give you the opportunity to comment on the plans and very shortly we’ll announce how you can do this, so watch this space.

It will only be after the consultation period has been completed and we have analysed the results, that councils will take a formal decision – yes or no.

That will happen sometime in September, so when you consider that the proposals only got under way this year, you can see how quickly things have progressed.

As I have previously said, assuming that the deal goes ahead, then this is fantastic news for the people and businesses of South Holland.

That’s because we will be able to take decisions about how to spend government money for growth and prosperity - decisions that are presently made for us in London.

The new Combined Authority will have its own directly elected Mayor, who will lead a Cabinet made up of the Leaders of the ten Councils.

The deal could boost the area’s economy by £8bn, create 29,000 jobs and provide 100,000 new homes.

Greater Lincolnshire will additionally receive £15 million a year, for the next 30 years to support key infrastructure projects selected by the new Greater Lincolnshire Combined Authority.

We will also take control of government money that pays for skills and further education, enabling us to better match training to the needs of employers.

We are committed to helping the South Holland economy to develop and thrive and that’s why I believe devolution will be a significant positive step.

Firefighters have put out a blaze in Crowland this afternoon.

A crew from Crowland used two hose reels and drags to extinguish some waste straw and manure on fire off Nene Terrace Road, Crowland, just after noon.

I am writing to voice my concerns over plans to build an anaerobic digestion plant directly behind our small hamlet in rural south Lincolnshire.

Tongue End is situated in one of the last stretches of “big sky” fens in the area, and the proposal for an eight acre industrial site to be situated 330 metres from people’s gardens will have an enormously detrimental visual impact upon the whole area.

The planning application states that views would be transient, as though no-one lives here and, therefore, it would have no effect on the quality of people’s lives.

The blight from the smell would render houses unsellable and gardens unusable.

The plans have hidden the fact that food waste will be used as well as crop waste, which is actually not waste but grown specifically to feed the plant.

No mention has been made of the considerable increase in heavy vehicle traffic, either in Deeping St Nicholas, where the site entrance will be located, or at the exit in Tongue End/Pode Hole.

I am asking the council’s planners officers and councillors to consider whether this site is remotely viable, and whether they will hold strong to the promise to refuse more development within the area.

If there is a need for a waste plant to create methane gas for feeding into the national grid, then surely it would be better sited at the proposer’s farm, with the pipeline extended, not miles away down single gravel tracks which lorries have to negotiate.

A girl of five has followed the example of her pop idol, Harry Styles, and had her hair cut to help “poorly” children.

Angel Still loves Harry and listened intently as her mum, Sam Sutton, explained why the pop star had his hair cut – it was for the Little Princess Trust, which makes real hair wigs for poorly children who have lost their own hair.

Sam said: “Angel then just came up to me and said she wanted to have her hair cut 
because Harry out of One Direction had done it.

“He’s her idol.

“She had to have seven inches cut off. It was quite long.

“She’s not a girly-girl and she never used to like having her hair put up.

“I think she’s brilliant.

“There have been a few haircuts in the paper but Angel’s done this because of Harry and because she wanted to help the poorly girls and boys.

“I think she’s wonderful. I am really proud of her.”

Angel’s hair was just below her shoulders before she had it cut at Serenity, Sutton Bridge.

The family live in Anne Road, Sutton Bridge, and Angel attends the nearby Westmere Primary School.

Angel has a big brother, Joseph Sutton (24), who plays football for Sutton Bridge 
United.

HAYES IN THE HOUSE: By local MP John Hayes

On May 31st Britain commemorated the centenary of Jutland, the biggest sea battle of the First World War. Fought in the North Sea, off Denmark’s coast, it was to be the only wholescale confrontation between the two largest naval powers the world had known.

The British navy lost more sailors and ships than the Germans, and so, at the time, the Kaiser claimed victory, declaring that ‘the spell of Trafalgar has been broken’. Though contemporary received wisdom was that, by tearing into the Grand Fleet, Germany had ended British naval supremacy, subsequent thinking was very different.

Despite an impressive array of battleships, by 1916 the Kaiser’s Imperial Navy had failed to stop the sea blockade of Germany, which is why Jutland became a strategic victory for Britain. With the Royal Navy retaining control of the North Sea, the blockade eventually strangled the German economy, sowing the seeds for the Kaiser’s eventual defeat, as his subsequent desperate U-boat campaign resulted in the United States later joining the war.

