A collision between a car with a caravan and a bus partially blocked the A17 near King’s Lynn this morning, Thursday July 7.

Emergency crews were called to the incident just after 7.30am today. The road was partially blocked for nearly two hours.

Police say no-one was injured and no passengers were on the bus at the time.

A surge in membership of political parties in South Holland and the Deepings has come after the recent European Union (EU) referendum, activists are claiming.

Labour, the Liberal Democrats, Green Party and UKIP have all seen rises in the number of people joining them, ranging from four (Green) to 34 (Liberal Democrats) per cent.

The growth in political interest across the area comes after Labour claimed that, nationally, at least 60,000 people had joined the party in the first week after the EU referendum two weeks ago.

Rodney Sadd of South Holland and The Deepings Constituency Labour Party, said: “I have seen attendances grow at our local meetings and membership is looking much healthier at well over 200 people.

“Also, East Midlands Labour Party has reported seeing an increase in numbers during and after the referendum.”

Tim Stevens of South Lincolnshire Liberal Democrats said: “We have experienced a 34 per cent increase in membership since the referendum and applications are still coming in.

“Nationwide, more than 15,000 people have joined the Liberal Democrats in the two weeks since the referendum, taking total membership to over 74,000 – the highest for ten years.”

John Hayter of UKIP said: “We did notice a considerable interest in UKIP during our campaign to leave the EU, but the actual figures are not known yet by our head office.”

Heather Violett of the South Lincolnshire Green Party said it had seen a four per cent rise in membership, with just over 130 members now in South Holland and South Kesteven.

“Green Party membership nationally has increased by 4.5 per cent since the EU referendum, with 2,560 new members and the Green Party of England, Wales and Northern Ireland total membership at 58,971 as of July 4,” Heather said.

“The South Lincolnshire Green Party has seen a four per cent ncrease (5 new members) – not startling but an important trend as membership did fall away slightly after the General Election. SLGP(covering South Holland and South Kesteven) now has 133 members.

1- Year 6 pupils at Spalding’s Ayscoughfee Hall Primary School enjoyed a healthy living session with Spalding-based Elite Sports Academy, which is run by popular local footballer Andrew Tidswell (pictured back, left). Photo (TIM WILSON): SG100616-138TW

2 – Pupils, staff and Deepings Rotary Club members are pictured at the official re-opening of the school outdoor learning area at Linchfield Primary School in Deeping St James. After the area had become overgrown, money was raised through the Friends of the School and a donation from the Rotary Club, which officially re-opened the area. Local firm Deep In Garden helped restore it. Pictured are, back row, from left: Ellie Swan, school outdoor leader Scott Reeve, Kelly Bradley, head Andy Fawkes, Tom Johnson, Sue Titman, Rotary chair Ken Littlemore and Carl Midgley; front Thomas, Poppy, Honey and Nick. (SG240616-102TW)

3– Outgoing Inner Wheel of Spalding president Annie Bagworth is pictured at the Welland Yacht Club in Spalding handing over to joint incoming president Pam Smith, watched by other members. Other joint president Mary Stanford could not be there on the evening. (SG240616-202TW)

4 – Fleet Baptist Church summer fair at the end of June had to move into the church hall to shelter from the rain. Pictured at the cake stall are, from left: Isobel Whitely, Rita Greenslade, Mary Steele, Pam Caccavaley, Margaret Elston, Pastor Ross Dean and Joyce Waterfall. (SG250616-165TW)

5 – Donington Firefighters made a fantastic £.£5007.54 from their 2016 charity calendar. The calendar – which raised money for the Firefighters Charity – was unique in that as well as including Donington firefighters and retired firefighters, it also featured photographs of actual incidents they had attended. A special copy was sent to the Queen, who is patron of the charity and sent an official reply. Our picture shows firefighters’ wives presenting the cheque to watch manager John Scott, front, from left: Cheryl Clark, Michelle Allgood, Jane Inkley, Tanya Holstead, Lacie Holstead, Nicola Burdalll, Station Manager Pete Wiles, Watch Manager John Scott, Janette Scott and Sam Stanhope. (SG260616-200TW)

6 – Pupils at Gosberton Clough and Risegate Primary School enjoyed a visit from Lincolnshire Police recently, including their mascot Bobby Bear. Pictured with Bobby are Niall Rooney, Ellie Burton, Megan Thompson and Louie Gooderson. (SG280616-100TW)

7 – Spalding Blind Social Club celebrated its 40th birthday with a meal at Pinchbeck Village Hall. Members are pictured ready for their feast. (SG300616-134TW)

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

June 15

Lee Allden (40), of Hall Hill Road, Holbeach. Assault (Holbeach). Community order with building better relationships requirement and rehabilitation activity requirement, £85 v/s, £85 costs.

