On behalf of most local people; I wish to welcome 18-year-old Dan Wilshire to the upcoming local political hustings (see last Thursday’s Spalding Guardian).

I, for one, applaud his stance in seeking to engage “disillusioned young voters in South Holland and the Deepings”.

Exactly what is needed; and a great day for the local/national democratic processes. However, before the usual suspects, in South Holland’s mainly ‘Tory adoring’ political community draw their knives on Dan and the Green Party, may I be allowed to say that, having read the latest GP manifesto, I believe, apart from anything else, GP policies, regarding the EU, seem to me, to be the most honest and sensible at this point in time.

Very unlike those of the Conservative party and the ‘Tory rump’ that likes to call itself UKIP.

By the way, if the hustings you sponsor on April 23 are to follow the BBC TV format of Question Time, then perhaps you might be considering inviting to the panel a fairly ordinary local person with his/her own views and a reasonable knowledge of political history... Hmmm... anyone come to mind.

David Turp

via email

I have read with interest and concern comments from prospective candidates and electors, and would urge everyone to think very carefully where they put the X on polling day.

Our Member of Parliament, the Rt Hon John Hayes, is a devoted family man, living in the heart of the community and his deep interest and care for all within the constituency, John’s qualities are well-known to us all (regardless of what party). His understanding for local issues has come from care and attention to the needs of local people over many years.

John stands up for what he believes and will always discuss his views for what he feels is best for the constituency and the country as a whole.

Again, think very carefully when you put your X on those all-important ballot papers.

We are so lucky to have an excellent MP and also the Conservative group on the district council.

Rosemary Biggadike

Whaplode

ON THE BEAT: By Inspector Jim Tyner

We measure recorded crime as a ‘year to date’ figure since April 1. In South Holland overall recorded crime is down compared to the same period last year. However one area where we are seeing an increase is in violent crime, where there is a 20 per cent increase on the same period last year.

I have looked at the assaults that have been recorded in the last month, to see if there are particular times or locations that should concern us.

In the past month there have been 37 assaults recorded in South Holland. That’s a little over one a day. Of those crimes, only two were linked to fights outside pubs or clubs; two were linked to neighbour disputes and two were assaults involving school children.

There were two assaults in care homes and 17 were linked to domestic abuse. There were a further five assaults in private homes, not linked to domestic abuse. Out of the 37 assaults, 24 took place in homes and only five of the 37 involved strangers.

So on most occasions the victim knew their attacker.

Clearly, much of our work revolves around domestic abuse. Including the 17 recorded crimes, there were a total of 91 domestic abuse incidents in South Holland in January.

These vary from people seeking advice, or concern for a relative in an abusive relationship. They also include other crimes such as harassment, often by social media or text messaging.

It’s rather sad that, as Valentine’s Day approaches, I’m talking about domestic abuse. What’s even sadder is that statistics show that if Valentine’s Day is on a Saturday there is likely to be an increase in domestic violence.

A primary function of the police is around prevention of crime. So this brings enormous challenges: how do we prevent domestic abuse? Is there really a rise in domestic abuse assaults or are we seeing increased reporting as victims become more confident that we will take action?

Domestic abuse is a horrible crime that cuts across social boundaries. Nationally, one-in-four women will experience domestic abuse at some point in their lives as will one-in-six men, with the police receiving a call about domestic abuse every minute in the UK. Two women are murdered every week in England and Wales at the hands of their partners or ex-partners.

We actively encourage the reporting of domestic abuse and will take all such reports seriously and work with a number of partner agencies to address domestic abuse.

One of the ways to prevent domestic abuse is by dealing resolutely with perpetrators. Where there is suspicion of an offence, we will always make an arrest. If there is sufficient evidence for a prosecution, we will always seek a prosecution.

Where the evidence falls short for a prosecution, we will consider new powers such as Domestic Violence Protection Notices.

Readers can help us fight abuse. Don’t be afraid to report concerns if you think a neighbour may be a victim. If you are concerned about a relative or friend’s new partner, you can use the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (known as ‘Clare’s Law’).

The aim of this scheme is to give members of the public a formal mechanism to make enquiries about an individual who they are in a relationship with or who is in a relationship with someone they know, and there is a concern that the individual may be violent towards their partner.

