Police are appealing for the driver of a silver or possibly grey people carrier to come forward following a fatal crash on the south side of Bourne.

The crash on the A15 at 12.20pm on April 13 claimed the life of South Kesteven District Council chairman Reg Howard.

John Siddle, from Lincolnshire Road Safety Road Partnership, said the south bound vehicle narrowly missed a silver or grey MPV people carrier style vehicle moments before it collided with a 4x4.

He said: “Several cars were in the traffic at the time and witnesses have come forward, however the driver of the silver/grey people carrier vehicle, heading north, has yet to come forward.

“It is known the driver of this vehicle took evasive action to avoid one of the cars and swerved quite dramatically in the road to achieve this.

“The driver may be unaware of the events that unfolded thereafter but will have seen the vehicle he or she avoided.

“Officers are appealing for the driver of that people carrier to contact the police.

“This vehicle was not in contact with any of the other vehicles but the driver may have information vital to the police enquiry.”

• Anyone with information is asked to call 01522 885588 or contact their nearest police station, quoting incident 167 of April 13 2015.

Resurfacing work to the B1166 Hulls Drove in Shepeau Stow will see the road closed to traffic for three weeks starting from Wednesday.

Diversions will be in place along Holbeach Drove Gate, New River Gate, Raven’s Bank, Daws Gate, Fen Gate and Roman Road onto the A16, so drivers should allow extra time for their journeys.

A Lincolnshire County Council spokesman said: “The work is expected to take around three weeks to complete and working hours will normally be between 07:30 and 17:00.

“Access to residential properties within the area affected by the scheme will be maintained for the duration of the works.

“The council apologises for any inconvenience caused by this essential maintenance.”

Resurfacing work on Cross Road, Langtoft, will see it closed to traffic from Thursday for about three weeks.

Diversions will be along Baston Outgang Road and Main Street to Deeping Road, the A15 and A1175 Littleworth Drove.

Working hours on the road over the next three weeks will be from 7.30am to 5pm, but people living and working in Cross Road will be given access.

A Lincolnshire County Council spokesman said: “We apologise for any inconvenience caused by this essential maintenance.”

Diagnosing and living with Parkinson’s

Parkinson’s disease is a condition in which part of the brain becomes progressively damaged over many years.

It is thought that around one-in-500 people are affected by the disease, which means there are an estimated 127,000 people in the UK with the condition.

The three main symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are:

* tremor (involuntary shaking of particular parts of the body)

* slow movement

* stiff and inflexible muscles

A person with Parkinson’s disease can also experience a wide range of other physical and psychological symptoms, including depression, problems sleeping, loss of sense of smell and memory problems.

Dr Kevin Hill said: “Anyone who is concerned that they may have symptoms of Parkinson’s disease should go to see their GP. The GP will ask about the problems experienced and may refer you to a specialist for tests.

“There is currently no cure for Parkinson’s disease, although a wide range of treatments are available to help reduce the main symptoms and maintain the patient’s quality of life for as long as possible. Advances in treatment mean most people with Parkinson’s disease now have a normal or near-normal life expectancy. ”

Parkinson’s disease is caused by a loss of nerve cells in part of the brain which leads to a reduction in the amount of a chemical called dopamine in the brain. Dopamine plays a vital role in regulating the movement of the body and a reduction in dopamine is responsible for many of the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.

Exactly what causes the loss of nerve cells is unclear. Most experts think that a combination of genetic and environmental factors is responsible.

Most people with Parkinson’s start to develop symptoms when they are over 50, although around one-in-20 people with the condition first experience them under the age of 40. Men are more likely to get it than women.

Patients may not need any treatment during the early stages of the disease as symptoms are usually mild. However, it may be necessary to attend regular appointments with the specialist so that the condition can be monitored.

As the condition progresses, the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease can get worse and it can become increasingly difficult to carry out everyday activities without assistance.