Carlos Oliveira (36), of Dennis Estate, Kirton. Drink driving (Boston). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 12 months.

Grantham Magistrates’ Court

June 8

Robert Holden (28), of Edinburgh Crescent, Kirton. Failed to give driver ID (Nettleham). £300 fine, £30 v/s, £400 costs, 6pts.

Stanislaw Adamczyk (54), of Britannia Gardens, Spalding. Drink driving (Spalding). £300 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 18 months.

Benjamin Fish (26), of Cross Street, Spalding. Possession of cannabis (Spalding). 12 months conditional discharge, £20 v/s, £85 costs, drugs to be forfeited and destroyed.

Denis Snitko (28), of Abbey Road, Bourne. Drink driving (Spalding). £300 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 16 months. No insurance. £300 fine.

George Booth (79), of Lansdown Court, Spalding. Assault (Lincoln). 3 months prison sentence suspended for 12 months. No separate penalty for failing to surrender to custody.

Bethany Crowden (19), of George Avenue, Gedney Drove End. Drink driving (Fleet) and taking a vehicle without owner’s consent (Gedney Drove End). Community order with rehabilitation activity requirement, £60 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 18 months. No insurance. £160 costs. No separate penalty for no MOT and for driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

Haydn Richardson (36), of Marketstead Estate, Kirton. Drink driving (Kirton). £700 fine, £70 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 14 months.

Martin Whitehouse (33), of Lapwater Lane, Holbeach St Marks. Two counts of assault (Spalding). Community order with 100 hours unpaid work, £100 compensation, £85 v/s, £85 costs.

June 13

Gary Radley (57), of Goffsmill, South Bretton. Speeding (Crowland). £235 fine, £24 v/s, 385 costs, 6pts.

Rimvydas Baldyska (41), of Danube Square, Spalding. Failed to give driver ID (Nettleham). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 6 months.

Susan Higgins (66), of Tytton Lane East, Wyberton. Failed to give driver ID (Nettleham 18.9.15). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 6 months. Failed to give driver ID (Nettleham 6.11.15). £660 fine, disqualified from driving for 6 months.

June 20

Callum Clark (20), of Meadow Road, Peterborough. Possession of cannabis (Market Deeping/Uffington). £210 fine, £21 v/s, £85 costs. No separate penalty for possession of cannabis. Drugs to be forfeited and destroyed.

James Cox (21), of Black Prince Avenue, Market Deeping. Used threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour (Market Deeping). £145 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs. Possession of cocaine. £145 fine, drugs to be forfeited and destroyed. No separate penalty for possession of cannabis.

Craig Curtis (24), of Potters Close, Bourne. Used threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour (Bourne). 9 months conditional discharge, £20 v/s, £85 costs.

Jacqueline Lawson (47), of Dovecote, Rippingale. Drunk and disorderly (Grantham). 6 months conditional discharge, £20 v/s, £85 costs.

Alex Exton (21), of Merlin Close, Bourne. Two counts of assault and criminal damage (Bourne). Community order with building better relationships and rehabilitation activity requirements, £85 costs, £80 v/s, compensation £100.

Steina Bishop (44), of Cloven Ends, Langtoft. Committee fraud by dishonestly making false representation, namely making and accepting payment not entitled to (Billingborough). Community order with 100 hours unpaid work, £1197 compensation, £60 v/s, £85 costs.

Lincoln Magistrates’ Court

June 11

Matthew Goring (39), c/o Middlegate Road West, Frampton. Stole handbag worth £150 belonging to TK Maxx (Boston). 12 months conditional discharge, £15 v/s.

June 13

Julie Brown (49), of Winter Way, Wyberton. Driving while disqualified (Boston). 6 months conditional discharge, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts. No insurance. 6 months conditional discharge.

June 14

Freddis Kleins (23), of Haven Meadows, Boston. No insurance (Wyberton). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 6 months.

Christopher Taylor (51), of Leymoor Road, Golcar, Huddersfield. Speeding. £183 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

June 15

Jose Da Silva (34), of High Street, Boston. Driving while using a hand-held mobile phone (Spalding). £95 fine, £20 v/s, 3pts.

David Hicks, Garners Lane, Sutton Bridge. Failed to ensure a tachograph was installed and used (Gedney). £125 fine, £20 v/s, £150 costs.

Skegness Magistrates’ Court

May 5

Sean Cavozzi (21), of Stanton Close, Bourne. Drink driving (Skegness). £250 fine, £25 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 20 months.