If police checks show that the individual has a record of violent offences, or there is other information to indicate the person you know is at risk, the police will consider sharing this information with the person(s) best placed to protect the potential victim.

If you have concerns, don’t be afraid to call us.

For many years domestic abuse was a hidden crime: not talked about; rarely reported.

Thankfully those days are over.

I write regarding the speed check police vans that turn up along the Crowland to Holbeach Drove road.

What I would like to say is, how do they expect to catch speeding motorists when they park in exactly the same place each time, and then stick signs up in advance of the camera van, telling us all that they are there? If they want to trap speeders, then don’t advertise the fact that they are there!

Valerie Mansfield

via email

A Free Press correspondent recently said he wanted to know more about UKIP’s policies. There are too many to list here, though a search on your computer will find them.

But our main policy is to remove ourselves from the clutches of the European Union and its free trade area. Why? Well much huffing and puffing is being said about this part of the country being developed as a major food processing centre for the UK, but will the food be grown locally? There is plenty of evidence to show that it won’t. Most will be imported from other parts of Europe, and the farming industry in Lincolnshire will collapse – what evidence is there for this?

We start with the fishing industry, once a proud employer in the UK, now decimated by the EU. Next we’re currently witnessing the demise of the dairy industry, and this will continue until the current production level of food, 60 per cent of our consumed amount, is reduced to very little, when we will be in the clutches of other EU and world producers, as we have been with oil and petrol for our cars.

Few middle age people and younger will recall the fuel rationing in 1974, when the supply of our petrol was controlled by oil producers. Many people couldn’t get to work – are we going to let that happen to our food supply?

Older readers will know I’m not scaremongering. 
Garages ran out of petrol, and cars were useless. The government issued ration coupons for business, and ordinary folks abandoned their cars.

The EU’s plan to build an 
extensive transport network for road and rail (HS2) and A16 dualling etc, will only serve to remove food production away from this country to places far away, so that food grown and produced abroad in low cost production areas will be processed there, and shipped to us – then total control over our food supply will have been achieved, and control over the people of this country, as happened in 1974.

This has already happened to Spalding’s flower growing industry, with most production in Kenya and Brazil, flown in. We can live without flowers, but not food.

Peter Bird

UKIP

TRISH TAKES FIVE: By blogger Trish Burgess

Ooh I am pleased! Mrs Overall, the role I played in Spalding Amateur Dramatic and Operatic Society’s production of Acorn Antiques in 2013, is having a little reprise in a few months.

I thought I had put away the floral apron and hairnet for good, but it would seem they are going to get an airing once again.

Instead of its usual spring musical, SADOS is trying something a little different this year: a show packed full of musical theatre numbers together with pop songs from past and present.

It will be performed at the South Holland Centre from May 20 to 23.

Members of the society were asked to suggest songs they would like to perform and directors Brett Moore and Elaine Deathridge have pulled these suggestions together to create a production which is now bursting with over 30 tunes.

The Magic of Music will include a live band on stage, led by musical director, Gavin Cooper, and we will be joined by younger members of Act II, Spalding’s youth theatre company. Choreographers Jane Moss and Brett Moore are already working on the dance numbers to make this a sparkling production for the eyes as well as the ears.

With rehearsals now in full swing, I am realising what good exercise AmDram is: singing and dancing, 
especially together, are a great way to keep fit.

I feel as if I’ve had a full cardio workout by the time I go home. It’s also dawning on me that learning lyrics and dance routines is tricky at my age, although I do think the old brain is starting to appreciate being tested so vigorously.

Of course the younger members of the group pick things up so quickly: they must despair of the old codgers in the society, like me, who have to ask for instructions to be repeated. “Was that a box step?” “Which foot do we start on?” “Can we go back to the 
beginning?”

The first big number for all the cast is ‘Flash, Bang, Wallop!’ from ‘Half a Sixpence’ with Daran Bland playing the Tommy Steel character, Arthur Kipps. I love the choreography Jane has given us for this: simple, fun and quite literal in places.

This is a good thing in my opinion: if you clap your hands and stamp your feet while singing ‘clap hands, stamp your feet’ life is so much easier.

The show will open with the cast marching onto the stage to the tune of ‘Johnny Comes Marching Home’.

The choreography seems simple enough as it just involves marching. This has proved surprisingly tough.

