Magnificent Free Press and Spalding Guardian readers filled nearly 80 shoeboxes with treats as we joined forces with Rotary to spread a little happiness to some of the poorer counties of Eastern Europe.

Editor Jeremy Ransome and David Spenceley, president elect of the Rotary Club of South Holland, were busy loading up the boxes on Tuesday so they could go to a centre in Grantham before being transported to countries such as Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Romania and Bulgaria.

Jeremy said: “Our readers have been truly amazing in the way they have responded to this appeal and we can’t thank them enough for their generosity.

“We know these gifts will mean the world to people who have few belongings to their name and very little in their lives that they can celebrate.

“We’re delighted to help Rotary and delighted these gifts will arrive in time for Christmas.”

David was also bowled over by our readers’ response.

He said: “We appreciate very much all of the efforts that people have put in because we understand that a lot of people who are helping out with shoeboxes are themselves financially squeezed at this time – and that makes their generosity all the more special.

“The appeal has gone very well this year and we are grateful to everyone who helped.”

More than 200 shoeboxes were collected across the Spalding area last year but this year the total is expected to be between 300-400 with Spalding Academy filling nearly 160, and contributions coming from St Norbert’s Roman Catholic Primary, St John’s Primary and Cowbit Primary.

Rotary’s shoebox initiative runs year-round but David says the South Holland club likes to give it a bigger push at Christmas.

Shoeboxes go to children of all ages, teenagers and adults, and are filled with things that we regards as everyday essentials but are real luxuries to some of the poorest people in Eastern Europe.

David said: “It gives them a bit of something at Christmas that they wouldn’t normally get and it helps them to know that people in the UK are thinking of them at Christmas time.”

Items in the boxes usually include things like toys, teddy bears, jigsaw puzzles, writing materials, hats, scarves and gloves, and things for the home.

Previously ...

Please put your gift of love in a Rotary shoebox

Boxes of love from Spalding Academy

Help to spread some joy with Shoebox Appeal

Police are appealing for further witnesses in relation to a fatal collision near Swineshead on Monday.

Officers would like to speak to anyone who saw the collision who has not yet provided a statement. An edlerly couple from Norfolk were killed.

In addition, police would like to speak to anyone who believes they have seen the HGV or the light coloured Volvo travelling on the A17 during any part of their journey prior to the collision at around noon.

Please call 101 with incident reference number 171 of November 6. The officer in charge of the investigation is PC 59 McAvoy in the Serious Collision Investigation Unit.

Note: the Volvo is very light coloured green metallic but has also been described as silver.

The victims of the crash on the A17 at Bicker Bar yesterday (Monday) are a couple in their 80s from Norfolk.

They were driving a green Volvo that collided with a HGV. Next of kin have been informed.

The road remained closed until 9pm.

UPDATE MONDAY 4.20PM: Two people die in crash on A17 at Bicker Bar

Two people have died after a two-car collision on the A17 at Bicker Bar roundabout, near Swineshead, earlier today.

It happened just after noon when emergency services, including an air ambulance, where called to an area near the Supreme Inns hotel.

The road is expected to be closed until midnight, according to Lincolnshire Police, and drivers are asked to avoid the area.

MONDAY 2.30PM: ‘Serious’ crash on A17 near Swineshead

East Midlands Ambulance Service sent two vehicles and a paramedic to the Bicker Bar Roundabout, near the A17/A72 junction, where the cars collided just after noon today.

However, there were no reports of anyone having been taken to hospital.

MONDAY 12.50PM: ‘Serious’ crash on A17 near Swineshead

Emergency services are at the scene of what Lincolnshire Police describe as “a very serious collision” on the A17 near Swineshead.

The crash took place at Bicker Bar roundabout, on the A17/A52 junction, shortly after noon.

There are no details yet as to the vehicles involved or casualties but motorists are asked to avoid the area and follow diversions as the road is likely to be affected for some time.

More information will be reported as soon as it becomes available.

Tony Worth, the Holbeach Hurn farmer who went on to be the Queen’s representative in Lincolnshire, has died at the age of 77.

Mr Worth, who was also High Sheriff of Lincolnshire from 1990 until 1991 and a former University of Lincoln governor, passed away of Thursday after a short battle with cancer.

Married to wife Jenny for 53 years, Mr Worth was a familiar face at Remembrance Sunday observances and other official engagements, including the official opening of Pinchbeck’s Johnson Community Hospital by the Princess Royal in January 2010.

Among those paying tribute to Mr Worth were the Right Honourable Lord Taylor of Holbeach CBE who said: “I was deeply saddened to hear of Tony’s death as he was a leading farmer, a distinguished member of our community, a great person to know and a good friend.

“He died before his time and Tony will be sorely missed by us all.

“Our thoughts are with Jenny and his family at this sad time.”

Coun Martin Howard, Chairman of Holbeach Parish Council, said: “Tony was a person of the town of Holbeach who everyone admired because he was right at the forefront of everything that went on in Holbeach.