May 20

Kotryna Semenaite (25), of Spring Gardens, Spalding. Failed to give driver ID (Nettleham). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

‘See you later, bro’ were the last words Russell Coombes said to his friend before a fatal motorcycle crash in Spalding, an inquest has heard.

Spalding Coroner’s Court was told the 21-year-old’s death occurred as a result of a rear wheel lock-up on West Elloe Avenue which caused him to lose control on December 29.

Senior collision investigator PC Godfrey Barlow told the inquest it could have been caused by either a mechanical failure in the gearbox or through Russell’s actions, such as reacting to an obstacle or corner, as he travelled along just after around 10.15pm. It was not possible to say for certain which one was correct.

PC Barlow estimated that Russell had been travelling on his Yahama at a speed exceeding the 30mph limit but could only place that speed at between 34-54mph. A police investigator tested the bike and found it to lock up once – but he could not replicate the instance, the inquest was told.

A piece of metal was found in the gearbox. Investigators could not determine where it had come from, but they were certain it had not been possible for it to get in during or after the collision.

Eyewitness Henry Alfonso, who was cycling home from work at Bakkavor, described seeing the bike travelling towards him and seeing Russell’s headlight ‘dancing’.

He said: “I thought he was trying to pop a wheelie – it was only later I realised he had lost control.” He described hearing a ‘thud’ before seeking someone to call an ambulance.

Witness statements from local residents also related what had happened. Private CCTV also captured a bike travelling along West Elloe Avenue. It was not possible to confirm it was Russell but the time of the recording made it highly likely.

Russell’s stepfather Ray Edwards told the inquest he did not believe driving ability was a factor. He said: “He was a fantastic rider; he came off a few times but I believe it was more likely the mechanical failure.”

A statement given to police by Russell’s friend Shane Cummings told how the pair had been at his home in Greenrigg Gardens, where they had played on his Xbox and ordered a takeaway.

Shane said he had been his ‘usual self’ and that the pair had not taken any illicit substances or alcohol because ‘Russell wasn’t into that sort of thing’. In his statement, he said that: “Before Russell left, he said ‘see you later, bro’.”

Russell was said to have left his bike and hit a lamppost, while his Yamaha carried on several metres further.

A pathologist report said Russell suffered an unsurvivable skull fracture along with injuries to the ribs and heart.

PC Barlow said he was satisfied that road and weather conditions were not a factor and that there were no other vehicles on the road.

The coroner also heard that although Russell had an A2 motorcycle licence, it was for a 31kw motorcycle – but he was riding a 66.8kw motorcycle.

Russell, who worked at Scania Truckeast, in Lynn, was formerly a cadet with 272 (Wisbech) Squadron ATC.

He had a passion for both bikes and cars, and more than 400 drivers and bikers turned up to his funeral in January.

Yesterday, Coroner Murray Spittle concluded that Russell, whose family home was in Marshland St James, had died as the result of a motorcycle collision.

Did you go to the primary school in Fleet Fen, near Gedney Hill? If so would you like to catch up with fellow ex pupils?

Philip Grummitt, Peter Bingham and Ian Laxton, thought it would be a good idea and initially considered a small get together over a meal.

However, it has now escalated to an evening. The response has been surprisingly positive among people living locally, and several people who moved away have also been in touch with a view to attending too.

There are, however, still people the organisers are trying to trace. For instance, they have been asked if Shirley Beeken is planning to attend, but they have no contact details for Shirley – so if you know where she is now please ask her to make contact.

Open to ex-pupils and their partners, the reunion, which includes a buffet, will take place at Gedney Hill Golf Club on Saturday, September 3. Tickets are £10 – available from Philip on 01406 330858 or 07710348550.

If you would like to come along, or know someone who attended the school then do get in touch with Philip.

Proceeds from the evening will go to East Anglian Air Ambulance who have saved the life of at least one ex-pupil.

Plans are moving forward for an exciting £240,000 high ropes ‘Skytrail’ project at Weston’s Fun Farm.

An application is set to be put in by the end of this month for tourism funding and it is hoped the attraction could open by Easter next 
year.

Plans previously approved for the project have recently been re-submitted to South Holland District Council for a change of location at the Fun Farm for the proposed skytrail.

To provide better access, plans now ask for permission to put the structure at the rear of the Fun Farm rather than the front to allow easier flow for traffic from the main road.

Fun Farm owner Albert Slator said the project would be a boost for tourism in the area with safety paramount.

The ten-metre high structure will provide excitement for anyone over seven years old with different ability and height levels.

Visitors will be able to test their limits as they explore the varied challenges and obstacles, pushing their boundaries through the rope elements encountered on the course.