Overthink it and you start swinging your arms out of synch: ‘doing a spotty dog’, for those of us who remember The Woodentops. It was quite demoralising to discover I was one of the culprits and somewhat galling to think we have many weeks of complex choreography to come but I haven’t yet mastered the art of walking.

Thankfully the choreography for my Mrs O number, Macaroons, is somewhat freestyle: there’s only so much movement one can 
attempt whilst stooping with a humped back and carrying a tea tray.

* You can follow Trish on Twitter @mumsgoneto and read her blog at www.mumsgoneto.blogspot.com

As a local person born and living in south Lincolnshire and driving our local roads, I am pleased that something may get done about mud.

At last LRSP (Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership) and Lincolnshire police have agreed that mud on the roads IS a contributory factor to vehicles going out of control in certain conditions and are prepared to take appropriate actions.

Surely it’s no longer excusable that because we live in rural

Lincolnshire that it’s “ok to dump mud on the road” and we have put signs up to say “MUD ON THE ROAD”. Prevention has to be to the fore... how about the NFU (National Farmers’ Union) research ways of achieving this – for example: straw

matting,wood chippings, improved drainage on the headland, stop and clean road wheels with a shovel before getting onto the highways.

Should South Holland District Council play a part as part of their “cleaner, tidier south

Lincolnshire” campaign? After all they are spending money trying to promote the area and welcome more visitors to Spalding and the district.

Maybe the local press can chip in with a few pictures of roads in poor surface condition due to excessive mud build-up?

But let’s not stop there.

What about all the surface drainage that gets affected by mud and reduces the efficiency of the surface water to drain away after heavy storms, in turn creating other hazards like aquaplaning.

Road users, of all categories, the next time you use the roads observe the poor state our roads are getting into as a result of mud build-up, i.e. potholes in curb lines, restricted or blocked surface channel ducts

that carry the water to roadside drains full of mud and growing vegetation as a result of mud.

Roly Hare

via email

Holbeach United striker Jamie Clarke’s tweet said it all after his side’s 3-2 FA Vase fifth round defeat to Erith and Belvedere at Carter’s Park on Saturday.

“Words can’t describe how I feel right now”.

A bumper crowd saw history repeat itself 26 years on from the last time the Tigers got to this stage of the annual competition for clubs playing below step four in the football pyramid.

Things could have been so much different for Holbeach when red-hot striker Lee Dube, fresh from netting a hat-trick at Huntingdon Town on Wednesday, seized on a moment’s hesitation by advancing Deres keeper George Kamurasi on two minutes to lob into an empty net.

But a shot on goal by Erith central defender Sam Groombridge just before the opening goal gave the visitors a sense that Tigers keeper Nick Conroy was to have one of his worst days ever in a Holbeach shirt.

The home side came under bombardment from a series of corners but it was slick football by Deres skipper Alfie May that unlocked the right-hand side of the Tigers’ defence on 12 minutes as Byron Walker arrived on a lay-off from his team-mate to send a flashing drive past Conroy.

Then came a pivotal moment on 17 minutes in the game when Tigers’ skipper Danny Spencer suffered a re-occurence of the hamstring injury he sustained in the UCL Premier Division top-of-the-table showdown against AFC Rushden and Diamonds three weeks earlier.

Spencer was replaced by Stacey Cartwright and on 20 minutes, he and Kern Miller had to clear from a goalmouth scramble when Erith threatened to take the lead.

At the other end, Lee Beeson sent a trademark 25-yard angled drive inches wide on 23 minutes before the hosts were undone by defensive suicide 11 minutes later.

Miscommunication between Conroy and Miller led to the ex-Spalding United central defender heading past his own goalkeeper on 34 minutes.

Lee Dube tried to make amends six minutes before half-time, shrugging off an Erith defender before unleashing a 30-yard curling effort just wide.

In the second-half, Holbeach grabbed the game by the throat as Beeson forced a save out of Kamurasi straight from a corner and then Duffy poked a shot wide from 12 yards on 54 minutes.

The game became scrappy and confrontational, with referee Michael George having to dispense several yellow cards.

Then the Holbeach equaliser arrived when Duffy profited from a slip by Groombridge to find the bottom right-hand corner of the Deres’ net.