“He will be a sad loss to the town of Holbeach and there will never be anyone to take his place.”

• What are your memories of Tony Worth? Post your tributes here, on Facebook or email winston.brown@iliffepublishing.co.uk

Queen’s man in county to retire from her service

Chatterton Water Tower in Spalding was lit up to mark the completion of its recent renovation by Anglian Water.

It took six months to completely repaint the 4,000m2 surface of the tower, using 10,000 litres of paint and 3,500m2 of wrapping to protect the surrounding buildings from paint droplets.

The tower is one of hundreds across the Anglian Water region... but few are local landmarks right in the centre of town.

The water tower keeps taps flowing by providing a steady, secure store of clean drinking water for 22,000 properties in Spalding and the surrounding rural area.

It can hold 3,400,000 litres of water which it pumps to nearby homes and businesses at a rate of 60 litres per second. It’s an essential part of the water supply network, providing both water storage and pressure for customers.

Anglian Water promised to carry out the work to renovate the landmark after discussions with South Holland District Council back in 2015, and the project is now completed.

Regan Harris from Anglian Water said: “We knew this project was important to the people of Spalding and we listened to what they had to say.

“We’re excited the project has now been completed and the tower has been restored to its former glory.

“To mark the occasion we lit the building up for the local community to see.”

Children in Year 1 and 2 at Market Deeping Community Primary School swasbuckled their way through the school day, making treasure maps, hunting for the hidden loot, danceing a jig and performing pirate shanties in front of the rest of the school.

The pirates, and the occasional mermaid, had a wonderful day as part of their pirate-focused learning this term. The treasure maps were made out of pizza which they enjoyed as part of their Pirate Feast at the end of the day.

Police say Operation Galileo activity was successful in disrupting what they believe was intended to be a major hare coursing event in the county yesterday (Thursday).

According to officers, calls from the local community enabled them to be in the area with equipment before any hare coursing activity began.

They say, therefore, that no arrests were made; however, a number of offences were committed by individuals as they attempted to leave the scene, including driving across fields and failing to stop.

One fail to stop incident resulted in minor damage to a police vehicle. There were no injuries.

However, there has been criticism from a number of landowners and farmers who witnessed the events.

One said: “These hare coursers totally disregard the law. They seemed to run rings around the police.”

Another said: “The police had all the equipment out, including a drone but the hare coursers have absolutely no regard for the law.

“I know one farmer who won’t leave his property because he is scared of hare coursers.”

Chief Inspector from Lincolnshire Police, Jim Tyner, said: “We recognise the disruption and fear that hare coursing and rural crime causes our rural communities, which is why we have invested in new vehicles and equipment.

“We have regular Days of Action when we place extra resources in a locality over and above the normal response levels.

“On Thursday morning we very quickly became aware of a significant number of calls relating to hare coursing vehicles in the Deeping St Nicholas, Tongue End and Baston area.

“We were quickly in the area and several vehicles made off from officers.

“Some of these vehicles were driven dangerously to get away from officers.

“In all types of incidents we have to balance the safety of members of the public and the safety of officers with our desire to catch criminals.

“Each incident is considered on its own merit. Sometimes a pursuit will be continued. However, when appropriate, we will not continue a pursuit.

“We acknowledge that this can be frustrating for the officers involved and for our rural community who want us to take positive action, however the safety of all those involved must remain paramount.”

As part of an ongoing enquiry into offences on Thursday, police are asking drivers to check any dash cam footage to see if they may have captured footage of any of the following vehicles in the following areas:

• A red Subaru Forrester (registration HF51XKK) in the Tongue End and Deeping St Nicholas area;

• A blue Honda CR-V (V406RCA) in the Tongue End, Pode Hole and Baston area;

• A Green Subaru Forrester in the Donington area;

A blue Suzuki Vitara (Y134LRF) in the Great Hale area.

Anyone with information is asked to call 101 and request that the details are passed to Chief Inspector Jim Tyner.

Aptly-named Rotary Club of the Deepings chairman John Slimmon is carrying out a sponsored slim to raise money to help schoolchildren in Nepal.

John hopes to lose three stone by June 30 next year in his Remote Village Trust Appeal.

Fellow Rotarians are sponsoring John and Empire Gym in Church Street, Market Deeping is also supporting his efforts.

Funds raised will help provide solar panels at a school in a remote area of Nepal, allowing the children to have the use of an e-Library to further their education.

More drivers from South Holland have been involved in crashes after drinking booze or using drugs than anywhere else in Lincolnshire, shocking new figures reveal.

Over the period 2012-2016, the number of people from South Holland who were either at the wheel or casualties in crashes was more than double the national average and over 15 per cent above the level for Lincolnshire’s other six districts.

The alarming figures were unveiled at the first-ever Lincolnshire Roads Summit in Grantham on Friday, hosted by Police and Crime Commissioner Marc Jones.

South Holland also came out worst for the number of 16-24-year-olds involved in crashes during the five-year period concerned, with one senior police officer highlighting alcohol and drugs as a common factor.