Mr Slator said: “I think it will be unique for the area. People currently have to travel out to Go Ape (Thetford) or Market Rasen for a similar activity.

“We put in plans for this type of high rope course as we felt it was an attractive system and the safety and size of the attraction fitted the space available.

“It is a unique take on the high ropes structure.”

The project will be seeking funding via the 2014-2020 European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme.

If funding goes ahead it will make a “significant” contribution towards the trail.

Mr Slator added that with safety of the highest standard, jobs will be created to employ trained instructors at the site.

Those taking part in the activity will be equipped with a full body climbing harness fitted with a safety line and puck, which will be checked by trained staff.

They will be able to move around the course at their own speed and ability.

It is believed the facility will benefit other local businesses by increasing visitor numbers to the area.

Youth groups, schools and other groups would be able to benefit from the project.

Mr Slator said: “We also have plans to introduce a tree house party hut to be able to offer tree-top parties indoors.”

TRISH TAKES FIVE: By Trish Burgess

It’s nearing the end of the school year. Teachers are frazzled, children are tired and parents aren’t sure whether to be grateful for six weeks without school runs or fearful of a whole summer having to entertain their little ones.

Just to add more stress to the mix, sports day will be on the agenda. Here are my thoughts, with tongue firmly in cheek, on what you might see at a primary school sports day.

1. Hares. There will be a child in every class who runs like the wind. They are off like a shot from the start but occasionally forget to stop, continuing after the finish line until someone can catch them.

2. Tortoises. Despite shouts of encouragement, they just don’t see the need for speed. They will, of course, happily wave to their families, stopping frequently to do so.

3. Competitive parents. Armed with a stopwatch, their voices can be heard urging their offspring to run faster. They will have been practising for some weeks and know personal bests, lap times and how to stay upright in a potato sack.

4. Big spoons. If the school allows parents to bring their own cutlery for the egg and spoon race, look out for spoons of ladle-like proportions.

5. Blu-tack. To ensure egg stays firmly attached to spoon.

6. Keen dads. Despite saying they don’t really want to be involved, there will be fathers who don running shoes and leap into action, elbowing their mates out of the way.

7. Injuries. Dads running with gusto after no warm-up (see above) are at risk from a sprained ankle, torn hamstring and wounded pride.

8. Unsuitable weather. If it’s scheduled for Wimbledon fortnight it is bound to rain so the event will be cancelled. On the other hand, too much sun and the kiddies will start collapsing from the heat. They may be lathered 
in Factor 50 but there’ll 
still be a spot that gets missed.

9. Arguments. Young children have a habit of slowing down as they reach the finishing line so they often all get there at the same time. This makes deciding on a winner virtually impossible. Cue parental outrage and the submission of photographic evidence.

10. Prizes. Some schools still have winners; others ensure everyone is rewarded. If your child comes home with the ‘best effort’ rosette, you can be sure they’re no Usain Bolt.

You can follow Trish on Twitter @mumsgoneto and read her blog at www.mumsgoneto.co.uk

HAYES IN THE HOUSE: By MP John Hayes

A week or so ago a team of highly paid professionals were defeated by an unfancied side co-lead by a part-time dentist. The dismal failure of the England football squad at Euro 2016 went against everything expert pundits predicted. Iceland -a nation of 330,000 people- beat overwhelming odds to triumph against our country, which invented the sport and hosts its richest league. Yet the result did not lead to a national outpouring of discontent - fans greeted the outcome with stoicism, recognising that England were outplayed by a better team on the night.

Compare the response of England football fans to that of a small minority of EU supporters since their own clear defeat a few days earlier. Some remain in denial about their loss; a handful of commentators have even gone so far as to question the legitimacy of the referendum result on the basis that older voters should not have had a say(!); and we have even witnessed the bizarre spectacle of a Parliament Square demonstration organised by a strange cabal plotting to overturn the will of the British people, addressed by a person claiming to be a Minister of the Crown.

The referendum result has exposed two unpalatable truths about the metropolitan elite. First, that many of its members genuinely believe that they know better than all the rest of us. Second, that their arrogance is unsupported by facts.

The failure of the London-centric chattering classes to anticipate the referendum result, like the crisis now engulfing the Labour Party, epitomises their inability to comprehend the character 
of the country in which they live.

The confusion engulfing London’s opinion-forming chi-chi set does not reflect the country at large. Beyond the reaches of the bourgeois left, people are simply getting on with their lives. Unlike the shrill cries of those who too often dominate 24-hour TV news and social media, ordinary people know that fluctuations in the stock market and the value of Sterling are common, and always will be.