But Alfie May almost won it for the visitors with seven minutes to go when trying his luck from 30 yards out, forcing Conroy into a full-stretch tip over the crossbar.

However, the tie went into extra-time and Erith had a second wind, controlling possession as the Tigers appeared to run out of bite.

Nine minutes into the first period of extra time, Deres substitute Ben Wilson broke free on the right and crossed to striker Alfie Marsh who made no mistake from 12 yards.

Holbeach’s FA Vase hopes were finally extinguished right on the 120-minute mark when Matty Nolan, on for Jamie Clarke, was red-carded for a late challenge on Groombridge which referee George interpreted as dangerous play.

Will Holbeach United ever get as close to Wembley again as they were on Saturday?

I strongly agree with the letter entitled: “Fortunate to have a LOCAL MP who is so dedicated”, written by Margaret Wilson, the constituency chairman

of the South Holland and the Deepings Conservative Association.

I first met Mr Hayes when he visited my school and I interviewed him with my headmaster.

He took his visit and my interview very seriously, was open and fair-minded. I’ll be too young to vote this year, but I’ll be voting for Mr Hayes in future elections.

Our Member of Parliament, John Hayes, has held the constituency seat of South Holland and the Deepings since May 1997 and with each election his popularity has grown.

He is not only responsible for constituency work – which I know from the interview and what I’ve seen since, dominates the majority of his weekends – but also serves the country well as Minister of

State for Transport and as a senior parliamentary advisor to David Cameron.

This week’s documentary regarding the day-to-day workings of the House of Commons showed Mr Hayes right beside the Prime Minister as he stopped, on leaving the chamber, to compliment a very new opposition MP, Sarah Champion, on her contribution at Prime Minister’s Questions.

Having watched and spoken to him several times since our first meeting I’ve learned there is a genuine reason for John Hayes’ long standing as our MP – he is extremely dedicated and driven by a sincere desire to improve

his constituents’ lives!

Dedicated public service will ensure John Hayes’ re-election, securing our prosperity under a Conservative government for another five years.

Theo Lawless-Hughes

via email

UCL Premier Division: Huntingdon Town 1 Deeping Rangers 5

Tuncay Korkmaz was happy as Deeping Rangers returned to winning ways.

A first-half goal blitz sent Huntingdon Town crashing to a third successive defeat.

Mohammed Hamid set the ball rolling with the first two goals after 16 and 18 minutes.

David Burton-Jones added a third after 25 minutes with Huntingdon’s problems worsening shortly afterwards with the dismissal of Luke Kennedy.

Jezz Goldson-Williams made it four in the final minute of the first half.

Burton-Jones got Rangers’ fifth goal five minutes after the restart.

Ben Colmer scored a Cromwellians consolation on the hour.

Rangers boss Korkmaz said: “It’s good to be back to winning ways after a bad result at Yaxley in the Knockout Cup last week.

“It was important to bounce back and we did that with a good performance.

“We created a number of chances and continued to do that in the second half, even though the game went a bit flat because of the scoreline.

“I know Huntingdon are going through a period of transition with a number of young players but we did well.”

Liam Tunstall made his Deeping debut after signing from Sleaford Town.

Ian Ward, Jamie Graham and Adam Scotcher should be back for Tuesday night’s league game at home to second-placed Yaxley.

Deeping: Bircham, Flack, Smith, Tinkler, Braithwaite, Burton-Jones (Ginty), Coulson (Carter), Lewis, Goldson-Williams, Hamid, Avis (Tunstall).

Manager Pat Rayment vowed to cut short a ‘mini crisis’ at Spalding United.

The Tulips suffered a third successive defeat on Saturday as Mickleover Sports ran out 2-1 winners.

Jamie Stevens headed in after 31 seconds but veteran striker Gary Ricketts levelled and a 20-yard special by Andy Dales made the difference.

Rayment admitted: “That was not good enough.

“The better side won on the day – they were far stronger and quicker with a bit more about them.

“Yet we couldn’t have asked for a better start.

“We know we are light up front and that is something we are endeavouring to rectify.

“All our training is based on keeping the ball, passing and moving.

“We have watched Sports twice this season so we know they are all about knocking the ball around quickly.

“We’ve got the same players who went on a 15-match unbeaten league run.