Superintendent Phil Vickers, policing commander for South Holland, Boston and East Lindsey, who was at the summit, said: “I am concerned by the number of younger drivers who are being arrested for drink/drug driving.

“For many years, it was the case that driving under the influence of either drink or drugs was seen as an older person’s offence and you got the feeling that younger drivers understood it was unacceptable.

“But we’re now seeing an increase in the number of younger drivers arrested for driving offences involving drink or drugs and the Road Safety Summit was a really positive experience for us as it highlighted some of the ways we can try to work innovatively in the future.”

The figures, prepared by Oxfordshire-based Road Safety Analysis Ltd, showed that between 2012 and 2016, more than 200 people from South Holland were involved in crashes that were drink or drug-related.

This compares with nearly 160 casualties from the Boston Borough area, less than 100 from South Kesteven (including Bourne and the Deepings) and the national average of 100.

Richard Owen, chief executive officer of Road Safety Analysis Ltd, said: “We used the home postcode of either casualties or drivers, instead of looking at the crash sites, using the seven districts of Lincolnshire.

“It was interesting that drivers from South Holland tend to be involved in collisions where they have been drinking or where someone is injured at a rate which is much higher than other districts in Lincolnshire.

“The numbers are significantly higher for South Holland which averages out at over 15 per cent more people who have not only been caught drink-driving, but who have had a crash that has injured another person.

“It’s quite worrying for an area with a comparatively small population that the injury rate for intoxicated drivers is more than double the national average and the figures for young drivers from South Holland comes out particularly high as well.”

For the period examined, 208 people from South Holland aged between 16 and 24 were involved in crashes, compared with 172 in Boston, 129 in South Kesteven and just 83 in Lincoln City.

Coun Nigel Pepper, Crowland county councillor and a former retained firefighter who was also at Friday’s summit, said: “I was invited to this event by the Police and Crime Commissioner which I duly attended.

“Whilst it’s important to note that all the casualty data is based on home postcodes, rather than the collision location, it’s most disappointing to learn that South Holland is home to the worst cases of intoxicated drivers and young adult road casualties in the whole of Lincolnshire.

“Also, our area came out second worst for speeding drivers which is not surprising to me as I hear this at all the parish council meetings I attend in my area.

“I trust that the police who were in attendance at the event on Friday will take note of these figures and distribute their resources accordingly.”

Drink-driver cannot explain actions after ‘moment of madness’

Stole car and crashed it into house and garden

PRIDE evening for award-winning South Holland police sergeant

Thieves struck twice during the same night when a sat nav, phone and bicycle were stolen from separate addresses in Market Deeping.

The sat nav and phone were taken from a vehicle in Tattershall Drive between 8.30pm on Sunday and 7am on Monday.

Meanwhile, a bicycle was stolen from a garage in Cromwell Way between 11.30pm on Sunday and 9.30am on Monday.

Anyone with information should call Market Deeping Police Station on 101, quoting incident(s) 112 (Cromwell Way) and/or 119 (Tattershall Drive) of November 6.

You can also call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

A Donington community centre is teaming up with health centres in Kirton and Swineshead to spread the word about pancreatic cancer.

The Ruby Hunt Centre, opposite Donington’s St Mary and the Holy Rood Church, has set up an information table to mark Pancreatic Cancer Awareness month.

Margaret Kenworthy, centre manager, said: “It’s a very busy centre where many people come and go so they can pop something in the collection box to support Pancreatic Cancer Awareness month.”

A similar campaign to help raise awareness of pancreatic cancer, the fifth most common form of the disease in the UK, according to the charity Cancer Research.

Information tables can also be found at Swineshead and Kirton Medical Centres, while both St Peter and St Paul’s Church, Kirton, and the village’s medical centre will be shining a purple light during the month of November.

The church is having a coffee morning on Saturday from 10am until 12.30pm for Pancreatic Cancer Action and Action for Noel.

Lord Porter of Spalding calls for improved funding for pancreatic cancer research

Knitted chicks on sale in Spalding

Classic contribution to Holbeach Hospital

Plans to replace a wall with a house next to a listing building in Moulton have been branded as an attempt to make “financial gain”.

Parish councillors voted to object to plans by villager Jonathan Barnett to build a new home in High Street opposite the grade-II listed Manor House in Moulton’s conservation area.

Leading the objections, Moulton Ward councillor Abigail Walters said: “They are proposing to take out a wall and squeeze another house into the back garden area, opposite The Manor House which is a listed building.

“I think it will impact on the heritage aspect of the village to make financial gain for the the owner.

“They have prepared a three-page heritage statement, but I don’t think they have properly addressed the historical aspect of the village, in heritage terms, and I can’t see what the point of the new house is.”

The statement, prepared by Weston Hills-based architects TAC on behalf of Mr Barnett, said: “There is an opportunity to make better use of available land to provide a new (home) within a good-sized plot and in a sustainable position.

