COUNCILLORS are to again press for the closure of a Spalding junction because they are convinced residents would back it if they knew the full picture.

An experimental temporary closure of Swan Street’s junction with Station Approach took place last year, during which there was an improvement in the traffic flow.

However, an informal survey of people in the immediate area before the road re-opened in mid-December showed 60/40 were against closure.

Coun Roger Gambba-Jones told Spalding Town Forum he believed the wrong question had been asked and residents thought they had to consider the closure of the whole road.

He said: “We are just talking about the junction and it should improve the flow for businesses. One comment against closure was from a chain store manager who claimed it would take longer to get to work, but it’s just not true.

“The road has been closed on three occasions for repairs and it was the residents who were contacting us to say the flow was better.”

Coun John Honnor suggested they should wait in case Corbo’s plans for the Holland Market area had any impact on the town centre road network.

But forum chairman Coun George Aley said he felt it was time to move now. He said: “We’ve talked about this time and time again. We know there is a big difference in traffic flow and it is better when the junction is closed. Now is the time we should be looking at better traffic management.”

Coun Gambba-Jones said Lincolnshire County Council should be asked to conduct a proper consultation. He said: “They should go through the proper process, send out formal notices, get feedback and have a 12-month closure of the junction, followed by a consultation.

“Then we can really see what people think and if enough people are for it, get it closed.”

The forum agreed to request Lincolnshire County Council should revisit the matter and go through the proper process.

A WOMAN has denied driving on Church Street, Market Deeping, while over the drink-drive limit on January 22.

Joanne Aubert (46), of Granville Avenue, Northborough, near Peterborough, appeared at Spalding Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

Her case was adjourned to July 10 for a trial.

A BUSINESSMAN who made £2.5million by illegally dumping tyres across the UK has been ordered to pay back just £122 – and he has six months to do it.

Prosecutors launched a proceeds of crime investigation after Carl Steele (33) was jailed for dumping more than a million tyres in five different counties and causing estimated damage of £500,000.

Steele set the record for the number of tyres dumped by a single person after undercutting his rivals by avoiding legal disposal costs of 80p a tyre, according to the Environment Agency.

A proceeds of crime hearing at Lincoln Crown Court was told the company boss made a total benefit of £2,540,768 from his criminal activity.

But Steele, whose firm FCM Logistics (Tyres) Ltd has now ceased trading, will have to pay back just £122 after the hearing was told the small amount was now his only available asset.

Steele, who has been released on licence from the 15-month prison sentence passed on him in November, was given six months to pay the money.

Judge Sean Morris warned Steele he would face a further four days in prison in default if the cash was not paid back in that period.

Steele, who admitted a further charge during the same period of illegally supplying 60,000 tyres to an equestrian centre in Chipping Sodbury, near Brsitol, was also made the subject of a six-month community order.

During the previous hearing the court heard Steele was warned at least 20 times by the Environment Agency about his business at Deeping St Nicholas but took no action to register the operation.

When action began against him he rented land at King’s Lynn and in other parts of the country and set up new illegal tyre processing sites. The owners of the sites now face large bills to remove the waste tyres.

Environment Agency officials at first found 3,000 tyres at the Deeping St Nicholas site which rose to 400,000 as investigations continued. Four other sites with a total of 800,000 dumped tyres were found later.

Steele, of Chapel Farm, Deeping St Nicholas, admitted six charges relating to the illegal storage and treatment of waste tyres at sites in Deeping St Nicholas, King’s Lynn, Full Sutton near York, Essex and Worcestershire on dates in 2009 and 2010.

FCM Logistics (Tyres) Ltd admitted a similar charge relating to the operation at Deeping St Nicholas. No penalty was imposed on the company which has ceased trading with the loss of 50 jobs.

ENJOY a Musical Evening with Peter and Sylvia Dalzeil at St Thomas’ Road Methodist Church, Spalding on Saturday at 7pm.

Tickets are available from 01775 723558 priced at £3 which includes light refreshments.