Some people respond well to treatment and only experience mild to moderate disability, whereas others eventually become severely disabled.

Parkinson’s disease does not directly cause people to die, but the condition can place great strain on the body and can make some people more vulnerable to serious and life-threatening infections.

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

April 1

John Shepherd (58), of Joys Bank, Holbeach St Johns. Failed to comply with the notification requirements of the Sexual Offences Act. £150 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs. Admitted two further offences during a suspended sentence order. The court heard he had reported, but late.

James Lowe (24), of Barns Road, Donington. Criminal damage, being in charge of a vehicle after consuming alcohol (Manchester) and failing to surrender to custody (Stockport). Community order with curfew requirement and requirement to participate in Thinking Skills programme, £200 compensation, £200 costs, disqualified from driving for 2 years. No separate penalty for no insurance.

John-Luke Philpotts (25), of Medlock Crescent, Spalding. Carried an offensive weapon in a public place (Spalding). Community order with 80 hours unpaid work, £60 v/s, £40 costs, order made to deprive the defendant of his rights in the baseball bat.

Grantham Magistrates’ Court

March 30

Paul Machin (24), of Rolleston Garth, Peterborough. Drink driving (Market Deeping). £220 fine, £22 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 22 months. No separate penalty for no insurance.

Stephen Murray (20), of Manor Lane, Bourne. Criminal damage to petrol pump worth £887.05 belong to ExxonMobil (Tesco Express, Bourne) and used threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour and assaulted a police officer (Bourne).

Two counts of assaulting a police officer (Grantham). Two years conditional discharge, £500 compensation, £15 v/s.

April 1

Janis Abolins (29), of Crocus Walk, Spalding. Failed to give driver ID (Nettleham). £600 fine, £60 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Aaron Kelly (32), of Wimberley Close, Weston. Failed to give driver ID (Nettleham). £600 fine, £60 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 6 months.

Scott Fraser (35), of Longfellow Avenue, Bolton. Speeding (Whaplode). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Brian Platt (52), of Chapel Lane, Stroud. Speeding (Wyberton). £100 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

David Brown (44), of High Road, Grantham. Speeding (Moulton Seas End). £170 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Jevon Davies (29), of Cross Street, Holbeach. Speeding (Spalding). £85 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Aivaras Lapinskas (32), of Austerby, Bourne. Failed to give driver ID (Nettleham). £400 fine, £40 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

April 7

Nicolaj Lustyk (20), of Pilgrim Way, Spalding. Speeding (Crowland). £145 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Nina Hardy (46), of West Street, Folkingham. No insurance (Sleaford). £110 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

No separate penalty for having passenger riding in broken front seat and passenger sat on booster seat with no seat belt.

Tomasz Narloch (29), of South Street, Bourne. Speeding (Spalding). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Wieslaw Solinski (48), of Oxford Gardens, Spalding. Speeding (Spalding). £400 fine, £40 v/s, £85 costs, 4pts.

April 8

Gary Dickinson (44), of Varley Street, Derby. Speeding (Whaplode). £50 fine, £20 v/s, £30 costs, 3pts.

Clinton Lundie (39), of Jubilee Avenue, Livingston, West Lothian. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £100 fine, £20 v/s, £43 costs, 3pts.

Carol Vasey (52), of Moulton Chapel Road, Spalding. Speeding (Wrangle). £50 fine, £20 v/s, £43 costs, 3pts.

Lincoln Magistrates’ Court

March 20

Damien Bates (27), of Flaxmill Lane, Spalding. Criminal damage (Holbeach). Nine months conditional discharge, £15 compensation. Failing to surrender to custody (Boston). £75 fine, £20 v/s, £50 costs.

March 25

Warren Heatrick (60), of West End, Downham Market. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £730 fine, £73 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 28 days.