Commemorating its centenary, David Cameron joined descendants of those who fought in the 36 hour battle to mark their forbears’ sacrifice at Scapa Flow in Orkney, where the Grand Fleet was based. Across the country, memorials to those who died in the North Sea are being repaired and rejuvenated; their future protected.

The relevance of the Battle of Jutland today lies not only in its significance to the outcome of the Great War, but as a reminder of misplaced trust in conventional wisdom. So certain that their dreadnoughts had delivered the Kaiser the upper hand, the German Empire celebrated a ‘Great Sea Victory over the English’, giving schoolchildren a day off to celebrate, as the nation felt sure of eventual triumph.

Though he had lost many men, Admiral Jellicoe, Commander of the Fleet, knew that Britain had won a costly victory, and that the notion that the battle had been a tragic defeat would soon be proved wrong. Jellicoe was, at first, widely criticised for the outcome of the Battle of Jutland, but events proved him right.

Perhaps today, in our -thankfully peaceful - contemporary debate about Britain’s relationship with Europe, we would do well to reflect that the routine assumptions and predictions of “expert opinion” are often shown to be wrong over time. It’s people’s common sense that is the best measure of what’s right.

For the first time, Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust (LCHS) is calling on the public to take part in its staff Celebrating Success awards.

You are invited to nominate teams and individuals whose dedication has improved your care for the better for the “Chair’s Award for Going Above and Beyond”.

Johnston Press - the parent company of this website - are this year’s media sponsors.

LCHS is the largest provider of community-based care in the county, helping children to have the best start in life and supporting adults by delivering care close to home.

District nurses and therapy services help get patients back on their feet or stay healthy at home.

Care is also provided at clinics and inpatient wards in community hospitals in Gainsborough, Louth, Skegness and Spalding, as well as urgent care centres at Louth and Skegness, minor injury units at Spalding and Gainsborough, the Lincoln’s Walk-In Centre and Peterborough Minor Illness and Injury Unit.

LCHS chair Elaine Baylis said: “One of the most rewarding parts of my role is talking to patients and hearing about their experiences of using our services. It is truly humbling and I could not be more proud of our staff who often go above and beyond the call of duty to deliver excellent care.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for you to say thank you and to tell us how our teams and individual staff members make such a difference in the communities they serve. I look forward to receiving the nominations.”

The Chair’s Award for Going Above and Beyond is one of eight awards which will be presented at a ceremony as part of #HealthatHome2016; a celebration of the Trust and its services to be held at the Princess Royal Sports Arena, Boston, on Wednesday, September 21.

Here’s how you can put forward your nominee

So you’ve decided who you want to nominate. But how do you put that person forward?

Send the full name of your nominee and where they work, along with a few words as to how they have gone “Above and Beyond”, together with your name and contact details, by email to awards@lincs-chs.nhs.uk

Alternatively, post your nomination to Celebrating Success Awards, c/o Communications, Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust, Beech House, Witham Park, Waterside South, Lincoln, LN5 7JH.

Only staff working for Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust will be eligible for nomination. If you are unsure which NHS Trust your nominee works for, please ask them.

The judging panel includes two LCHS non-executive directors, a clinical staff member and an independent judge.

The closing date for nominations is 5pm on Friday, July 1, 2016.

The winners and their nominators will be invited to the awards ceremony on September 21, 2016.

To find out more about Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust or the Celebrating Success awards, visit www.lincolnshirecommunityhealthservices.nhs.uk/cs2016

Lincolnshire Police wildlife crime officers have today (Sunday) reported three people suspected of illegal fishing around Spalding.

Police have checked rivers around the town as well as lakes in The Deepings.

The crackdown is part of the ongoing Operation Traverse, which is being run in partnership with bodies like the Angling Trust and the Environment Agency.

A charity dedicated to helping families with young children is hoping for a surge of new volunteers after a national celebration of people who serve freely.

Home-Start Lincolnshire is looking for parents, former children’s workers, ex-teachers and others after National Volunteers’ Week which ended on Sunday.

The charity wants to speak to those interested in joining its Boston and South Holland team based in Swineshead and community liaison co-ordinator Emma Haisman said: “There have been lots of changes at what was Home-Start South Holland which is now known as Home-Start Lincolnshire.

“However, all our local families are still being supported in the same way and we know the power that volunteering has helped to transform the lives of both vulnerable families we support and our volunteers.

“Home-Start Lincolnshire helps families with young children to deal with whatever life throws at them and we support parents as they learn to cope, increase or improve their confidence and build better lives for their children.

“The benefits of our support include improved health and well-being, better family relationships and a deeply trusting friendship between parents and volunteers which can lead to powerful changes within the family concerned.