“But I think some of them have taken the foot off the pedal. They have run out of steam and they need impetus.

“Now this is a challenging period for myself and Marcus Ebdon.

“The bottom line is that we are not playing well. We are not going to hide behind anything.

“Every game is important but the performance levels mean we are not playing well enough at the moment.

“Maybe the players were expecting the run to carry on but if you drop your levels then those results don’t just automatically come back.

“But we will get it right. We are working hard to find a presence up front.

“This is a mini crisis with back-to-back league defeats. It has happened to Mickleover, Leek and everyone else but we are not used to it.”

Rayment was called onto the pitch after six minutes of Saturday’s game to speak to referee Christopher Akers after accusing him of “having a shocker”.

The Tulips boss said: “I thought the officials were diabolical for both sides.

“I’m led to believe that the equaliser should have been ruled out for offside.”

Rayment confirmed that youngster Jordan Nuttell was taken off for tactical reasons as Spalding looked to match Mickleover’s system.

Rayment added: “On the day our players didn’t win enough individual battles.”

Striker Andrew Tidswell was not in Spalding’s squad as he continues to discuss the possibility of a return to Holbeach United.

Jordan Hempenstall is set to be ruled out for at least four more weeks with a knee injury.

Jack McGovern should be back for the Doodson Sport Cup quarter-final at Ilkeston on Tuesday night but defender Nathan Stainfield’s knee complaint will be rested.

At last somebody else has noticed that there are significant delays along Winsover Road which cannot be fairly attributed to Network Rail and the level crossing.

It is plainly obvious, or should be to anybody who has sat in the traffic queues, that most of these are due to the over-indulgence in traffic lights in the town centre.

Try coming out of St Thomas’ Road and it will become glaringly obvious that nobody seems to give any consideration to other motorists as the junction is frequently blocked by drivers travelling north on Winsover Road who have been frustrated by the lights ahead of them. One solution could be to extend the yellow box to cover the entire road, giving everybody a fair chance of moving. The current box is on the side of the road, serving no sensible purpose unless the level crossing is closed.

Try turning right from Station Street when the traffic lights have decided that the use of a filter is an unnecessary luxury. I cannot count the number of times that the filter has just not appeared, resulting in traffic stranded in the middle of the junction. Or what about the drivers who turn right into Winsover Road when there is nowhere for them to go because of the queue of traffic tailing back from the St Thomas Road lights and also effectively block the junction.

I know the powers-that-be have tried many things in that area but D Mead’s suggestion of mini roundabouts is radical but feasible. It does seem that whenever the traffic lights are out of action then traffic actually flows. Isn’t it time that the traffic planners really assessed the chaotic situation and did something that might work?

Mark Loosemore

via email

A chainsaw and wacker plate have been stolen from a building site on the Elsea Park estate in Bourne.

The Stihl-branded chainsaw and wacker plate were stolen off Haydock Park Drive between Wednesday and Thursday.

Anyone with information should call 101, quoting incident 136 of February 13.

The honorary curator of Spalding Gentlemen’s Society, Tom Grimes, is the guest of Spalding Business Club at its monthly meeting on Thursday March 5.

Club members can hear a talk on the subject of 300 years of the Spalding Gentlemen’s Society at Bookmark Spalding in The Crescent, Spalding, at 7am.

Entry to the meeting costs £8, including breakfast, and for more information, call Ken Maggs of Moore Thompson Accountants on 01775 711333.

Your vote counts – this is the message going out to elderly residents in South Holland.

Today, the Orders of St John Care Trust, which runs Southfield House in Spalding, is launching a Trust-wide campaign to empower and encourage residents to have their say in this year’s election.

It is part of National Voter Registration Day, which also starts today.

Carol Hillier, manager at Southfield House, said: “The elderly are too often ignored when it comes to voting time.

“But they are impacted by what happens when it comes to health and social care – and how homes are funded.”

Never before has it been so important for those coming up to retirement to take the opportunity to have a say on their future care.

An article in the Guardian predicted the political battleground of 2015 would be dominated by the economy, jobs and growth. But it also highlighted the future of the NHS and how the elderly is cared for.

South Holland has an ever-growing elderly population. The latest estimates from 2013, show there are 21,200 over 65’s in in the district. The total population is 89,200.