Susana Azevedo (29), of Dogsthorpe Road, Peterborough. Speeding (Whaplode). £135 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Paul Bratt (39), of Owton Manor Lane, Hartlepool. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £330 fine, £33 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Ivan Brewster (55), of Churchill Road, Louth. Speeding (Spalding). £306 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Ejber Ozkan (41), of Erickson Gardens, Kent. Speeding (Moulton Seas End). £592 fine, £59 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

March 27

John Sharpe (42), of Leighton Walk, Spalding. Harassment (Gedney). Community order with 40 hours unpaid work, restraining order, £60 v/s, £40 costs. Commission of further offence during operational period of suspended sentence imposed for two counts of assault – committed to prison for 12 weeks, suspended for 24 months.

March 30

Rihards Pokulans (24), of Jubilee Close, Spalding. Stole ten jars of coffee and some socks belonging to Costcutter (Spalding). £75 fine, £10.78 compensation, £20 v/s, £85 costs.

March 31

William Saunders (39), of Swallow Hill, Bourne. Stole food worth £156.35 belonging to Tesco (Market Deeping). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs.

Oleksandra Krasnenko (40), of Rua Conego Feliciano, Assunsao, Portugal. Drink driving (Spalding). £500 fine, £50 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 28 months.

Ryan Patrick (29), of Rockingham Close, Peterborough. Stole two bottles of vodka worth £44 from Co-op, Market Deeping. 12 months conditional discharge, £15 v/s, £50 costs.

A man already banned for drink-driving took to the wheel in the early hours of the morning when he found himself locked out of his wife’s house.

John Geere (43), of Aveland Close, Bourne, had 81 microgrammes of alcohol in breath – more than double the legal limit – when police pulled him up in Spalding on April 5.

Boston magistrates heard Geere had intended to stay the night with his wife, from whom he was separated, but the house keys hadn’t been left outside and, instead, he found some car keys and set off to drive a short distance to a friend’s house.

Solicitor Beris Brickles, mitigating, said Geere’s wife was in bed and, as it was a terraced house, he was concerned the level of noise he would have to make to wake her would also disturb the neighbours.

Mr Brickles said: “I think it was just a question of poor thinking skills on that evening.

“He does bitterly regret what he did. In consultation with me today, he expressed that remorse very truthfully and very honestly.”

Presiding magistrate Steve Burgess told Geere his offences had passed the custody threshold.

Geere was sentenced to 12 weeks’ custody, suspended for 12 months, for driving with excess alcohol, and ordered to do 150 hours’ unpaid work.

He received an identical sentence, to run concurrently, for driving while disqualified.

Geere received no separate penalty for driving without insurance.

He pleaded guilty to all three offences.

Because of Geere’s previous drink-drive conviction last October, he was banned from driving for three years, although magistrates will allow him to cut that by 36 weeks if he completes a 
rehabilitation course.

He must also pay £85 
prosecution costs and an £80 victim surcharge.

Mr Burgess told Geere: “If you break the requirements of the order or you commit another offence while on the order, you can expect to serve the prison sentence, which would appear to be reasonable, would it not?”

Geere replied: “Yes, sir.”

Marie Stace, prosecuting, said police saw Geere in a Ford Focus at 1.50am on April 5, when he was on Penny-
gate and driving towards Park Road.

Police followed Geere, who was seen making “exaggerated manoeuvres” to pass vehicles and swerving in the road before suddenly turning right into Chaucer’s Way without indicating.

Mr Brickles said Gere had been out drinking that night with a friend and had no intention of driving. When he arrived by taxi at his wife’s home, his daughter had taken both the house keys – instead of leaving one under the mat.

Her then boyfriend had left car keys in the porchway and Geere took the car to go “literally a mile down the road” to his friend’s house.

Having read several favourable pieces about John Hayes MP, may I offer my own experiences.

Your paper shows many ways in which Mr Hayes serves both his constituents and national affairs; he really cares about matters which are important.

Like other writers I have had personal assistance to fight my corner; a court case thrown out for alleged failure of council tax payment which subsequently proved to be false. He then went on to obtain monies which they had failed to pay me.