Leave and remain voters alike recognise that Britain is a great country, with a proud history and a prosperous future. Our stable, peaceful and successful nation will carry on much as it always has, for the British are reasonable and practical people who know how to get on with the job.

Firefighters were to called to put out a burning tree stump on fire on Deeping St James last night (Thursday).

A firecrew from Market Deeping attended the incident at around 8.21pm.

Firefighters used a knapsack sprayer to extinguish the stump on Eastgate.

A cause for the fire is unknown.

The Louth Rural Neighbourhood Policing Team is asking residents to keep an eye out for a Volkswagen Beetle - and to call 999 if they see it in motion.

The black Volkswagen Beetle has the vehicle registration mark **06***. No further information is available at this time.

PCSO Sally Hewitt said: “This vehicle has been seen in the Louth area this morning, and may still be local.

“Please call 999 if you see the vehicle moving, quoting incident 78 of July 8.

“For less urgent information regarding the vehicle, please call 101, again quoting the same incident number. Your help in this matter is appreciated.”

The broken down lorry causing trafic congestion is Long Sutton has now been repaired and moved on.

FRIDAY, 11.27AM: Motorists are being advised to avoid the A17 services area around Long Sutton if at all possible.

Spalding Police report that a broken down lorry, combined with mobile road works, is making the area very congested.

Police are appealing for witnesses to an assault in Spalding that happened in the early hours of Saturday morning, July 1 at the Punchbowl Pub in Spalding.

A 26 year-old man was punched and knocked unconscious in the attack at the New Road pub, at 12.15am.

Any witnesses are asked to contact PC Stuart Munro by calling 101 and quoting crime reference 16000179279.

A county-based estate agents is celebrating after the top class exam success of a member of staff.

Formerly a work experience student at property agents Pygott & Crone, Jasper Caudwell (23) has just been awarded a BSc degree after studying part-time at university.

Now Mr Caudwell says he is determined to become a RICS chartered surveyor next year.

His success though comes at a time of concern at what the firm says are low numbers of professional chartered surveyors in the real estate sector.

He said: “Working full-time and studying towards my degree was hard work, but the team at Pygott & Crone has been really supportive and have helped me to progress quickly and apply aspects of my qualification to the real world of work.”

Andrew Bland, partner at Pygott & Crone, which has offices in Spalding, Sleaford and Holbeach, said: “Jasper’s progress has been fantastic. He has achieved so much and his recent achievement is testament to his hard work and commitment.

“Nationally there is a shortage of trained chartered surveyors following the recession, so we are thrilled to have such a talented employee on our team. We have another five trainees working toward the same qualification.”

He added: “Very few graduates achieve the highest possible grade, especially those on day release who are still working full time.

“Now we are supporting him to secure his next goal to become a fully-accredited RICS chartered surveyor, which requires two years of experience.”

Pygott & Crone’s training schemes and university sponsorships aim to make the business an attractive one to new graduates.

As one of the founding members of the Relocation Agent Network (RAN), the team has the opportunity to work as part of a UK-wide network of property agents, further bolstering their sector experience.

An open day to bring people up-to-date with the progress of the plans for a skatepark will be held next week.

The team behind the Dimension Skatepark will hold the event at the Methodist Church Hall, off Hereward Street in Bourne, on Saturday, July 16, between 10am and midday.

Members of the committee have also been door-knocking and speaking to residents around the Abbey Lawn, where the park will be located if it gets the go-ahead, and plan to continue this next week.

Dimension Skatepark is now a registered charity and in the coming weeks, the committee hope to agree a lease with the land owners Bourne United Charities.

The committee also hope to be in a position to submit a planning application before the end of the summer.

Jonathan Budd, from the committee, said: “We are making slow but steady progress.

“Before we submit our planning application we are keen to give everyone who has an interest in the skatepark an opportunity to come and find out more.

“We hope that people will come along to the drop-in session to have their say, ask any questions that they have and hopefully show their support for the skatepark.

“Our surveys with young people and online have shown between 70 and 80 per cent in support, which is important for the application.

“As long as meet the standards for noise, we hope to get a positive outcome.”

In recent weeks, Paul Kirkham from M K Design Associates in Morton has carried out a trial survey of the soil types and water table to make sure the proposed site is viablle.

Larkfleet Homes also funded the drilling of five bore holes and their analysis.

Jonathan said: “The results of both pieces of work have shown that there should be no major issues below ground level when it comes to building the skatepark.

“We have also needed to ensure any nearby trees are not damaged as a result of the skatepark and John Wilcockson, arboricultural consultant, agreed to carry out a tree survey for us at a much reduced cost.