“It has been seen that every effort has been made to ensure that the development has the minimal impact on the listed property and it is contended that the proposal is of benefit, not only to the site but also to Moulton.”

However, parish council chairman Coun Simon Meade back the successful proposal to object and said: “There’s got to be a point in planning where you stop certain things from being built.”

• The task of grass cutting in Moulton, Moulton Chapel and Moulton Seas End looks set to be handed over to South Holland District Council, with a bill of just over £750 a year.

Parish councillors reached a conditional agreement for up to ten cuts a year across the three villages on the basis that a cheaper alternative will not become available elsewhere.

Individually, the grass cutting bill for Moulton will total nearly £440 annually, £259 for Moulton Seas End and just over £65 for Moulton Chapel, against an existing budget of just £500.

• Month-on-month crime figures for The Moultons showed a jump in reported violent cases from none to two between September and October.

A report from Spalding Rural East PCSO Naomi Newell read out at Tuesday’s meeting also showed two cases of anti-social behaviour, four road crashes, four thefts and one burglary in October.

• A new parish councillor is needed in Moulton Seas End after the resignation of Suzanne Thorpe after 18 months in the role.

Mrs Thorpe, who started the Moulton Seas End Good Company group for elderly villagers in March this year, stood down for personal reasons.

Members voted to send a letter of thanks to Mrs Thorpe who joined the council in May 2016.

• The 1st Moulton Guides group can buy new arts and craft equipment for its meetings after a grant of £100 was pledged by parish councillors.

Guide leader Lucy Dean appealed to the council for financial help and parish council chairman Coun Simon Meade, said: “We always talk about helping young people in the village and this is a good cause.”

Your views on dog fouling, farmers, Brexit and Morrisons

This would not solve the fouling problem

I am a responsible dog owner and so are all my dog walking colleagues and we all enjoy Cinder Ash Park in Long Sutton. It is incredibly frustrating that a thoughtless minority are potentially spoiling it for the rest of us. Surely the enjoyment of the local parks should be for everyone, especially as we all contribute to the park’s upkeep through our council tax.

There must be a better solution, like a dog warden (which I have never seen yet) rather than banning dogs altogether.

I feel that if this proposed ban goes ahead then it won’t solve the dog fouling problem as the minority will simply walk their dogs around the streets, leaving the mess on the pavements.

Karen Burgess

Long Sutton


Loose loads made a sticky mess of my car

I would like to bring attention to the farmers that had large tractors pulling large trailers full of loose shredded vegetation like maze (sweetcorn) along the A16 from the Cowbit area to Crowland.

I came up behind two such loads at about 6.30pm on Tuesday, October 31, travelling south between Cowbit and Crowland.

The loose loads were not covered and a heavy shower of the loose load was coming from the rear of the trailers – through a heavy snow storm.

The loads should have been netted, and further more one of the trailers did not have a working flashing orange lamp at the rear. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to take a registration number from either unit.

I had to stop Peterborough side of Crowland to clear the sticky mess from my headlamps and front screen.

John Hutchinson

Bottisham, Cambridge


Disadvantages of ‘no deal’ are way too many to mention

B Harland (Readers’ View, November 2 Spalding Guardian) argues the EU “is not prepared to move on Brexit negotiations” and we should “be prepared to go it outside the EU”, with “no deal”. This will mean an acrimonious divorce from the world’s largest, wealthiest, most successful free trade area, just to rely on World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules instead.

This line of thinking stands in stark contrast to the promises Brexiteers were making in order to woo voters last year. Voters were promised the “sunny uplands” of prosperity after Brexit, based on a free trade deal with the EU that will be the “easiest in human history”, “the EU needs us more than we need them”, “we can have our cake and eat it”, “we’ll get the exact same terms” and – as added bonus – we’ll have “£350 million a week” extra to spend on the NHS.

As we now know, all these assertions were untrue. So, let’s take a quick look at some relevant facts.

If the UK leaves the EU with “no deal”, we will instantly: lose preferential trading agreements affecting 71.1 per cent of our current exports in goods and services; have the same trading status as Mauritania (the only country in the world currently trading exclusively on WTO rules); and have no approved WTO trading ‘schedules’ in place by Brexit on March 29, 20 19.

This outcome, in tariff terms, is conservatively estimated to cost us between 5.1-7.7 per cent of national Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In contrast, annual EU membership costs 1.1 per cent of total government spending, from which we receive huge benefits.

The disadvantages of a “no deal” Brexit are way too many to list. So, let’s take a look at just one example affecting everyone – food prices. Minette Batters, deputy president of The National Farmers’ Union (NFU), has recently said switching to WTO rules will predictably increase UK food prices by 12 per cent on average and by over 25 per cent for poorer families (given their higher proportion of weekly expenditure on food). Incidentally, this prediction excludes sundry adverse factors, such as extra costs of customs administration, delayed lorries, wasted produce, declining value of the pound, etc.