Mr Hayes also pursued a rejected claim for sheltered accommodation, later tackling their failure to attend to breakdown of maintenance.Anyone who has Mr Hayes’ support is invincible.

Hayes in the House is always worth reading – so knowledgeable on a wise range of subjects.

The campaign is now drawing to a close, many postal votes have already been cast, a few more minor skirmishes and it will all be over. Let’s hope we don’t have to do it all again soon or my keyboard will need replacing, as will my shoes.

A brief count of the blue rosettes in the South Holland Centre hustings on Thursday was quite enough to forecast the result of any poll. The Tories are good at PR and getting out activists and members and thus were able to pack the audience.

We did not even attempt to do so, merely informing members of the debate and needing to save our powder. It was a good and entertaining evening, well chaired but in no way a representation of opinion in the district.

The actual campaign so far, given the vast gap in cash and resources between the Conservatives and everyone else, is going very well. Most residents are not politics anoraks or activists and many will make up their minds at the last minute. Sadly a huge number won’t even bother to vote.

Any organisation that is dominated by a single party is sooner or later going to have problems, just as the Tories had at Lincoln during the Speechley affair.

Judging from the utter fiasco and unnecessary expense of the battle over our library service and the Red Lion project, they are still having a hard time admitting they make mistakes. I have difficulty understanding people who criticise others when the recent history of the party they support is so much worse.

Our council and parliamentary campaigns in South Holland are run as closely together as practical but they are not the same, different skill sets being required for the candidates in each election. The Tory campaigns are also interlinked and are more interdependent. UKIP are a grass roots movement. The Conservatives are a top down one.

One of these elections is about who governs our nation and how much influence UKIP will have over the winners. It’s not a by-election, we are not choosing a social worker. This is far more important than the fate of a single government minister. In short the choice before us is if to become part of a federal Europe, a star on someone else’s flag or to revert to an independent sovereign state that makes its own laws and controls its own borders.

It really is that stark.

The bulk of the Conservative Party have already decided they wish to remain in – a handful of rebels and a lot of false election promises can’t disguise that.

In May you will have a very rare opportunity to express your opinion on the performance of your council and the government, in a way they can’t ignore or overrule. I urge you to use it, by voting UKIP in all three elections.

So far, David Parsons, the UKIP candidate, has failed to make much impression here in South Holland.

His refusal to come and live here before the election has been poorly received by local people. Absurd walk-abouts are no compensation; neither are feeble attempts to cover up a complete lack of knowledge about our area by claiming credit for things he’s had nothing to do with!

Worst of all, Mr Parsons has failed to be entirely honest about his past. His career as a local councillor (first Labour, next Conservative, then Independent and finally UKIP) ended in shame, when he was found guilty by an independent enquiry of failing to uphold four core standards of public life – honesty, integrity, accountability and leadership.

If Mr Parsons wishes to be taken seriously, he should be entirely transparent about his wrongdoing by publishing full details under his own name.

Whilst many of the letters featuring in the papers for the past few weeks have been candidates in the parliamentary and district elections trying to score points off each other. I felt the need to look back at the past 15 years, and pay tribute to my local councillor and friend who is standing down at this election.

Paul Przyszlak was first elected to South Holland council in 2002, and since that time has been heavily involved in local ward and council activities, most notably helping me campaign against the closure of St Guthlacs School in 2011/2012. For a majority of his time as a councillor he’s had responsibility for the finance portfolio and shared deputy leadership with Nick Worth since 2007.

It’s through Paul that I became interested in local government, and stood alongside him and Angie Harrison in 2007 for the Crowland and Deeping St Nicholas ward.

Anyone with a long memory might remember the council forgot to count some of the votes in that year, and the recount revealed that Angie should have been elected and not me. It took a while to get the courts to rectify the correct result. It was the number one trending story on BBC local news at the time .