“We are very grateful to all these business for their help.”

The Rotary Club of Bourne and the Bourne and District Lions Club have recently donated £500 each to help the committee with the costs of submitting the planning application. Jonathan said the committee was “very grateful for their support”.

During the drop-in session next Saturday, there will be a chance to see the final design for the skatepark.

Members of the Methodist Chiurch will also be selling refreshments at the same time in support of the church.

To find out more visit www.dimensionskatepark.org.uk or www.facebook.com/BourneDimensionSkatepark.

There has been outcry for campaigners and families at news that NHS England proposes to cease funding for child heart surgery at the nearest unit for Lincolnshire patients.

As part of a national review of services the authority have plans to reduce the number of specialist heart surgery hospitals in favour of concentrating on fewer, more specialist centres as they say the Glenfield heart hospital in Leicester does not meet all the new clinical criteria standards.

Will Huxter, Regional Director for NHS Englands says it is “in the best interests of patients.”

The hospital is used by heart patients and their families from across the Lincolnshire area, with the next nearest set to be Birmingham instead - almost double the travelling time.

The hospital trust is disputing the decision, saying that it disgrees with the conclusions of the review.

John Adler, chief executive at Leicester’s Hospitals, said: “Over the last 18 months we have made excellent progress, with the support of our charities and partner organisations, to meet the standards set by NHS England through the New Congenital Heart Disease Review. We have expanded the number of beds, improved our outcomes, invested in staffing and briefed architects to create a new single site children’s hospital which will meet the co-location standard.

“We are confident that our clinical outcomes are now amongst the best in the country so we strongly disagree with NHS England’s decision and will not sit by whilst they destroy our fabulous service.”

Mr Adler continued: “This progress has all been achieved against a backdrop of many years of uncertainty following the ‘flawed’ decision four years ago to stop Level 1 CHD services in Leicester. It does make me wonder what this service could achieve if NHS England backed these clinicians.”

Mr Adler said the decision could not in any way be in the best interests of patients with congenital heart disease and their families.

The East Midlands Congenital Heart Centre supports 12 Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, (PICU) beds

at Glenfield Hospital which will be lost if NHS England ceases to commission surgical services.

Mr Adler said the viability of the PICU at the Leicester Royal Infirmary would also be compromised as paediatric experts work across both units in Leicester attracted by the diverse caseload. He said the the children’s intensive care would cease to be as attractive a place for clinical teams to work, making it harder to attract and retain staff.

“More children and their families will have to travel further to support one another in a time of crisis,” he said.

With a national crisis in PICU capacity, he said the decision to remove beds from the system and destabilise the remaining Leicester PICU seems “at best misguided and at worst, reckless”. 
He went on: “Without a suitably sustainable children’s intensive care service there will be an inevitable domino effect on other specialist paediatric services which require intensive care capacity to function safely. These include include: children’s general surgery, ear nose and throat surgery, metabolic medicine, fetal and respiratory medicine (for long term ventilated children), children’s cancer and finally our neonatal units. In addition, those neighbouring hospitals currently supported by the specialist teams in Leicester will no longer be able to look for support for their more complex patients from their nearest specialist trust. These include hospitals in Burton, Coventry, Kettering, Northampton and Peterborough.

“You are essentially undermining the vast majority of other specialist services for children in the East Midlands,” Mr Adler warned in his letter to NHS England’s regional director Will Huxter.

He said: “Leicester’s paediatric respiratory ECMO service is the largest in the country accounting for 50 per cent of all capacity nationally. As NHS England is aware, Leicester pioneered ECMO in the UK and as a

consequence there are many children and adults alive today who have our clinicians to thank for a second chance of life. (In fact, survival following respiratory ECMO treatment in Leicester last year was 15 per cent higher than for patients treated elsewhere).

“The EMCHC ECMO unit is also the only unit providing a national transport service which stabilises patients at their local hospital before transporting them to a specialist centre. Obviously the decision to close the Leicester surgical service would also result in the closure of the ECMO service, as the doctors working in one also work in the other. This would mean that decades of experience, knowledge and innovation would be lost.

“When assessing our surgical service NHS England stressed the importance of achieving a certain critical mass of patients. It therefore strikes us as either peculiar or convenient for those making the decisions on our future that this same principle does not apply when considering ECMO.”

He said: “We have invested in our people and our infrastructure and we have a vision to take the service to the next level within a new children’s hospital.”

He questioned why children in Northamptonshire were not treated in their nearest specialist hospital instead of being referred to a centre in Southampton. This would help in achieving the Glenfield achieve the necessary number of cases to reach standards.
He said to Mr Huxter: “For the avoidance of doubt, we reject your stated intention to cease commissioning level 1 CHD services from us and we will use all the means at our disposal to reverse this intention.