Government funding reforms in passage through parliament include a new capped-cost system in which people will be expected to insure themselves against capped lifetime care costs of £72,000, with state support kicking in for the one-in-eight people who face higher costs. The cap does not include substantial accommodation and food costs for those in residential care.

Pensioner bonds with interest rates of up to four percent also went on sale last month. And with new relaxed rules on pensions set to come into force, giving people more freedom to do what they want with the money they have saved for retirement, there are a lot of issues to consider.

OSJCT is working in partnership with the Electoral Commission to make certain that every one of its residents is properly registered before the April deadline to avoid them “disappearing” from the electoral registers through lack of access or information.

The Trust will also host in-home debates, as well as inviting key players on all sides of the political campaigns to come and visit.

Resident Irene Day, 90 on Saturday, says she has voted all of her life. Irene moved into Southfield House in April last year. In spite of not being as active as she would like to be, she said the thing she would never allow to be taken from her is her right to vote.

She said: “I worked until I was 65 and stayed independent for as long as I could.

“I once had my own florist business – it’s what you did when jobs were scarce – you started your own business. There weren’t so many benefits then, you had no option but to work.

“Having worked all my life it would be nice to have a bit more money now. The Government needs to know how we feel – that’s why I’ll be voting.”

Nancy Parkinson (73) said: “I’ve voted ever since I was old enough. If you don’t have a vote you can’t have a say.”

Jean Peachman (77) is a volunteer at Age Concern. She said: “I think everyone has a duty to vote.

“I’d like to see care one of the priorities of the election campain and more money put into how to cope with ageing.”

Also heading for the polls will be a group of active retired people from a line dancing class at the Fitness Company gym in Spalding.

Lorna Durrant (68) has firm ideas about how she would like to spend her future. She said: “I’d love to be able to move to a retirement village with sports facilities and a bar for socialising. Making that possible would get my vote.”

UCL Division One: Bourne Town 0 Whitworth 2

Rafa Mazzarella felt Bourne Town’s failure to score during a bright start proved costly.

The Wakes returned from a two-week winter break but Whitworth recorded a fifth consecutive win, completing the double over Mazzarella’s side after a 4-0 home win.

Cavell Jarvis’ 20th goal of the season put the visitors ahead and Deven Ellwood’s 17th strike this term sealed the win with three minutes to go at Abbey Lawn on Saturday.

Mazzarella reflected: “We did well in the first half an hour when we were probably the better side.

“We had a couple of chances and one effort was ruled out for offside.

“But then a mix-up led to the first goal. A back-header went wrong, we had another chance to clear and we didn’t deserve to go 1-0 down.

“After that we didn’t want the game to get away from ourselves as it became a bit of a battle.

“We threatened on the odd occasion and we had a penalty shout turned down.

“But they scored again late on and it was a case of job done for them. We are not scoring when we are on top and we need to put that right.”

Before the local councils

South Holland 
District Council

Ashley King (Development) Ltd, land off Peterborough Road, Crowland. Residential development of 50 dwellings, modification to allow amendments and details of landscaping, boundary treatments, management and maintenance schedule.

C Patrick, Old Piggery, Pinstock Lane, Gedney. Change of use of agricultural building to residential.

S Brown, Cawood Hall, Cawood Lane, Gosberton. Barn conversion and reinstatement of single storey extension to create residential dwelling (existing annex attached to barn to be demolished).

Mr and Mrs Langford, 107 Battlefields Lane South, Holbeach. Removal of privet hedge to improve highways visibility, erect new fencing.

Spalding News, 24 Market Place, Spalding. Convert accommodation above shop to flat with alterations to rear of shop.

Country Herbs and Plants, Ventura, Horseshoe Road, Spalding. Install 20ft container housing biomass boiler with associated fuel silo and buffer tank.

P Collier, The Squirrels, 26 Woods Lane, Surfleet. Occupation of dwelling by persons not employed in agriculture.

Mr and Mrs Jackson, 307 Broadgate, Weston Hills. Siting of 16 solar panels on garage roof.

Mr and Mrs D Rowlett, 72 Harvester Way, Crowland. Extension (resubmission).

Heron Orchard Caravan Park, Frostley Gate, Holbeach. Details of static caravans, external lighting, foul water drainage and landscaping.