“Our amazing team of volunteers donate their time to see these changes in families, but they also give their time to build their own experience, confidence and skills to allow them to further their own development.

“Many of our volunteers go on to secure employment or access further education in health or social care and so we would love to hear from anyone who is interested in becoming a home-visiting volunteer, fundraising volunteer or trustee.”

You can call Home-Start Lincolnshire on 01507 308030 or email enquiries@homestartlincolnshire.co.uk to find out about volunteer training courses running soon in the South Holland and Boston, or Grantham and Stamford areas.

I have been very interested and critical of Ukip’s role and conduct in the EU Parliament and in the upcoming referendum.

Perhaps Nigel Farage can explain why, out of nearly 2,600 EU votes since 1999, Britain has voted against only 56 times and abstained 70 times?

It seems to me that, on more than 95 per cent of occasions, the UK’s MEPs have been quite happy with the laws that have come before them (see In Facts, Sunday Times, May 25).

Mr Farage’s main contribution at the EU Parliament seems to have been a rant, firing off insults at Herman 
Van Rompuy, the EU president.

Such comments may have gone down well at those places where ‘little Englanders’ gather socially, but it has not helped the interests of the people who voted for him as an MEP.

Ironically, UKIP and Mr Farage got their chance to represent us because of the much fairer EU proportional representation voting system that we are denied in Britain.

Now UKIP and Brexit tell us that our system of democracy is best – really? How does an unelected head of state and an unelected second chamber of law makers improve the UK democratic ideal?

As for the rest of this campaign, it seems to me that the same lies and double standards are being peddled by all parties and it’s up to the rest of us to make what we can of it.

I’m clear on one thing; the most significant event in my life time was the tearing down of the Berlin wall.

Before that, great armies were massed on the borders of East Germany, Poland and Hungary, awaiting orders from their Soviet masters in the Kremlin to invade and destroy Western Europe.

The people of these countries sacrificed everything to tear down the barriers of oppression to gain peace and prosperity within the EU. They are now our friends and partners.

It seems that the Leave campaigners like to present the universal desire for peace, security and prosperity as an evil by constantly referring to the threat of immigration.

Please allow me, as an ordinary voter, to say to Mr Farage that I’d rather live in a free country where people are fighting to get in, not get out.

Hawthorne Bank in Spalding could have been a disaster area on Monday.

There was a huge hole in the road, yet no workmen were in sight.

According to the signage, Anglian Water was due to start work on May 28 for one week.

The lights at the railway barriers were flashing red and going up and down so many times that they eventually became stuck in the down position.

The helpful man in the railway house did all he could to find an engineer, but had no idea how long the situation would last.

As it was the end of the school day, many mums and children were stuck on the wrong side of the train track, while motorists from the surrounding roads could not get out either way.

Luckily, the emergency services did not need to gain access to this area, otherwise a house could have burned down or someone could have died of a heart attack.

Why was this dangerous situation allowed to happen?

Before the local councils

South Holland District Council

M Wilding, Crawford House, South Street, Crowland. Works to TPO.

A Andrews, 1a East Cob Gate, Moulton. Works to TPO.

P Hind, Grasmere, 15 Hall Lane, Moulton. Works to TPO.

G and A Winyard, 36 Holbeach road, Spalding. Six two-storey dwellings.

Revills Shoes, 4 Francis Street, Spalding. Alterations to window to east elevation.

G Walsh, Bedford House, 10 London Road, Spalding. Works to TPO.

D Jellyman, 36 Edgefield and Holly House, High Road, Weston. Works to TPO.

T Lloyd, Libra Lodge, East Gate, Fleet. Extension and internal alterations.

C Wright and Son (Gedney) Ltd, Roman Bank, Gedney Dyke. Proposed frontage residential development.

C Wright and Son (Gedney) Ltd, Marsh Road/Roman Bank, Gedney Dyke. Proposed frontage residential development.

C Wright and Son (Gedney) Ltd, Main Street, Gedney Dyke. Proposed frontage residential development.

Mr and Mrs B Wilson, 82 Spalding Road, Holbeach. Extension and alterations to garage.

Mr and Mrs M Gale, off Jekils Bank, Holbeach St Johns. Residential development.

J Phillips, 72 Fleet Street, Holbeach.

Worth Farms Ltd, top Farm, Holbeach Hurn. Portal framed building to provide cover for farm potato grader.

Mr and Mrs N Birdseye, 53 Station Road, Long Sutton. Extension.

Mr and Mrs M Hutchinson, White Cross Lane, Surfleet. Three bed detached dwelling.