Mr Huxter, in informing the hospital trust said there would be local engagement before a change in the service at the hospital.

He said: “We are taking these steps because we believe that they are in the best interests of patients with congenital heart disease and their families, including those yet to be diagnosed who will need these services in future. We believe that by ensuring that all patients across the country are able to benefit from services that meet agreed national standards, the quality of care they receive will be improved.

Police have now issued an appeal for help to find Ryan Young, 19, who has gone missing from Boston.

Ryan was last seen in the town at around 5pm yesterday (Thursday).

A police spokesman said: “Ryan’s family are concerned for his welfare and would like to hear from him, or anyone who has seen him, so they know he is okay.”

He is described as a white man, clean shaven, around 5ft 4ins tall, of slim build and with short, brown crew cut hair, wearing red jeans and a red T-shirt.

The photograph at the station shows clothing worn by Ryan prior to boarding a train at Boston.

This train was destined for Nottingham but is is not known which stop Ryan got off at.

Ryan walks with his arms held out at a distinctive angle.

Anyone who has any information regarding Ryan’s whereabouts is asked to contact Lincolnshire Police on 101 quoting incident reference 465 of July 7.

EARLIER: Concern has been expressed for a teenager from Boston who has not been seen since yesterday (Thursday) evening.

Ryan Young, 19, was last seen at 8pm.

He was wearing red tight jeans, red Arsenal T-Shirt and a blue rain jacket.

Ryan is 5ft 4ins tall and is of slim build.

It is believed he may have been heading to Nottingham.

It has been stressed Ryan is not in any trouble and is asked to make contact with his carer so they know he is safe.

People in South Holland, Bourne and the Deepings are being warning against using unauthorised will-writing companies that charge higher fees than solicitors.

There are concerns that some companies are claiming that if a trust is set up to protect the value of your home, it cannot be used for a means test against care home fees.

However, this is not the case as there are limits to these products which are often called Property Protection Trust Wills or Asset Protection Trusts.

Louisa Harris, senior trading standards officer at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “Residents should be really cautious about companies offering to set up a trust to protect their interest in their own property as a way of avoiding care home fees.

“Such trusts can be easily overturned and challenged legally, especially if care home fees are required soon after the trust has been created.

“If you doubt the legitimacy of any legal services you are being offered, check that they are regulated with the Solicitors Regulation Authority.”

There are also concerns that some unregulated companies may not even be entitled to carry out this type of work.

Pete Sidgwick, assistant director of adult care at the county council, said: “We don’t want people to be put off from seeking the care they need if they have financial worries.

“All councils assess what someone should pay towards their care by looking at all of their financial circumstances, possibly including property in trust. “However, there are lots of ways to pay for your care and it doesn’t necessarily mean selling your home.

“For example, the Care Act introduced deferred payment agreements which means you may not have to sell your home to pay for care in your lifetime.”

People in Bourne, the Deepings and Billingborough can influence development across the area for the next 20 years.

A new Local Plan by South Kesteven District Council (SKDC) will set out priorities for housing and business up to 2036.

Steve Ingram, SKDC’s strategic director for development and growth, said: We have carried out an initial assessment of sites put forward for development but, at this stage, no decisions have been made regarding additional allocations for development.

“This will be for the Local Plan to determine in due course and we welcome comments on all aspects of the consultation.”

Three drop-in sessions will take place at Deepings Community Centre in Market Deeping on July 19 between 2pm and 8pm, Billingborough Village Hall on July 27 from 2pm until 8pm and Bourne Corn Exchange on July 28 between 11.30am and 8pm.

For more details, visit http://www.southkesteven.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=10912

WARD’S WORLD: By John Ward

Being that time of the year, give or take the odd dollop of global warming coming down in bucket loads, I was attempting that process that involves great tenacity, dedicated enthusiasm and copious amounts of time to wander in to bung the kettle on and have a cup of tea, that is called cutting the lawn or if you prefer, grass cutting. It was during a moment of wandering back to the abode to get said kettle on after having done a couple of circuits that a van driver bounded up towards me with his electronic thing in his hand and asked if I was ‘Disa persona ana you leave ‘ere – yes?’ that I replied it was a biga dar ‘No’ from me as in the name was not mine plus also that the one he was looking for, according to the screen of his electronic thing, seemed to use up assorted letters, some more than once, in the alphabet that amounted to eighteen or so depending on how much sunlight (ha.. memories.. sunlight..) was hitting it and viewing it at angles etc. as I pointed out I was less greedy and only used up four letters of the alphabet, and none used twice, but only f-o-u-r of them so quite economical both in ink and speech in the long term.