FOLLOWING on from another successful year showcasing local musicians, the Keep Music Live Festivals are returning on Saturday, May 5 at the Birds pub, Spalding.

The free entry outdoor family event starts at 1pm and will feature 6 live bands, with a barbecue, ice cream stall and additional outside seating.

Confirmed bands include The Soundinjectors, Remains of the Day, Noisy Vendors and Kamikaze Hot Shot.

If your band would like to play at this festival or any other Keep Music Live events please contact Dean on 07790547464.

IF you have ever wanted to try sailing, now’s your chance, as the Welland Yacht Club, Cradge Bank, Spalding are holding free taster sessions designed for the whole family on Sunday.

The sessions will run from 12.30pm to 2.30pm and are suitable for participants over 10 years old.

To book contact Andy on 07769 978505 or visit www.wellandyachtclub.co.uk.

Holbeach Utd v Spalding Utd (tomorrow, 7.45pm): FOR the final time this season, local bragging rights are on the line in the ‘South Holland clasico’ at Carter’s Park.

The Tigers couldn’t really come into the derby clash in worse form, having failed to win any of their last six games, while the Tulips ended a near-two month losing streak by beating Peterborough Northern Star 4-1 on Easter Monday.

For hosts Holbeach, the rearranged third clash with Spalding is the third match of a four-game week – something that doesn’t sit well with boss John Chand.

“This game shouldn’t be played now, it’s nonsense,” blasted Chand, who is without influential skipper Jamie Stevens. “Both teams are without a game a week on Saturday, so why not then?

“It is the kind of match that the lads should want to play in, though. We need a win to get back on track, but they’ll want to beat us for sure.

“Depending on how the King’s Lynn game goes, I may need to make changes.”

The trip up the A151 represents Spalding’s final fixture of a pretty dismal campaign.

Although the game is a dead rubber for Pat Rayment’s side, they have strikers Greg Smith and Ricky Miller available again and are aiming to finish with a flourish.

Rayment said: “Of course, we want to beat them. It doesn’t matter much in the grand scheme of things, but I want us to finish well.

“I can’t emphasise enough how important it is that we compete and work hard.

“If we don’t match them I worry, if we do we’re capable of springing a surprise.”

Matt Warfield, one of Holbeach’s popular home-based players, will play no part in the derby after telling Chand he doesn’t wish to be selected for the remainder of the season on fitness grounds.

Chand admitted he was “disappointed” by his decision, but has accepted it.

Holbeach won 2-0 the last time the two met at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field in the UCL League Cup, with the first UCL Premier Division clash going the way of Spalding (2-0).

Follow @LPFSport on Twitter for live updates from the game.

POLICE executed a search warrant at an address in Quadring and found Graham MacDonald had grown nine cannabis plants in a bedroom.

Officers also seized amphetamine from the fridge and found a small amount of cannabis as “green vegetable matter” when they searched the property on December 11, Spalding magistrates heard.

Graham MacDonald (50), of Main Road, admitted producing the cannabis plants and two counts of possessing class B controlled drugs.

Magistrates on Thursday sentenced MacDonald to a year-long community order and told him he must do 120 hours unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay £85 costs.

A forfeiture and destruction order was made for the drugs and cannabis growing equipment.

Solicitor Mike Alexander, mitigating, said MacDonald suffered from anxiety and says he cannot leave his house because he is afraid of crowds.

Mr Alexander said MacDonald’s doctor had prescribed anti-depressants, but the pills were not useful.

He told the court: “The doctor has said ‘as you smoke cannabis, I can’t give you any other medication’. If he doesn’t smoke cannabis, he suffers from anxiety.”

Mr Alexander said MacDonald was originally buying cannabis but decided to grow his own because he didn’t really know what he was getting when he paid for it.

By growing his own, he knew precisely what he was getting and it was also cheaper.