N De Heveningham and P Smith, 3-11 Park Lane, Surfleet. Residential development.

Old Hall Company Ltd, The Oaks, 251 Broadgate Road, Sutton St Edmund. Three dwellings.

S Potter, 21 Damgate, Holbeach. Details of no dig design for garage.

Mr and Mrs Brookes, 41 The Tenters, Holbeach. Extension.

Arqiva Ltd, communications tower, Washway House, Washway Road, Holbeach. Installation of telecommunication equipment.

R Sweeney, 1 Forge Close, Spalding. Extension.

Cley Developments Ltd, land adj library, Victoria Street, Spalding. Modification to condition relating to affordable housing and wording of condition for demolition of dilapidated building and building of six one-bed apartments. Details of affordable housing, archaeological report, refuse storage, external materials, doors and windows and large scale details (condition compliance).

M Jenkins, Pat’s Flowers, 6 Market Place, Long Sutton. Change of se from flower shop (A1) to tea shop (A3) with ancillary sales of crafts.

K Sharpe, 1 Sunningdale Avenue, Spalding. Extensions and alterations.

South Kesteven District Council

Susan, 28 Bridge Street, Deeping St James. Fell conifer tree and conifer hedge.

Boston Borough Council

Early, 40 Silverdene, Abbey Road, Swineshead. Extension incorporating self contained annex accommodation, detached double garage.

Brown, 4 Birch Close, Wyberton. Works to trees in conservation area.

Representatives from Spalding’s community radio station joined local veterans in France last week, attending events held to mark the 72nd anniversary of the D-Day landings.

Jan Whitbourn and Chris Carter of Tulip Radio travelled to France with Harold Payne’s Anglia Motel Veterans group.

All the veterans were over 90 years-oldand Jan said: “Whatever the popular view of the French people’s opinion of the British, on occasions such as this, it is very apparent that the French continue to demonstrate a genuine affection towards those who helped to liberate their country, 72 years ago.

“Everywhere I went people still rushed over to kiss veterans and schoolchildren engage them earnestly in conversation, eager for their reminiscences.

“Although a much more low-key event this year, many people still made the pilgrimage, from all over Europe, eager to honour the sacrifices made on our behalf, all those years ago.”

Jan added: “It was once again a real pleasure to meet and be recognised by John Millin and his wife/

“John is the son of piper, Bill Millin, who was Brigadier Lord Lovat’s personal piper, and who was inspirational in piping ashore the Royal Marine Commando’s on Sword Beach.

“It was also wonderful to see Bill Millin’s grandson carrying on the tradition by piping a lament adjacent to Pegasus Bridge on the bow of a war time motor gun boat.

“Tulip Radio remains committed to our Armed Forces Community Covenant commitment by remembering such brave deeds and it was such a privilege to be part of it.”

A South Holland district councillor is gearing up for an overnight cross-country motorcycle ride in aid of a very worthy cause.

Coun Jim Astill will take part in ‘Sunset2Sunrise’ on Saturday, June 25.

The event, organised by Bikers4Macmillan, sees motorcyclists ride 256 miles from Holyhead in north Wales to Skegness in Lincolnshire.

The challenge gets underway at sunset on the Saturday closest to the longest day of the year and sees participants ride through the night.

Coun Astill, who represents Crowland and Deeping St Nicholas, said: “I’m taking part because I love riding my motorbike and also in memory of a friend, Joyce Bywater, who lost her battle with cancer in 2012. Macmillan provided her family with valuable advice/support.”

This will be the eighth year that Sunset2Sunrise has been held and last year saw a total of 148 riders and 18 pillions take part.

Anyone interested in sponsoring Coun Astill can do so by visiting www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Jim-Astill/. You can also text JIMA71 £10 to 70070 (or replace £10 with another amount.

Adcocks Drinks Company Ltd is seeking outline planning consent for 50 homes on land it owns in Crease Drove, Crowland.

Agents for the company say there are two buildings on the land, with one beyond economic repair due to vandalism and the second in poor condition.

That second building is divided into three units, one occupied by Adcocks with the other two formerly occupied by a charity and a storage company.

An illustrative layout showing 47 homes says there could be 12 two-bedroom properties, 26 three-bedroom properties, six four-bedroom properties and three four to five-bedroom properties, although the housing mix could change.

A design and access statement from the agents says the applicants “propose selling the site at an early opportunity should the council be minded to grant planning approval and a number of developers have already registered an interest in purchasing it”.

