4 November 2011
31 October
Top grades for council housing service
A SERVICE which provides help for more than 1,500 residents in South Holland has won top marks by a team of inspectors.
Straight A grades have been awarded to South Holland District Council’s Supported Housing programme which enables many elderly, disabled or vulnerable adults to live independent lives.
The inspection, carried out by Lincolnshire County Council, covered standards set in security, health and safety as well as safeguarding clients.
It also looked at planning and ensuring that the service caters for clients’ needs at the 30-plus schemes across the district which stretches from Donington in the north to Sutton Bridge in the south east.
The service supports independent living but does not provide personal care for residents. Visiting scheme managers provide guidance for clients and look out for their welfare.
The Quality Assessment Framework (QAF) inspection report gave its work A grades in assessment and support planning; security, health and safety; Safeguarding and protection from abuse; fair access, diversity and inclusion and client involvement and empowerment.
Supported Housing Manager Joanne Craik said: “The Supported Housing team is a great asset to the council and we are delighted with the performance that is achieved by the staff year after year.
“They all work extremely hard and the majority work above and beyond what is expected of them.”
Councillor Christine Lawton, South Holland District Council Portfolio Holder for Housing Landlord, said: “I am not surprised by by this excellent assessment. We have efficient and dedicated staff across all our housing teams and our supported housing staff work extremely hard to look after the welfare of our elderly and vulnerable tenants. I am proud of their achievements and congratulate them all.”
24 October
Youngsters enjoy trip to SHDC
YOUNGSTERS enjoyed a lesson on the work of local government during a trip to South Holland District Council’s offices.
Ten pupils from St John the Baptist Primary School in Spalding were given insight into operations at Priory Road.
They had a look at the council chamber – where local representatives make key decisions about local affairs – and were shown a display in the housing department of council-owned homes. They also learned about the work of South Holland Youth Council.
A DVD on local democracy and the importance of voting were also part of the programme in an afternoon of events run with school governor and council Opposition Leader Councillor Angela Newton.
The children, aged eight to 11, and all recently elected members of the school council, were able to ask questions about the council’s work and took part in a mini-quiz on the council and politics.
Shanice Forster, Year 6 Junior Road Safety Officer, said: “It was very useful finding out about voting and having a tour around the council offices. It taught me more about what the council did. I would love to go again.”
And Libbi Burchnall added: "I really enjoyed the trip because I got to sit in the councillors’ chamber.”
Councillor Newton thanked all pupils and the teachers for visiting the Council Offices and gave them some promotional fabric bags, leaflets and pens to take away to commemorate their visit.
She said, “This visit gave pupils an interesting insight into what SHDC does and this is important as they are the political leaders and council taxpayers of the future.”
14 October
Save cash on energy bills
A MAJOR drive to help people save money on their fuel bills is being spearheaded in South Holland.
South Holland District Council is offering an energy assessment service which will help you work out how you can cut your costs.
Savings made by introducing measures around your home to lower your fuel bills will soon outweigh the cost of the assessment.
More than a third of your home's heat is lost through the walls and more than 20 per cent is lost through its roof while there are many other ways to reduce energy consumption.
Fuel costs are expected to increase dramatically in the lead up to 2020 with many households already struggling to keep pace with the rise in prices.
Councillor Roger Gambba-Jones, SHDC Portfolio Holder for Carbon Management, said, "I would certainly urge residents to take advantage of this service before this year's cold weather arrives, especially as it is again forecast to bring us below average winter temperatures. Not only could residents benefit directly by saving money on their energy bills, they would also be making a valuable contribution towards the reduction of our district's carbon footprint."
If you are spending more than 10 per cent of your income on gas, electricity or oil there are various schemes available to help you cut the costs.
Under the HELP (Home Energy Lincs Partnership) scheme cavity wall and loft insulation are free for people on benefits or those who are over the age of 70.
HELP is a partnership between all district councils in Lincolnshire, including South Holland. There are also many other schemes available to assist you with which the energy technician will be able to advise you.
A partner organisation, Street Energy, will be calling at residents' homes offering to install cavity wall and loft insulation, under the HELP scheme.
The council's NI187 Technician will be supplying a questionnaire to residents to determine whether they could benefit from an energy assessment.
Questions will focus on boilers, solar panels, double glazing, heating systems, thermostats and low energy light bulbs.
All customers are urged to complete the questionnaire and those who are 'able to pay' will receive their assessment at a below-market cost.
Paper versions have already been sent out but can be obtained online on SHDC's website.
For more details contact Riga Jansons, NI 187 Technician at South Holland District Council, rjansons@sholland.gov.uk. Telephone 01775 764832 or log on to www.sholland.gov.uk.
14 October
Offenders work in Community Payback
OFFENDERS have been paying back to the community by helping to tidy up areas of South Holland and sprucing up Spalding’s riverside.
Lincolnshire Probation Trust, in partnership with South Holland District Council (SHDC), has been supervising teams of workers under the Community Payback scheme.
Some of the work has been part-funded under the council’s designated members’ budget scheme, which gives individual councillors a sum of money to pay for grassroots community projects.
The Community Payback teams have been operating in a number of parts of the district including Sutton Bridge, Long Sutton, Weston and Spalding. Work has included gardening and tidying up communal areas on SHDC sheltered housing schemes.
On the riverbank, in Spalding, the teams have been renovating and replacing benches and have been praised for doing a fantastic job.
Councillor Gary Taylor, SHDC Portfolio Holder for Internal Services and ward councillor for Spalding Castle, said: “Residents in my ward have raised concerns with me regarding the condition of certain parts of the riverbank, in particular the condition of the wooden benches. We have now sought the services of the Community Payback team from the Probation service to carry out work in this area.