Then that eagerly awaited “Sherlock Holmes” period then kicked in. ‘Maybee you know wherea I cana find this personer, yes?’ to which I replied once again ‘No’ and I felt I was fast using up my supply of ‘No’s at this rate on just this single transaction.

Undaunted by my feeble response, the unshaven one then went for the Gold Award by asking ‘Maybee youa know wherea disa address his?’ and I thought there is no stopping him, but as he dragged the parcel out from his white van, and we both viewed the address label and I spelt the words and letters out, I suggested he might have better luck as the address, or rather the town, was only a mere nine miles down the road.

It’s at times like this that I realise if a war broke out, Heaven forbid, we could well be safe for a while as the supposed enemy wouldn’t know where we lived so we would have a few days to prepare ourselves, or at least put the kettle on.

It was while this mental agility course was in full swing that, oh how the mind wanders, I remembered another bizarre name and address encounter some years ago.

The (then) Mrs W woke me one morning, early, to say she could hear the door bell chirping away and who could it be? – looking at the bedside clock and seeing it was just gone five o’clock in the morning, I assumed the Avon lady was either keen or lost as we hadn’t seen her in ages. Plan B then. I suggested open the window and see who it was as we slept within a brick or three over the front door and she gently opened it and was greeted with dense fog, lots of, coloured grey and then a voice said: ‘This is the Police! – we advise you to open up’ and the (then) Mrs W said ‘It’s the police!’(?!) my first reaction was I hadn’t ordered any, unless they have taken over the Avon round and keen to get sales going again as in talcum powder in hollow truncheons with the idea of giving a crack over the head bone but you will smell nicer for it afterwards.

So down we went in jimmy jams etc., opened the front door and once inside, the Hi Vis clad equivalent of Ant and the Other One strode in. I was asked my name, date of birth and ‘confirm my address’ (!). I replied that I did not really get into doing quizzes at that hour of the morning. PC Ant replied that it was serious crime I was ‘suspected of being involved in’ to wit the (then) Mrs W looked aghast although in fairness she did other looks as well, depending on the situation in hand. On inquiring as to what heinous crime it was, I was told I ‘should well know’ (?!) so the visit to the bathroom at just gone two o’clock must have been more involved than I gave it credit for.

PC Other One read out from his notebook that I ‘driven my motor vehicle (car) into numerous other vehicles (cars, many of) before coming to a rest in a person’s front garden, while in the process damaging their brick wall, which was not open at the time, and then absconding from the scene of the crime’ and on hearing all this, I thought that visit to the bathroom was indeed more exciting than it appeared and to think I was worried about there being enough bog roll (toilet paper) left on the cardboard holder as my concerns were that there were only five sheets – that is s-h-e-e-t-s - left and not as you may have thought, shots, of paper left. It was only when he said I was the ‘legal registered owner’ of vehicle index number X123 456 that caused this mayhem, which reeked of alcohol I was told as he sniffed around me, that the penny dropped (Exhibit B).

The ‘index number’ (the numbers at the front and back, usually the same but not always..) I knew but I pointed out that I had sold it about a month before to somebody and the documents sent to DVLA Swansea as required to which PC Ant replied: ‘Yes, Sir, they all say that..oh..oh..’

I then motioned I was going into the kitchen and this was greeted by ‘He’s doing a runner!’ as I replied I was in me jim-jams, so hardly plus the backdoor was locked up, with the key in the hallway we were standing in. With PC Other One at my elbow, I furkled through some paperwork in the ‘office (cupboard) and fished some bits out.

I then unfolded said paperwork (Exhibit C). One was a photocopy of the vehicle document (the V5, Exhibit D) with the new owner’s details, written in his own fair hand, copy of the receipt etc. we had both signed and as soon as I read the name out, it seems he was ‘known’ to them as they groaned in unison and pointed out he was ‘bit of a knuckle dragger and a mummy’s boy’ as his mum brought all ‘his toys’ as in cars etc. – he was in his thirties and work shy apparently – so her cheque book would be seeing a bit more action again soon.

So our keen Interseptics apologised, blamed ‘ruddy Swansea again not updating as quick as they should..’ and as I opened the door, it was still foggy, dense, and as they looked at one another, the exchange was priceless. ‘Any idea which end we parked the car then?’ Because they had parked at the end of the road, and walked down it due to the fog, neither could remember which end it was they came from.

As they left, I uttered a ‘Mind how you stumble’ but I didn’t get a Christmas card from either of them that year as I recall.