Despite this situation Paul kept my spirits up, and I am standing again in 2015 hoping to pick up where I left off.

I am pleased to say that Paul has given me the seal of approval, and signed my nomination papers this time around. Whilst he is one of 10 local people to do so, it means a great deal to me that someone who has achieved a great deal helping South Holland to be a more effective and efficient council has shown their faith in me. For me the benchmark is set very high, and Paul will be a very hard act to follow if I am elected.

Finally I’d like to thank Paul for the past 15 years and I wish you the very best in your retirement from politics.

Now on the sharp end of a near-nine month community campaign in Spalding St John’s, I have already begun the look back on the many things I will miss deeply after the May 7 district elections. It hit me when I returned to a local care home and was greeted like an old friend by a resident and ‘true blue’ Conservative.

In this and many other instances I know my concerns are unfounded as I will undoubtedly remain good friends with those I now know, regardless of the result in May. My commitments have been made as a campaigner, and new friends have been made as a person.

The reason for writing publicly is to reassure those of you planning on voting Jack McLean in the coming election that in return for your confidence, care, and ongoing support I will work tirelessly on your behalf and will endeavour to remain not only a representative of our community but a friend of it also. In addition to those that share with me a passion for our politics, is those with the various alternative political persuasions.

To those, you have my deepest gratitude for sharing with me your insights, opinions and time, as they will never fall on deaf ears when we speak. My time will as always remain ours, and my hope is that soon that service can extend its grasp to generations yet to come.

As part of the audience at South Holland Centre for the hustings event organised by the Spalding Guardian and Lincolnshire Free Press, I came away, like others, feeling that the whole event was a sham.

For instance, you already employ MP Mr John Hayes as a columnist at your paper; and then, lo and behold, Tory councillor Rodney Grocock is allowed to ask the most pressing question of local issues... why do you like living in South Holland and why do think this area is so beautiful?

So, that is the SG&LFP press editorship idea (assuming you chose/allowed this cringewothy question) of a really pressing political question to be allowed?

A question that allows a Labour candidate to tell us all how nice the yellow fields of rape seed are, and ‘local man’ JH to embarass the UKIP candidate by waxing lyrical about his membership in the community since 1997. I was not the only part of the audience to cringe at this sycophant line of questioning.

I, having submitted real political questions which were ignored in favour of ..Why do you like? etc am not impressed. However, I did get to ask a very relevant supplementary question, which if you were listening, and probably out of decency you ought to report... My question was this: What are you politicos on the panel going to do about restoring the Johnson Community Hospital bus route?...Did you we get an answer?...No. They were too busy slamming UKIP,and patting themselves on the back, while espousing their usual waffle, to answer fully.

The whole event leaves me feeling this was a wasted, futile and tame event dominated by Mr Hayes’ supporters.

As the country celebrated the arrival of a Royal baby girl, an exciting new event was also being born in Spalding.

Families turned out for the first Spalding Velo Prix, which saw riders of all ages exploring the quiet roads and cycle ways in the pretty countryside around the town.

Three rides set off from the Monks House Lane playing field - covering five, ten and 16 miles - and riders were able to stop off for tea and cake at some of the church flower festivals taking place across the district over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Before the rides, youngsters were able to sharpen their skills in ‘Go Race’ activities on the playing field and take part in other fun activities organised by Lincolnshire County Council’s Bikeability Team.

The action returns to Spalding Market Place tomorrow when local schools and cycling clubs from across the region take part in Italian Pursuit racing.

Spectators can catch Sunday’s races from around 10am. Fenland Road Club’s ‘Reliability Ride’ of about 35 miles for more hard-core cyclists will also start in the town centre in the morning.

See full story and pictures in next week’s Lincolnshire Free Press and Spalding Guardian.

For more information, visit www.spaldingcc.org.uk

The Spalding Guardian must be congratulated for a well-run, lively and entertaining hustings event.