How can any Brexiteer conceivably say this constitutes the “sunny uplands” of prosperity post-Brexit?

Alan Meekings

Holbeach

Another entrance would be best

I was at the Pinchbeck Parish Council meeting where the home delivery service proposals were approved (see story on page 4).

I think this is a good idea as it enables non-car owners to shop and perhaps even car owners will realise that using a multi drop service will result in less carbon emissions, something we all have a duty to do given the current scientific evidence.

I did mention that I have e mailed Morrisons asking them to consider applying for another entrance whilst land is still available as even with current traffic levels the Wardentree roundabout becomes blocked. One of the other councillors also thought this was a good idea.

I have not yet had a reply from Morrisons but I shall put a personal comment on the planning application and trust the planners, given they know the future growth of traffic resulting from other current plans, will act on this suggestion.

Douglas Dickens

Pinchbeck Parish 
Councillor

Reuniting lost shipmates from years ago

Many of your readers would have served in the Royal Navy and having left, possibly quite some time back, are now missing the camaraderie they had with their old shipmates. To relive that camaraderie and possibly meet up with their old shipmates, they should get the monthly mailing list of ‘Royal Navy Reunions’, giving the dates, which HM Ship’s Association, where it is being held and who to contact. Have a look at www.rnshipmates.co.uk and check out the ‘Reunions’ section, there are currently well over 30.

Reunions listings are available by emailing royalnavyreunions@gmail.com See where the reunions are being held, and then find out what is included; such as a visit somewhere, a gala dinner, the ‘traditional’ tot of rum on most of them. Of course the wives and partners are not forgotten; they meet up at the reunions and have a good time too!!

What does it cost? .... NOTHING. Nothing because the reunion listings are all collected, compiled and then sent out by email. There are no subscriptions or donations. But more important, it is also thanks to the hundreds of local newspapers, just like this one and others throughout the UK for printing my letters and subsequently reuniting ‘Lost Shipmates’.

Mike Crowe

via email

Previously...

Last week’s letters

HAYES IN THE HOUSE: By MP John Hayes

Lincolnshire’s food and farming sector is our most important industry. It accounts for perhaps a third of the county’s jobs and what is produced fills shelves of shops throughout the nation. We are home to the national centres for fish processing, food logistics and – in South Holland in particular – the fresh produce industry.

So, last week, with great pride, I hosted the Food Board of the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership for a reception in the House of Commons. Board members, local businesses, representatives of the University of Lincoln and Lincolnshire MPs, gathered to discuss what is needed to support and build local firms and thus the local economy.

Leaving the European Single Market and the Customs Union will provide the basis for Britain to capitalise on the benefits global free trade can bring to all consumers. We have already seen the willingness of countries around the world – Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, the United States and others – to sign new post-Brexit agreements with us.

We are thus well placed to flourish in the years ahead and must recognise that no deal on trade is far better than a deal which ties the UK into the European regulatory framework, stifling our chances to prosper.

Hand in hand with this, we must, of course, continue to support farmers and growers with fair rewards for their work as food producers, guardians of the countryside and custodians of the natural environment. The first priority for our rural economy is to increase food production. We should grow and make here in the UK more of what we consume. A key to this lies in innovation and new technology. Put straightforwardly, the future of farming must be less labour-intensive.

Once again, Lincolnshire is leading the way, both in industry – with our developing Food Enterprise Zones – and in academia. From automation to bio-technology to vertical farming, we must be alive to the opportunities innovations offer farmers to enhance their businesses, so allowing consumers to continue to enjoy superb produce. All of this can be done whilst conserving and nurturing the natural environment on which our futures depend.

I am confident that we can look forward to sustainable, highly efficient and environmentally-conscious farming remaining at the beating heart of our local economy, and putting food on our tables for years to come.

Previously...

So much more than the pantomime of PM’s questions

Reader Neville Woodthorpe brought in this old photo that he found of his daughter Clare Darnes (nee Woodthorpe).

She was being crowned Miss Girl Guide 1978 in Sutton St James by Fred Hoyles.

A Lincolnshire farmer, Hoyles was the Wimbledon tennis referee-in-chief from 1976-1982 at the height of the Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe era. He retired in 1990 and died in 2004, aged 80.

• It was announced that the Olympic Torch would pass through five South Holland towns and villages ahead of the 2012 Olympic Games.

Holbeach, Long Sutton, Moulton, Spalding and Whaplode all vowed to savour the excitement of the occasion, with torchbearers making their way through as part of the 70-day, 8,000-mile route, which ended at London’s Olympic Stadium.

Three-time Olympian Geoff Capes, born in Holbeach, welcomed the news.

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.

Lincoln Magistrates’ Court

September 21

Serge Ambaa (36), of Oriole Drive, Cringleford, Norfolk. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £146 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Norbert Barany (25), of Delgate Avenue, Weston. Failed to give driver ID (Lincoln). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Jurgita Dagiene (40), of St Thomas Court, Long Sutton. Speeding (Long Sutton). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Trevor Davis (46), of West Drove South, Gedney Hill. Speeding (Crowland). £96 fine, £30 v/s, £40 costs, 3pts.