S Maylam and D Warbuton, Mentha, Welbourne Lane East, Holbeach. Occupation of dwelling by persons not employed in agriculture.

J Coupland, 5 Carrington Road, Spalding. Extension.

Dong Energy, land to east Sutton Bridge and north west of Walpole St Peter. Details of construction management plan and precautions to prevent mud deposits on public highways.

Leesons Garage, 117 Bridge Road, Sutton Bridge. Change of use from garden to car parking.

Fowlers Refinishers, Coronation Avenue, Throckenholt. Five bed detached dwelling and detached garage.

Mr and Mrs J Depear, The Poplars, 164 North Road, Gedney. Extension and alterations.

South Kesteven District Council

Mason, 24 Stamford Road, Market Deeping. Extensions and alterations.

Beeby, Woodlands, 26 Obthorpe Lane, Thurlby. Extensions.

Mulqueen, 91 Eastgate, Deeping St James. Alterations to barn in relation to conversion to residential dwelling.

Alston Country Homes, Corner Farm, Towngate West, Market Deeping. Alterations to barn in relation to conversion of barns to create four dwellings.

Temple Garth, the Sugar Mill, Milestone Road, Bourne. Convenience store, 100 car park spaces, cycle parking, associated landscape, new access.

Masons Arms Inn, 13 South Street, Bourne. Replacement sign and external lighting.

Boston Borough Council

D Firth Farming, Slate House Farm, Rainwalls Lane, Sutterton. Replacement dwelling.

Footer and Hill, adj Ashnola, Low Road, Wyberton. Dwelling (resubmission).

K Lee and Co Ltd, 47 Clematis, Abbey Road, Swineshead. Conversion and extension of existing garage to form detached annex.

C Sims, Drayton Cottage, Drayton, Swineshead. Demolish cottage and outbuildings and build replacement dwelling.

Swineshead Poor Charities, former youth club site, North End, Swineshead. Eight dwellings with garages/car ports and parking.

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.

Boston Magistrates’ Court

January 19

Robert Barnes (24), of Spring Gardens, Long Sutton. Obstructing a police officer (Long Sutton). £100 fine, £20 v/s, £200 costs.

Juraj Golian (42), of Fen Road, Holbeach. No insurance (Spalding). £600 fine, £60 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Kieron Reeve (26), of Market Lane, Walpole St Andrew. Speeding (Whaplode). £267 fine, £26 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Jamie Syndecombe (28), of Ostler Walk, Kirton. Driving without a seat belt (Boston). £83 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs.

Mario Balde (23), of Drayton, Bretton. No insurance (Bourne). £600 fine, £60 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Andrew Farthing (50), of High Street, Horbling. Speeding (Whaplode). £400 fine, £40 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Janet Marchant (56), of Little Dog Drove, Holbeach St Johns. Speeding (Moulton Seas End). £70 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Jeannette McEwan (50), of Goodwins Road, King’s Lynn. Speeding (Sutton Bridge). £400 fine, £40 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Brian Cobb (71), of Wingfield, King’s Lynn. Speeding (Whaplode). £35 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Darius Jarasius (19), of Hallgate, Moulton. Defective head lamp (Weston). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs. No separate penalty for defective rear light.

David Kitchen (55), of Sots Hole Bank, Holbeach St Matthews. Failing to give driver ID (Nettleham). £600 fine, £60 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Wendy Morby (38), of St Anns Lane, Boston. No insurance (Kirton). £190 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Erik Tolnay (29), of Hallgate, Holbeach. No insurance (Holbeach). £280 fine, £28 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

John Hooton (63), of Brunswick Drive, Skegness. Speeding (Whaplode). £183 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

January 21

Christopher Upton (31), of Daniels Gate, Long Sutton. Failing to give a specimen of breath (Boston). £430 fine, £43 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 26 months.

Michael Hornik (25), of Ladywood Road, Spalding. Drink driving (Spalding). £350 fine, £35 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 20 months.

Valerijs Matutis (31), of Albion Street, Spalding. Stole cosmetics worth £125.88 belonging to Boots (Spalding). Community order with 100 hours unpaid work, £60 v/s, £85 costs.

Grantham Magistrates’ Court

January 19

Emma Cowell (36), of Chapel Lane, Folkingham. Drink driving (Bourne). £350 fine, £35 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 12 months.