Mr Alexander said MacDonald last worked as a forklift driver but had been out of work now for two years,

THE 4th Moulton Tractor Rally will take place on Sunday from 10am to 4pm at Broad Lane, Moulton.

Over 40 vintage tractors are expected with lots of activities planned on the field whilst the tractors complete the road run, which last year took in Gedney, Holbeach St Johns, Moulton Chapel and Weston Hills before returning to Moulton.

The event’s proceeds will go to Moulton Mill, for more details about the event contact Paul Beecham on 07825 609575.

ALMOST £780,000 has been saved in South Holland in one year after some council services were merged with those from another of Lincolnshire’s authorities.

The figure has been revealed as Compass Point Business Services - the shared services company set up by South Holland and East Lindsey District Councils - looks set to have saved a combined £2.1million in its first year of operating.

The company was set up to provide IT, human resources, customer services, finance revenues and benefits services to the two local authorities.

It brought in new technology to enable a faster response to telephone queries, and, together with its employees, looked to develop more efficient ways of processing revenues and benefits enquiries.

Coun Fiona Martin, chairman of the Compass Point board, said: “The company has delivered significant savings which has helped to protect frontline services for residents in South Holland and East Lindsey.

“This is great news for residents and a testament to the work of our teams who have adopted new ways of working and new systems to ensure we can meet our customers’ expectations.” The savings are split 63 per cent and 37 per cent between East Lindsey and South Holland, which reflects the different size of the two authorities, to deliver £1.4million to East Lindsey and £779,000 to South Holland in the first year of operating.

The £2.1million savings includes:

l £1.139million from revenues and benefits;

l £305,000 in customer services;

l £286,000 in finance;

l £282,000 in HR, and;

l £94,000 in IT.

When the plans were agreed by the two councils in July 2010, it was hoped the deal would result in some £30million in savings between the two over the next decade.

However, the move has not been without its critics, with one East Lindsey councillor claiming it was a plan “Del Boy would be proud of”.

A number of posts were also lost, with 299 workers competing for 205 posts, although some were filled by more than one person.

Further savings are expected to be made in South Holland in the coming years with the council also working with authorities in Great Yarmouth and Breckland under a joint chief executive and shared management team.

TOUGH economic times could see an explosion in the number of abandoned kittens looking for homes over the next couple of months.

RSPCA staff and volunteers in the district are bracing themselves for an onslaught of new animals being brought into rehoming centres which are already full with pets looking for new owners.

Cherrie Bartlett, who rehomes cats in the district for the RSPCA, said the charity has found it increasingly difficult since the recession started to bite as people struggle to pay vet and food bills for their pets.

She said: “We are already full and people just don’t seem to be taking on new pets because of the financial situation.

“We recently did an appeal in the Spalding Guardian to find a new home for some cats, but we had very few calls.”

But it is looking like one cat that appeared in the newspaper could be heading for a happy ending.

Last month, we carried the story of Maggie, the stray black cat, who was taken to Cherrie to be rehomed after falling through the ceiling at the Broad Street Business Centre in Spalding.

After her ordeal she was taken in overnight by letting agent Harry Drury, who planned to take her to the vet the following morning, but the terrfied moggy wedged herself behind the boiler.

Maggie and two of her new friends at Cherrie’s rehoming centre have now been reserved and are awaiting a date to be taken home by their new owner.

Cherrie said: “Usually after a story like that we receive lots of calls offering a new home, but we had very few and that’s just how it is at the moment.

“Now kitten season is upon us and I fear we will be finding plenty dumped in cardboard boxes in the next few months.”

Anyone interested in rehoming a cat can call Cherrie on 01205 319059.

AN early start will be rewarded by the sound of a memorable dawn chorus if you head to Lyndon Nature Reserve, Oakham on Saturday for their guided walk from 5.30am to 8am.

There will also be time to visit the Osprey nest before returning to the visitor centre for a well-earned breakfast.

Other early morning walks will take place on April 21 and April 29 at a cost of £12.50.