Joanne England (32), of St Swithins Close, Bicker. Speeding (Boston). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Sharon Foster (38), of High Road, Whaplode. Failed to give driver ID (Lincoln). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Przemyslaw Gliniecki (37), of Piccard Drive, Spalding. Speeding (Sutterton). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Sylwia Jurkouska (34), of Sandholme Lane, Frampton. Speeding (Leverton). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Rimvydas Kazokaitis (32), of Grevel Close, Spalding. Failed to give driver ID (Lincoln). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Laura Krusnauskaite (35), of Waterden Close, King’s Lynn. Speeding (Whaplode). £58 fine, £30 v/s, £12 costs, 3pts.

Claire Maitland (39), of Edinburgh Drive, Spalding. Speeding (Whaplode). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Vetrichelvan Murugaiyan (37), of Mayday Road, Croydon. Speeding (Spalding). £70 fine, £30 v/s, 3pts.

Lydia Neilan (67), of Lincoln Road, North Hykeham. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Stephen Oxley-Bryan (34), of Borrowdale Close, Carcroft, Doncaster. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £100 fine, £30 v/s, 3pts.

Sandro Silva (38), of Albert Crescent, Hampton Vale, Peterborough. Speeding (Crowland). £245 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Andrzey Sliwa (28), of Juniper Crescent, Spalding. Speeding (Sutterton). £100 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Amanda Vines (47), of Oak Square, Crowland. Speeding (Spalding). £440 fine, £44 v/s, £85 costs, 5pts.

Gary Wells (52), of Oakwood Avenue, Dunstable. Speeding (Crowland). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

September 25

Robert Carter-Surridge (30), of Snaith Avenue, Fosdyke. Failed to comply with indication given by solid white line road marking). £125 fine,£30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

John Merrell (70), of Sunnyside Park, Worcester. Speeding (Langtoft). £150 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 28 days.

September 26

Elizabeth Youngs (54), of Union Street, Holbeach. Drink driving (Holbeach). Community order with alcohol treatment requirement and rehabilitation activity requirement, £150 fine, £85 v/s, disqualified from driving for 60 months.

Darius Alcauskas (48), of Barge Close, Spalding. Speeding (Crowland/Cowbit). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Ciprian Vanea (52), of Cross Street, Spalding. Speeding (Spalding). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Josephine Connors (28), of Baulkins Drove, Sutton St James. Failed to give driver ID (Lincoln). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Katie Eley (40), of Westbourne Gardens, Spalding. Speeding (Cowbit). £165 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Adam Epton (33), of Victory Gardens, Crowland. Failed to give driver ID (Lincoln). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Mark Fisher (51), of Badger Lane, Bourne. Failed to give driver ID (Lincoln). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Edward Garrington (20), of North End, Swineshead. Failed to give driver ID (Lincoln). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Laurentiu Llie (26), of Paynels, Orton Goldhay. Speeding (Cowbit/Crowland). £230 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Aaron Meehan (36), of Wiltshire Road, London. Speeding (Crowland). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Leany Panton (31), of Main Road, Mavis Enderby. Speeding (Crowland/Cowbit). £140 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Vasilijs Sidorovs (39), of Cotton Road, Boston. Speeding (Whaplode). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Sharla Slayven (39), of High Road, Weston. Speeding (Crowland). £146 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Liam Swepstone (19), of St Marks Road, Holbeach St Marks. Defective tyre (Holbeach). £80 fine, £30 v/s, 3pts.

Neil Wallace (41), of Crabtree Road, Wigan. Speeding (Cowbit). £40 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Les Wheeler (52), of Belsize Avenue, Woodston. Speeding (Spalding). £70 fine, £30 v/s, 3pts.

Leonie Wilmot (30), of Marigolds, Deeping St James. Speeding (Spalding). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

September 28

Steven Stapleton (22), of Crowhurst, Werrington. Drink driving (Bourne). £350 fine, £35 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 20 months.

Clint Elliott (37), of Main Road, Baston. Stole Teng tool kit worth £188.40 belonging to Equip (Market Rasen). £188.40 compensation. Stole padlock worth £34.68 belonging to Mole Country Stores (Market Rasen). £34.68 compensation.

Keith Duff (31), of Queens Road, Spalding. Drink driving (Lincoln). £340 fine, £34 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 15 months.

Mindaugas Adamonis (51), of Low Road, Spalding. Speeding (Crowland). £153 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Aleksandr Aleksejenko (30), of Ollard Avenue, Wisbech. Speeding (Whaplode). £440 fine, £40 v/s, £85 costs, 4pts.

Martin Baines (37), of Station road, Saffron Walden. Speeding (Crowland). £107 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Tracey Bates (50), of Donington Road, Horbling. Speeding (Whaplode). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Daniel Bourne (27), of Main Road, Benington, Boston. Speeding (Whaplode). £300 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Plans to change Friday market day in Long Sutton by closing two town centre streets are to be discussed at a public meeting next week.