Lee Elwood (27), of Victory Gardens, Crowland. Breaching a non-molestation order (Louth). 16 weeks prison sentence suspended for 18 months with 100 hours unpaid work, requirement to participate in Thinking Skills Programme, restraining order, £80 v/s.

Lincoln Magistrates’ Court

January 16

Valerijs Matutis (31), of Albion Street, Spalding. Stole a jacket worth £35 belonging to Peacocks (Spalding). £100 fine, £20 v/s, to be detained in court house, detention deemed served by reason of time already spent in custody. No action taken on breach conditional discharge.

Skegness Magistrates’ Court

January 13

Paul Blanchard (26), of Brookfurlong, Peterborough. Dishonestly made off without paying £45.06 for fuel (Sutterton). Community order with 70 hours unpaid work, £45.06 compensation.

Steven Brothwell, of Wilders Garth, Holbeach. Vehicle insurance offence (Holbeach). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £110 costs.

Darren Chambers, of The Crescent, Spalding. Failing to notify change of vehicle transfer (Skegness). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £90 costs.

Algirdas Gelazius (40), of Haven Close, Fleet. Kept an unlicensed vehicle on a public road (Holbeach). £200 fine, £38.34 back duty, £90 costs.

Arturas Gutmanis (42), of Fennell Road, Pinchbeck. Kept an unlicensed vehicle on a public road (Spalding). £200 fine, £33.17 back duty, £90 costs.

Nauris Gutmanis (40), of Alexandra Road, Spalding. Kept an unlicensed vehicle on a public road (Spalding). £200 fine, £90 costs.

Claire Hodgins (20), of Marsh Road, Sutterton. Insurance offence (Boston). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £110 costs.

Mohammed Idris (41), of Fleet Street, Holbeach. Insurance offence (Spalding). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £110 costs.

Malgorata Labedzka (42), of Kime Mews, Kirton. Insurance offence (Boston). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £110 costs.

Stuart Murray (27), of Lindum Mews, North Hykeham. Insurance offence (Spalding). £135 fine, £20 v/s, £110 costs.

Macies Olejik, of Oakley Place, Holbeach. Failing to notify change of vehicle transfer (Holbeach). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £90 costs.

David Sones (55), George Avenue, Gedney Drove End. Insurance offence (Spalding). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £110 costs.

Nino Stainton (19), of Broadley Crescent, Louth. Insurance offence (Spalding). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £110 costs.

Arnoldas Virzintas (22), of Broadgate, Weston. Insurance offence (Spalding). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £110 costs.

January 20

Victor Ford (37), of Pinchbeck Road, Spalding. Interfering with a motor vehicle (Spalding 18.1.15). £50 fine. Assaulting a police officer (Boston). £50 fine. Assault (Spalding). £50 fine, £75 compensation, £20 v/s, £50 costs. Interfering with a motor vehicle (Spalding 16.1.15). £50 fine.

Spalding-based police inspector Jim Tyner is heading to Skegness for three months to be a temporary chief inspector for East Lindsey.

Insp Tyner, who takes up his the post in mid-March, said: “I am very excited about taking on my new challenge and I’m looking forward to working in East Lindsey.

“However Spalding is still my home and I expect to return here in the future.”

It’s not yet known who will take over his duties at Spalding.

Insp Tyner was a temporary chief inspector seconded to the National Policing Improvement Agency in London from June 2009 to November 2010 and staff officer for Chief Constable Neil Rhodes from November 2010 to December 2011, when he came to Spalding to work on community patrol, the response side of police work.

He took on his current role as community policing inspector in January 2013.

Just as the chemist’s job has changed since Rex Merchant was learning the ropes as an apprentice in the 1950s, the role is still altering.

Rex, who was born in Queen’s Road in Spalding and lived in Albion Street until he was 18, says: “You have to keep up to date in any profession and anything to do with medicine is constantly altering.

“Pharmacy is altering now in a big way. Chemists now are doing flu injections, blood pressure checks, checking people’s medication, and are less and less involved in dispensing. They are really becoming doctors’ assistants.

“When I started out a lot of it was the skill in preparing the stuff and all of that has gone now and it’s just a matter of counting the tablets and checking it’s legal and you are not poisoning somebody and the doctor has got it right.”