If you are not an early morning person then why not try the Midnight Nightingales walks which start at 11pm until 1am on May 5 and May 11. Nightingales are Britain’s most remarkable songster, singing through the night.

To book call 01572 737378 or visit www.ospreys.org.uk.

PETERBOROUGH SPORTS 1 PINCHBECK UNITED 1: A DISPUTED late strike from Matt Barber denied Pinchbeck what would have been a crucial three points on Saturday.

They had led the Peterborough Premier Division clash through Luke Wilson’s strike, but an offside-looking Barber – back from a brief stint with Deeping Rangers – equalised with time running out.

As a result, Ian Dunn’s Pinchbeck are just three points clear at the top.

Dunn tweeted after the game: “Gutted with a draw. Feels like a defeat. When you concede with five minutes left to a goal clearly offside you wonder what you’re up against.”

Pinchbeck: Drury, Clay, Maddison, Marshall, Hocking (Lawrence), Wilson, McDonnell (Langford), Maltby, Law, Dunn, Woods (Kishere).

AN Arsenal Soccer School team from Spalding have emulated the Gunners’ legendary ‘Invincibles’ by going the entire league season unbeaten.

Newly-formed this season under the charge of manager Mark Murfet, Arsenal Soccer Schools under-10s won all 18 of their league matches en route to landing the league title, finishing with a goal difference of 72.

Remarkably, only five of the 12-strong squad had played football competitively before signing for the Spalding High School-based side.

Callum Thornalley led the way with 21 goals, while Ben Brittain added 17.

At the other end, keeper Oliver Murfet and the defence of Nathan Stevens and Kyle Oakes helped Arsenal keep 13 cleans sheets.

After their final league fixture, for the most improved player award went to Reuban Cave, while Ollie Machin picked up the most sporting player gong.

Boss Murfet said: “The mentality in the team isn’t a win at all cost approach and more about working together as a team to achieve the result.

“There is also a great atmosphere from the touchline with a great group of parents who watch the game and encourage the kids in the right way.

“We are looking forward to next season with the challenge of learning the offside rule, 16 by seven goals and playing nine versus nine.

“Hopefully the whole team will move straight in to the under-11s, although we will need a couple of players to booster the squad.”

It remains to be seen if the young guns can emulate the Arsenal senior team of 2003/04 and stretch the unbeaten league run to 49 matches in the coming seasons.

BOTH of Spalding Hockey Club’s under-14 teams enjoyed a success in the latest round of fixtures in the monthly Lincs Friendly League.

The tournaments are played at different clubs in the Lincolnshire region once a month, which allows the players to put the hard work from training into action before moving onto higher level hockey.

In Division One, Spalding Tigers beat Sleaford 1-0, Boston 2-0 and Long Sutton A 2-0, while also drawing with Bourne/Deeping 2-2, Alford 1-1 and Louth 0-0.

The goals came from Sam Sly (3), Jack Drury (2), Harry Bettinson, Domenic Ibrahim and James Scott.

Spalding Lions, playing in Division Two, gained promotion to the top flight with a 1-0 win over Leadenham and a 3-0 triumph against Long Sutton B. They only missed out on a clean sweep thanks to a a 1-0 defeat against league winners Lincoln.

Their goals came from Matthew Day (2), Cameron Ibrahim and Max Bodimead.

Spalding Tigers: Luke Barkworth (GK), Harry Bettinson, Maisie Dobbs, Domenic Ibrahim, James Scott, Sam Sly and Jack Drury.

Spalding Lions: Nick Green (GK), Tom Smith, Aaron Borst, Cameron Ibrahim, Matthew Day, Carlos Ortiz-Jimenez and Max Bodimead.

MARVELLOUS Mark Cooley saw off the challenge of more than 150 other competitors to win Spalding Golf Club’s Nicholas Cup – the first individual competition of the season.

In difficult, breezy conditions, the six handicapper put in a solid performance to score a decisive 39 Stableford points. That haul was enough to secure the trophy and also earn a handicap reduction to five.