Sadly, spoiled only by a stereotypical outburst from a UKIP questioner in relation to street drinking that played straight to the concerns of the Hope Not Hate campaign.

Despite their many protestations against accusations of racism – almost to the point of paranoia, UKIP’s cause was in no way helped by this shameful episode. Great Britain is a big country; small-minded Ukippers mustn’t be allowed to turn it into a nasty little country.

As someone who feels strongly about reducing immigration and rolling back the powers grabbed by the EU over the years, I was naturally leaning towards UKIP at this election.

However the choice by UKIP locally to select David Parsons, the former leader of Leicestershire County Council, who had to quit over an expenses scandal which led to an 18 month police investigation, really got my back up and makes a mockery of UKIPs claim to represent a “new kind of politics”.

What disappointed me more was David Parsons’ response at the recent candidate’s debate at the South Holland Centre when he was confronted with the independent reports into his past. He showed no remorse and even claimed he’d been cleared of wrongdoing – a claim which was torn apart by the man in the audience who had a copy of the damning report with him!

By contrast the decency and boldness shown by John Hayes on the night was noticeable – saying that he would quit the Government if the Conservatives don’t offer an EU referendum, as they have promised, took real guts.

To hear him speak with such pride about his working class background was powerful, and give him credit – John Hayes is the only candidate I’ve seen out and about, who’s knocked on my door, and who is listening to what local people have to say to him.

John’s right – the only way we will all get a say on leaving Europe is with a Conservative Government. A vote for UKIP will, ironically, stop that.

The Parliamentary Hustings organised by your papers were an interesting, illuminating but not a very informative evening.

I asked a question of the panel about immigration and UKIP’s proposal to control migration modelled on the Australian points based system directed at all the panel not specifically addressed to Mr Parsons, the UKIP candidate.

What is the Australian points based system? How would it work? Would it be effective in controlling migration? Why prefer the Australian rather than the Canadian system?

None of the candidates explained what the Australian points system was, or how it would work nor why it was more preferable than the Canadian system. Only John Hayes had considered the Australian system and pointed out that in the decade following the introduction by the Australians that migration significantly increased.

Farage and UKIP and its candidates make a virtue of being radicals intent on shattering the current model of politics. Trollope, in Phineas Finn, wrote of radical politicians as “having nothing to construct. They can only deal in generalities.” Being free of responsibilities they are not called upon to either study details or master great facts. It is their business to inveigh against evils and perhaps there is no easier business when the privilege of an audience is attained.

How to regulate immigration is a major issue for all parties in this election but aroused little comment from the parties represented, even Mr Parsons.

Trollope’s perception still has relevance for today.

South Holland needs a representative who exudes ‘gravitas’. A combination of knowledge, accumulated experience, competence, oratorical confidence attentive to detail, someone who studies great facts, is honest and with the courage to challenge his audience when they are ill informed or wrong. In my judgement only John Hayes exhibited real ‘gravitas’.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: By Roger Seal, Spalding Quaker Meeting

Just a week to go to the elections, and perhaps you too are still undecided. How to choose from all the manifestos on the table? May I offer some ideas to help.

Having the vote can be a way to promote your own interests and certainly much in the manifestos appeals to self-interest, but perhaps another, more honourable, reason for getting involved in politics is for the good of those who most need our protection and support.

Some of us are smart and tough enough to win come what may; a compassionate society is one that looks after everyone else.

President Kennedy in his inaugural address in 1961 said: “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”

That’s good advice, only nowadays maybe we should add “… your world and your descendants”.

So much in the manifestos focuses on the here and now and seems to ignore the interests of our fellow beings, our fellow creatures and our children and grandchildren after us.

Perhaps we should cast our vote on behalf of them.

Lastly, probably the best we can do is pray for the candidates before the election, and the winners afterwards.

They will need all the support we can give them to discern and decide how to govern justly and wisely, with courage to face being unpopular and humility to admit that sometimes they make mistakes.