The statement also says: “This proposal will contribute towards meeting both local and national aspirations in relation to prioritising brown field land for new development particularly as in the case of South Holland this will not involve the loss of high grade agricultural land or development on land at flood risk which most new housing allocations will do.”

A Spalding store has dropped its appeal against its licence to sell alcohol being taken away after more illegal cigarettes were found there during a police raid.

Nasza Biedronka, of the Sheep Market, had its Alcohol Premises Licence revoked by South Holland District Council on January 29 and immediately appealed the decision, meaning it was able to continue selling alcohol until the appeal was heard.

Sergeant Kim Enderby from Lincolnshire Police’s alcohol licensing team said: “We first bought illegal cigarettes from this shop in an undercover test purchase operation on November 16, 2015. We then executed a number of search warrants on December 2, 2015. Nasza Biedronka was amongst the stores raided and we recovered a large quantity of illegal cigarettes.

“The premises were then taken to a licence review hearing and after assessing all the evidence, the council licensing sub-committee revoked their alcohol licence. The store immediately appealed this decision and unfortunately, under the Licensing Act legislation, they are then allowed to continue selling alcohol until the appeal is heard at magistrates court.

“Whilst awaiting a date to be set for an appeal hearing we received yet more intelligence indicating the store was still involved in the illicit sale of cigarettes so, on March 18 this year, we again conducted a test purchase, and again we were able to purchase foreign labelled cigarettes.

“We were then informed that the appeal hearing would be taking place on June 13, so on June 2 we did yet another test purchase operation where cigarettes were purchased, followed straight after by raiding the shop where even more cigarettes were seized.

“Following this last seizure, the premises informed the council’s legal team that they were withdrawing their appeal. This means that the licence is now revoked and they can no long sell alcohol.

“Lincolnshire Police, the council and other partner agencies remain frustrated that the appeal process within the Licensing Act can be taken advantage of in this way. For a period of eight months this store has been involved in serious criminal activity, despite repeated seizures and the revoking of their licence in January.

“It is often the public perception that little is being done about stores like this, whereas we are all actively taking what action we can under the existing legislation.

“The cigarettes we seized on our last raid were a combination of smuggled goods, where the duty had been evaded, counterfeit goods where cheaply made cigarettes are packaged as a legitimate brand, and fake cigarettes – a pretend brand containing cheaply made cigarettes.

“The fake and counterfeit brands present a real danger to members of the public purchasing them as they have in the past been found to contain human faeces, asbestos and sawdust. They don’t comply with safety regulations as they do not self-extinguish and have been linked to a number of house fires.

“If the price appears too good to be true, that’s because it is. I would appeal to members of the public not to put their health at risk by buying these products and to let us know where these cigarettes are being sold. Lincolnshire Police Alcohol Licensing Team will continue to pro-actively target premises involved in criminal activity.”

A Spalding shopkeeper wants councillors to visit the former Station Gates pub so they can see he is not deliberately flouting their wishes.

Zagros Abdullah was branded “bloody minded” after he replaced a window and brickwork with a new door at the pub, now known as The Corner Shop.

Mr Abdullah says the wider doorway was essential because it was the only way he could get his refrigerated cabinets inside. And, if he puts the building back the way it was, he will have to take out the bricks and the window every time he moves a fridge in or out of the shop.

Original twin doors beside the new doorway lead into an interior brick built lobby, which in turn provides a single doorway into the shop.

Mr Abdullah says the twin doors are useless for bringing in refrigerated cabinets, as are a further stockroom door and an even narrower door at the back of the shop.

Councillors last year threw out Mr Abdullah’s retrospective planning application for the changes.

But Mr Abdullah says he had the work done because a council officer told him it would be all right to go ahead as long as the new door was painted a pale green/grey like the rest – and he made a retrospective planning application to get official consent.

His planning application was then refused by South Holland’s planning committee.

Mr Abdullah’s appeal against the decision failed because, according to the council, he did not supply enough information.

The shopkeeper has put in a new planning application and says he’s willing to replace his new door with “a fixed glazed screen”, even though that will have to be removed when fridges are brought in or taken out of the shop.

A council spokesman said the authority had sent Mr Abdullah an enforcement notice to return the building to its previous appearance, but will now await the outcome of his newly arrived application before deciding any next step.

He said revised plans from the business were required to address the reason for refusal from the original designs. The council had told him to paint the door in the colour that’s there now “but only after he went ahead and installed it” without planning consent.

Previously ...

Retrospective consent likely for changes to former Spalding pub

Spalding trader to fight opposition over shop alterations