In second place was Matthew Hendry (25 handicap) on countback from Lawrie Haley (9), with both scoring 38 points.

David Smith (20), who came sixth with 37 points, sunk a super hole-in-one at the par three ninth for a maximum five points.

The ace also enjoyed a birdie two at the par three 16th, but unfortunately failed to subscribe to the separate ‘2s’ competition.

• Other leading scores: 37pts – Vic Davis, Richard Laud, David Smith, Josh Parkin, Martin Deacon and Stephen Baxendale. 36pts – Chris Brooks, Andy Elfleet, Mark Mitchell, John Beaumont, Tim Davies, Ray Barnett and John Farrow.

• The men’s third team won their opening social match of the season 8-3 against the ladies.

Team captain Rob Sampson and vice skipper Monty Brittain won 3&1 against their counterparts Norma Parker and Angela Roper, with other notable performances coming from Trevor Laud and Pete Williams (won 5&3), Terry Thorpe and Rod Filby (won 3&2) and Neil West and Geoff Skinner (won 3&2).

Chris Hancock – despite giving 25 strokes – and playing partner Phil Thorold also won 1up.

The pick of the wins for the ladies came from Linda Double and Paula Brown (6&5) and Lesley Plumpton and Elaine Hancock (1up).

Both the teams of Angela Maltby and Mags McArdle and Beryl Skinner and Hannah Thorold halved their games.

• Ladies’ section: Spalding halved a friendly at Burghley Park amid glorious weather conditions.

Winners were Angela Roper and Debra Ward (5&4) and Mags McArdle and Elaine Harrington (2&1), while Chris Vickers and Deborah Ellis lost 5&4 and Norma Parker and Janet Davis were beaten 3&2.

• In very different weather conditions, Spalding’s ladies secured a good 3-1 friendly win over Canwick Park at Surfleet.

Wins came from Angela Roper and Norma Parker (2&1), Carol Holland and Maureen Orwell (2&1) and Della Walker and Chris Leggett (5&3), with only Phyl Borst and Jenny Wilson slipping to defeat (3&2).

• Seniors’ section: Spalding halved an entertaining home match against Oakham Golf Club.

Both teams won four games, with the pairings of captain Colin Inkley and Sid Chapman, Mike Murphy and Karl Ellerbroek, Ian Jones and Howard Greaves and Phil Thorold and Roy White emerging victorious for the hosts.

Tydd St Giles Golf Club

TYDD’S ladies’ team have won through to the fourth round of the Mail on Sunday national competition.

Having beaten both March and Richmond Park in previous rounds, Tydd secured a resounding 5-0 victory over Ramsey at home.

• Other ladies’ section results: PWS Ltd February Medal – 1st S Illsley 71nett. March Sunday Medal – 1st P Lacey 82nett; 2nd N Stead 86nett; 3rd L Walker 90nett. March Thursday Medal – 1st L Walker 74nett; 2nd P Meir 75nett; 3. M Taylor Vassall 79nett. Burton March Medal – 1st Lin Walker. Sunday Stableford – 1st P Meir 26pts; 2nd M Taylor Vassall 24pts. Thursday Stableford – 1st J Maton 36pts; 2nd E Everitt 34pts; 3rd S Letchford 31pts. March Medford – 1st C Stevenson 36pts; 2nd K Slator 19pts (ocb); 3rd J Maton 19pts. Three Clubs & a Putter – 1st M Taylor Vassall 30pts; 2nd L Walker 29pts; 3rd P Meir 29pts. String Ball – 1st M Taylor Vassall 45pts; 2nd L Gaillie 43pts (ocb); 3rd S Racey 43pts.