Well done to Winston Brown on the manner in which he chaired the hustings at the South Holland Centre last week.

Pity he was unaware of, or chose to ignore, the childish note-passing that was going on to his right for most of the evening, instigated by John Hayes.

Not the behaviour one would expect from a Member of Parliament seeking re-election.

South Holland and the Deepings deserve much better!

Rodney and I have been out on the doors in Spalding (see picture on next page) and it is clear from our conversations with people that the quality of life crisis is biting hard for many.

This is coupled with concerns about public services coming under pressure from an increasing local population and the ongoing government cuts reducing services and affecting council spending and priorities.

At the last budget Conservative Chancellor George Osborne told us: “The sun is starting to shine – and we are fixing the roof.”

Well, one of residents we spoke to would tell George she can barely afford to even fix the bathroom ceiling of her council house!

This Government’s austerity cuts are clearly hitting hard. Local councils are being massively underfunded and ours is no exception.

Your local Labour Party want voters to remember that you don’t have to stick with what you know. We know that John Hayes has helped many people – he is clearly a very good constituency MP. Yet he has been a member of a government that has done much damage to the well-being of people in this constituency and beyond. Maybe now is time for a change. For example, even whilst praising John’s responsiveness, one constituent expressed frustration that “he has voted for policies that have hit my pocket hard”.

We also spoke to voters who are concerned over the impact of immigration. UKIP has told people that Labour don’t have policies on immigration, but they are wrong.

For instance, if elected we will stop wages being under-cut by banning jobs being exclusively

advertised overseas, we will put a two-year ban on benefits for new migrants, ensure NHS workers speak English and put 1,000 extra border guards in place.

But people also tell us how hard-working the majority of immigrants are who settle here. It is clear that UKIP want to paint a picture of every migrant being a bad egg. This is nothing short of hate-mongering. Immigrants are people just like you and me.

UKIP are “more Tory than the Tories”. Nigel Farage and his gang believe in Margaret Thatcher’s approach and will deliver tax cuts for millionaires, scrap workers’ rights, scrap sick pay and maternity leave and privatise our NHS. Does anybody really want that?

We know of the pressure on local services due to the population of this area increasing and that many of the new arrivals are Eastern European migrants. However, let us not forget that many of these migrants are here to fill an increase in manufacturing jobs in the area. The jobs would still need to be filled, even if the workers were from the UK only, unless we closed all the factories! Which means a population increase is inevitable.

So at the heart of what has failed is local investment in services to support our growing population. We clearly therefore need to invest and grow our public services to ensure access for all residents. This is what a vote for Labour will achieve.

Your vote for Matthew Mahabadi of the Labour Party is a vote for a better South Holland and The Deepings and a better Britain that helps everyone, not just those at the top.

Matthew Mahabadi & Rodney Sadd

Labour Party

A lot is being said by the Conservatives about “local man, local issues” – but this is not a local election – it’s a General election!

It’s Mr Hayes’ actions at a national level that should be up for scrutiny, and banging on about local issues is just a blind.

On a national level, our local MP does not stand out as a “people’s champion”. Did local people really want the NHS opened up for privatisation? Tax breaks for millionaires? Raised tuition fees? Bedroom tax? Fracking all over the county? Mr Hayes voted for all the above.

He voted against an £8 minimum wage, against banning MP’s having second jobs and against an amendment that would allow better/quicker access of information on paedophiles in high places.

Then there is the banking fiasco – £375billion of free money to the greedy banks that caused the economic bust, but an eight-year delay for any safeguards for the people against it happening again.

I could mention food banks, the hounding of disabled and vulnerable people DWP, till some die of neglect or commit suicide. Pensioners chased for £100 tax on their income while big corporations don’t even get their wrists slapped for paying no tax on massive profits.

Having a government post means our MP was very much a part of it all. A government, not for the people but for the banks and corporations.

So, if more of the same is what you really want for the country, then John Hayes is your man!