Long Sutton Parish Council has called the meeting, at the town’s Baptist church in West Street on Tuesday, November 14 at 7pm, to discuss plans to close both Market Street and West Street to traffic on market days due to safety fears.

South Holland District Council was advised by its environmental services department that “the health and safety of Long Sutton’s market is not good and the risk to pedestrian and trader health and safety is high”.

Long Sutton’s three district councillors have already been consulted on the move, one of three options considered by the district council.

Alternative options were to move the market to a “safer, non-vehicle movement area” or to end on-street Friday trading in Market Place completely, according to a letter from the district council seen by the Lincolnshire Free Press.

The letter, sent to parish councillors, said: “The safe operation of Long Sutton market has been the cause of concern to the Environmental Services Department of South Holland District Council for some time.

“The close proximity of moving vehicles to pedestrians, traders and customers as the market is put up, during trading hours and while stalls are dismantled being the major issue.”

If the plans go ahead, Market Place and West Street would be “barriered off to traffic on market days to create a better and safer layout for the market”.

A message on social media from district councillor Andy Tennant said: “In my personal opinion, the market is an essential part of Long Sutton life and tradition so any changes need to be given full and careful consideration.

“I do not think there are any ‘easy options’ but my initial thoughts on the road closure would include worries about the alternative route traffic would take, particularly at school times, around Bull Lane and Swapcote Lane.

“In addition, the effect on businesses in the town and, less importantly, would this effectively kill the atmosphere of market day in Long Sutton?”

Derelict hotel put on the market with fresh call for ‘cooperation’

Conversion plan for historic town house

Rate relief pleas by Suttons’ area gains pace after MP intervention

GAME REVIEW: THE EVIL WITHIN 2 (X1/PS4/PC), PEGI Rating: 18, OUT NOW

Patience is the key to this excellent survival-horror sequel – because if you put the time in this is a truly rewarding scarer.

The follow up builds on the solid grounds laid by the original as your protagonist Sebastian descends into a nightmarishly twisted world, and by the time you’ve worked your way through this terrifying playground – whether going in all guns blazing or by crossbow-utilised stealth – you’ll definitely know you’ve been through the ‘ringer’.

It won’t win any awards for scripting, but this ‘evil’ will leave your heart pounding – and that’s the by far and away the main ingredient a horror game requires.

By Gavin Miller – Rating: 4/5

FILM REVIEW:

MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (12A)

SHOWCASE CINEMA DE LUX PETERBOROUGH, OUT NOW

CAST: KENNETH BRANAGH, JOHNNY DEPP, MICHELLE PFEIFFER, DAISY RIDLEY, WILLEM DAFOE, JUDY DENCH, JOSH GAD, PENELOPE CRUZ, LESLIE ODOM JR, TOM BATEMAN, DEREK JACOBI, MANUEL GARCIA-RULFO, SERGEI POLUNIN, LUCY BOYNTON, MIRANDA RAISON, MARWAN KENZARI & OLIVIA COLMAN

RUNNING TIME: 1 HR 54 MINS

DIRECTOR: KENNETH BRANAGH

Despite a stellar cast this lavish remake of the 1974 original never finds the killer touch.

Kenneth Branagh – who also directs – takes on the mantle of the world’s most famous detective Hercule Poirot in this star-studded blockbuster, but it never really comes together despite nuggets of intrigue and a noteworthy twist ending.

Based on one of Agatha Christie’s most infamous novels, a train ride housing some of society’s high-rollers unfolds into a suspenseful mystery when thirteen stranded strangers all become suspects after a fellow passenger is murdered on the luxury locomotive – leaving fellow traveller Poirot as the man to solve the puzzle before the murderer strikes again.

Branagh himself never really nails the eclectically-moustached Poirot like his predecessor David Suchet did – with his accent sometimes inaudible and the Belgian detective’s subtle humour sometimes failing to hit the mark as intended.

But despite it’s stellar cast, only Michelle Pfeiffer’s (Batman Returns) socialite Caroline Hubbard, Josh Gad’s (The Beauty and the Beast) assistant Hector MacQueen and Daisy Ridley’s (Star Wars: The Force Awakens) governess Mary Debenham, get the spluttering of screen time required to make an impact.

Outside of them and Branagh, the rest of the actors involved battle to make an impactful presence in their minimal allotted time to try and make you actually care for their characters.

Sadly there’s not one in the entire film that you will root for, as this meanders in no more than third gear from one scene to the next.

It’s not completely a damp squib, but you get the impression that Branagh thinks the film (including his iteration of Poirot) is actually cleverer than what it is – and despite a relatively decent pay-off never really comes together into one coherent piece.

Which leaves this disappointingly de-railing from the tracks despite all the talent that should have made this a more memorable ride.