• Seniors’ section: Result – Feltwell 2.5 Tydd St Giles 3.5 (Eddie Armstrong & Noel Bratt lost 4&3, Kerbad Daboo & Russell Doy halved, Paul Jackson & Steve Hart won 7&6, Dennis Savory & Brian Gough won 3&1, Brian Newby & Terry Sambridge lost 4&3, Baz Smith & Terry Petch won 2&1). Stableford Trophy: Gold Division – 1st Thomas Brewer 41pts; 2nd Trevor Sewell 37pts; 3rd Baz Smith 36pts. Silver Division – 1st Richard Talbot 32pts; 2nd Brian Gough 31pts; 3rd Mike Brown 29pts. Bronze Division – 1st Jo Minto 38pts (ocb); 2nd Salvatore Di Bella 38pts; 3rd Derek Grant 33pts.

• Men’s section: Stableford Pairs – 1st Ady Rowell & Stephen Rowell 42pts; 2nd Angus McDonald & John Nobbs 40pts; 3rd Jamie Gollands & Adam Hodgson 40pts.

Sutton Bridge Golf Club

Results: Mixed Foursomes – 1st Norman Davis & Jenny Wells 32pts; 2nd Mike Bell & Ann Cross 31pts; 3rd Ken Burton & Brenda Bell 29pts.

• Ladies’ section: Result – Kirton Holme 1 Sutton Bridge 3 (Team: Carole Whitelam (captain) & Linda Searle; Ann Cross & Fid Cropper; Jill McEwan & Jane Rose; Ann Davis & Suzanne Larham). Ladies’ invite OB’s: Result – 1st Peggy Ellis & Keith Robinson 37pts; 2nd Brenda Bell & John Cropper 36pts (ocb); 3rd Betty Reeve & Noel Clare 36pts.

• Men’s section: Result – March 2.5 Sutton Bridge 3.5 (Terry Young & Steve Fisher halved; Geoff Coombes & John Essam won 1up; Bob Newby & George Baines lost 1 down; Barry Irwin & John Bliss won 2up; Sam Shippey & Tim Stearne lost 1 down; Steen Catlow & Steve Hyde won 3&2).

Gedney Hill Golf Club

Men’s Section: Mushroom Trophy – 1st Chris Davies 39pts (ocb); 2nd Jim Starbuck 39pts; 3rd E Cowles 38pts.

• Seniors’ section: Result – Seniors 0.5 Rabbits Challenge 5.5 (Graham East & Lee Fisher v Carl Claxton & Stuart Biggar 3&1; Greg Walsh & Mo Parling v Rob Newns & Eric Cowles 1up; Neil Sargeant & Paul Hanson v David Lord & Don Hinshelwood 5&4; Chris Bennett & Marlyn Sayer v Bill Smith & Mick Drury match halved; Bill Sharpe & Gary Moore v Roy Britton & Peter Vinter 3&1; Steve Sharpe & Phil Davis v Bob Townsend & Richard Senior 2&1).

NUMBERS of shoppers in Spalding town centre have dropped by more than 50 per cent in the past few years, according to a businessman behind a bid for £100,000 of regeneration cash.

Karl Sergison, of Sergi’s deli in Francis Street, claims the town has gone to “rack and ruin” in a short video in which he argues the case for Spalding to be granted “Portas Pilot” status.

The video, which is now available for all to see on YouTube, formed part of South Holland District Council’s bid to be one of a dozen towns or cities across the country to get the backing of Mary Portas – television’s Queen of Shops and a handout from the Government.

In it he describes Spalding as an “ancient town with a massive history” famous for its food manufacturing heritage and the world-famous flower parade.

But Mr Sergison, who appeared in the BBC television series Turn Back Time, which charted the rise and fall of the British High Street, said: “Footfall is dire – people aren’t coming to Spalding anymore because it’s a bit knackered and has gone to rack and ruin.

“I have been in business here for seven years and footfall has fallen by at least 50 per cent in that time.

“We need some money for better signage and to provide a safe environment for people to come in to.

“As a member of the Chamber of Commerce I feel this money would be of great benefit to the town.”

It is hoped that if Spalding is chosen as a Portas Pilot, the money could be used to make the town centre more attractive to shoppers, with the possibility of a “town team” being put in charge to drive through changes.

In the Lincolnshire Free Press last week, we reported South Holland District Council economic development manager Mark Stanton saying the bid would further enhance the work already being carried out to redevelop Spalding town centre.

He said: “This was a process that was really kick-started by the development of the Red Lion Quarter and we aim to build on the excellent progress we have made to ensure that the town centre continues to be an attractive and thriving place to do business.”

SELF-employed businessman Alan Burton was found to be over the drink-drive limit after he caused a road crash by pulling out in front of another car, Spalding magistrates heard.

Burton (40), of Mayfield Close, Pinchbeck, lost his licence for a year when he appeared in court on Thursday – and, as a result, will also lose the business he’s spent two years building up.

Rebecca Ritson, prosecuting, said Burton was driving a Mitsubishi at the junction of Northgate and Money Bridge Lane, West Pinchbeck, on March 17 when he pulled out of the junction “straight into the path of an oncoming Ford Mondeo”.

Miss Ritson said a Mondeo passenger received a slight injury to his left arm and Burton himself had a slight injury to his forehead, which was treated at the roadside by ambulance personnel.

A test later showed he had 51 microgrammes of alcohol in breath – the legal limit is 35 microgrammes.

Burton pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol and was banned from driving for a year. He was also fined £110 and ordered to pay £85 costs with a £15 victim surcharge.

Magistrates decided at Thursday’s hearing Burton can cut three months off the ban if he completes a rehabilitation course.

Solicitor Daven Naghen, mitigating, said: “He assures me he would never knowingly drink and drive.

“He had one pint at lunchtime and thinks that added to what he had to drink the night before and put him over the limit.

“The effect of the disqualification is he loses his business he’s spent two years building up.

“He doesn’t earn enough to pay someone as a driver.

“Given the fairly disastrous effects the disqualification will have upon him I would ask you to keep any disqualfication to the minimum.”

THREE theft charges against a Crowland woman were adjourned by Spalding magistrates on Thursday.

The court heard Penny Redford (29), of South Street, was too ill to attend.

She is accused of stealing ready meals worth £4, lager worth £3 and food worth £6.65. All three charges relate to the Co-op in West Street, Crowland.

No pleas have been entered and the matters are due to be heard on April 17.

SPITTING in the streets is becoming such a problem in Spalding that councillors are calling for a meeting with police.

Coun Gary Taylor said it was just one thing in a list of concerns that should be discussed, including drinking in the streets, underage drinking and dog fouling.

He told Spalding Town Forum: “There seems to be a group of people who think it’s OK to go around spitting.

“People see footballers on TV doing it and think it’s OK. But it’s a disgusting habit.”

Coun John Honnor said they should ask for a bye-law to stop drinking in the streets, but Coun Taylor said they did not need one, just enforcement.

Councillors asked why the police were not at the meeting to answer their questions but chairman Coun George Aley said they would not come unless they had been informed of specific questions to answer.

Coun Graham Dark said it was important the police attended the meeting.

He said: “I would like to know what is being done about drinking in the streets and if there is a problem with drug dealing.”

Coun Dave Ashby said: “You know what they are going to say – they haven’t enough manpower to deal with it all.”

It was suggested the town should consider introducing town wardens, like the ones employed in Boston to stop drinking in the streets.

Coun Roger Gambba-Jones said he had spoken to the Chief Constable of Lincolnshire ten years ago, who was totally against ‘private police’.

He said: “The chief constable said he would stop us if we tried to do it.

“But it works.”

Jason Rooke, president of Spalding and District Area Chamber of Commerce, said the ‘rangers’ in Boston had been there three years and got an immediate response.

But Coun Gambba-Jones thought they would be needed in Spalding for a lot longer to address the problems.

He said: “It would take a generation until it becomes a culture.”

Coun Aley said employing wardens should be something the forum gave serious thought to.

In the meantime, they would write to the police with a list of concerns and invite them to the next meeting.