Rating: 2.5/5

Gavin Miller

MAN’S BEST FRIEND: By the South LIncs centre of Jerry Green Dog Rescue

Santa doesn’t visit our rescue dogs at Christmas, but you can.

Each year we run a shoe box appeal from our centres to ensure every dog that comes through our doors in December receives a Christmas present.

This is a great appeal to get involved in for all the family, co-workers and even schools.

All you need to do is find a shoe box or any box really, fill it full of toys and treats for our dogs and wrap it up.

We give them to the dogs to open throughout the Christmas period and any dog that is with us on Christmas day has a great time opening boxes donated by generous Santas.

You can make one up for a specific dog or dog breed – just take a look at our website to see who we have in – or make one suitable for any rescue dog. Our dogs have even put together a little Christmas wish list of the types of things they would like to receive:

• Meaty treats

• Hot dogs

• Squeezy cheese

• Tennis balls

• Squeaky toys

• Teddies

• Harnesses

• Collars

• Leads

Last year for the first time we saw lots of work places get involved, as they just got a bigger box and everyone brought something in each.

It’s a great little project for the kids to get involved in too as it feels great knowing that they are going to make a rescue dog’s tail genuinely wag.

What is great about this appeal too is that you can deliver it to the centre and we will do our best to let you meet a rescue dog to say thank you for your kindness.

DOG OF THE WEEK – MINNIE

Minnie has a bit of a problem that she needs your help with as it is causing her distress.

Everyone she meets, she is failing to impress. She is so full of excitement and can’t keep it down, so when people come she bounds around and around.

She tries really hard to be a good girl but the thought of a new family sends her into a whirl.

It doesn’t sound so bad, but because she is so large that bit of excitement can turn into a barge.

She is such a special lady and she is trying a lot to be so calm and not act like such a clot.

But sometimes that excitement just starts to bubble and try as she may, she can’t help but cause trouble.

To solve this problem she doesn’t know what to do because she can’t help that she is so excited to meet you.

If you can give Minnie that loving home call 01205 260546 or email slincs@jerrygreendogs.org.uk

TRAINING TIP

We have been looking at clicker training; how it is a way of letting your dog know that they have performed the correct behaviour and that a reward was coming.

We have also looked at how to ‘charge’ your dog to the clicker, meaning that your dog will associate the click sound with a treat.

This week we can look at how to ‘shape’ an offered behaviour so it can be used to help train more complicated behaviours.

Shaping is about clicking and rewarding for behaviours that are close to or nearly the behaviour you ultimately want to train. It is about rewarding a behaviour which is ‘nearly there’ and so you are able then to shape it into the final behaviour. For example, teaching your dog to lift one paw and then the other could ultimately end up in a ‘beg’. Build it up slowly and train for short periods at a time.

Click and reward for little improvements in the behaviour working towards the target behaviour.

Once your dog will reliably perform your chosen behaviour you can give that behaviour a verbal cue and so slowly fade out the clicker all together.

• We run a variety of training classes and 1-2-1s at Jerry Green Dog Rescue. If you would like to find out more about positive training techniques call our centre trainer on 01205 260546.

HELPING HAND: With the Spalding Volunteer Centre

National Self Care Week is almost upon us and it’s an opportunity to consider the responsibility and power we all have to impact our own wellbeing and how we can improve our own lives, avoid certain ailments, reduce the effects of other conditions and ease pressure on health services.

A perfect example of self care, the Happy Breathers community clinic, recently celebrated its first birthday, as reported in the Lincolnshire Free Press.

The group, supported by LCVS, is very targeted at those with a particular health issue (COPD), but the idea behind it is relevant to everyone.

Self Care can come in many forms. It should be as important to those with acute health conditions, such as those who attend Happy Breathers in a bid to find ways to control and manage their symptoms and access peer support, as to those who consider themselves healthy.

Self care is about avoiding ill health, as well as controlling it. A pledge to take your lunch break, for example, could be an important step to avoiding future physical and mental illness exacerbated by stress and burn out.

The title of this year’s Self Care week, which runs November 13 to November 19, is Embracing Self Care.

Many health issues are aggravated by excessive weight, drinking and smoking. Adopting a healthy lifestyle is an act of self care.

Volunteering is a well- proven partner of self care. It can reduce or prevent isolation and, as a result depression, improve self esteem and engender a sense of purpose, give people a greater ability to cope with their own ill health by taking their minds off their illness or improving their understanding of their own situation.

Peer support, such as roles currently available with SoLDAS – South Lincolnshire Domestic Abuse Service - is a popular voluntary role and works both ways. In a lot of cases the volunteer gets as much out of the relationship as the client.

Personal relationships can also be improved for those who volunteer as it can be a means to learning skills related to conflict resolution and teamwork.

Home Start Lincolnshire engages and trains volunteers to support parents, for example.

LCVS supports people to take up voluntary roles and helps organisations to find the volunteers they need.

Contact the SVC at 
enquiry@lincolnshirecvs.org.uk or contact Spalding Volunteer Centre on 01205 510888 and chose option 3.