“Residents want to see offenders giving something back to their community and I agree. It’s vital that the public see that we are taking action and justice must be seen to be done and this should also be a deterrent to would-be offenders.
“This project and others are benefiting the community by making improvements to our local environment. Anyone can nominate an area to be improved. Please contact me with suggestions for other areas.”
10 October
Pumpkin Festival packed with fun
THE 11th annual Spalding Pumpkin Festival was today hailed a resounding success after an evening glowing with fun and sparkling with fireworks.
The Market Place was transformed into a sea of orange as thousands of people from around South Holland and beyond joined in the celebrations to honour the wonderful pumpkin.
Hundreds of youngsters and many in their senior years were kitted out in pumpkin fashion, the Sheep Market was thriving with stalls and nearby shops were bedecked in pumpkin paraphenalia.
Many families joined in the spectacle of the Pumpkin Parade, headed by Flower Queen Daisy Ivatt as lantern-holding youngsters lit up the darkness while touring the town.
Food, fancy dress, pumpkin carving, entertainment including music and drama were all part of thrilling itinerary of entertainment.
The night’s activities reached a dramatic finale with fireworks launched from above the South Holland Centre before The Wild Boys rounded off a mouth-watering series of musical entertainment.
South Holland District Council Deputy Leader Councillor Nick Worth said: “This was a real treat for all the family to enjoy. A celebration of the harvest and all that is good in South Holland.”
Grower David Bowman is the UK’s biggest producer of pumpkins, producing more than two million every year to supply supermarkets up and down the country. He gives away hundreds of pumpkins away at the festival every year.
The event began in October 2000 and has been held annually since with the town mobilised into a march with a difference every autumn.
The Pumpkin Festival was organised by South Holland District Council, supported by The Rotary Club of Welland Centenary and Spalding Lions. The event was sponsored by David Bowman Ltd and compered by Tulip Radio.
6 October
Return of the pumpkins
ORGANISERS are getting pumped up for this year's spectacular Spalding Pumpkin Parade.
With days to go before the annual festival a sackful of events and activities have already been drawn up that won't 'squash' your expectations.
Thousands of youngsters and their families are expected to stroll through town in a sea of orange and in recognition of South Holland's status as pumpkin-growing capital of Europe.
Food, fancy dress, spectacular fireworks, pumpkin carving, entertainment including music and drama, and the romance of the Flower Queen being escorted through the town centre in a pumpkin carriage have all been lined up for the town's centrepiece event.
An exciting programme is being drawn up to celebrate all things pumpkin with thousands of South Holland residents and visitors expected to descend upon Spalding town centre on Friday, October 7.
South Holland District Council Deputy Leader Councillor Nick Worth said:
"The Pumpkin Parade is one of the highlights of the year in South Holland and we are looking forward to another colourful celebration of harvest time in which whole families can get involved."
Dance floor fillers the Wild Boys have been lined up to bring some sparkling pop to a day of squash.
Famed for yielding a bumper crop of musical covers, the five-piece outfit will finish off a day celebrating the harvest from South Holland's fields of gold.
From Billy Idol numbers to KC and the Sunshine Band, the Wild Boys have built a reputation for their 80s-style sets and will round off the annual spectacle with some quality entertainment.
Rich Knight, the band's vocalist, said: "Wild Boys are the ultimate live 80s cover band. Having formed in the summer of 2009 Wild Boys are already setting very high standards with their vast performing experience and exciting shows! Covering all the great artists from the best decade in music. The 80's!"
The day's festivities start at 10am with a programme of family fun, live music from Megz Mcpartlin, indie trio the Romantic Idols who won last year's
Lincolnshire Battle of the Bands, The Wellocks, Kamikaze Hotshot, street artists and fireworks - all in honour of the humble pumpkin.
Grower David Bowman is the UK's biggest producer of pumpkins, producing more than two million every year to supply supermarkets up and down the country.
He gives away hundreds of the hard-skinned, fleshy spheres at the festival every year.
The event started in October 2000 and has been held annually since with the town mobilised into a march with a difference every autumn.
The Pumpkin parade is organised by South Holland District Council supported by The Rotary Club of Welland Centenary and Spalding Lions. The event is sponsored by David Bowman Ltd and compered by Tulip Radio.
3 October
The Big Draw
ASPIRING artists are being urged to go to the drawing board in Spalding as part of a national campaign.
A giant roll of paper will be reeled out at Ayscoughfee Hall Museum for visitors to join in some creative fun as part of the Big Draw which takes place on Saturday, October 8.
Everyone is urged to grab a felt tip pen to add a quick sketch or a mini masterpiece which will then be displayed in the upstairs of the historic building.
The Big Draw has been run every October since 2000 and aims to encourage everyone to get a little arty by expressing themselves. Each year the event has a different theme and this time round it’s the Drawing Age.
Freelance artist Maria Maidment will provide a helping hand to those wanting to take part while nationwide, thousands are expected to join in.
At Ayscoughfee, which is managed by South Holland District Council, organisers would like people to draw their favourite memory, an event from history, or maybe create an idea of what things may look like in the future, such as cars or houses.
Councillor Nick Worth, Portfolio Holder for Arts Development, said: “You don’t have to be a Picasso or Salvador Dali, if you have a creative mind just put your art into it. It should be great fun.”
The session is open between 11am and 3pm and is aimed at all ages and abilities so everyone can create something that will form a long wall of art. For more information contact www.thebigdraw.org.
27 September
Carving out fun at pumpkin parade
Pumpkin carver Jonathan Nicholls is challenging youngsters to use their imagination at South Holland’s party of the decade.
With just over a week to go to the Spalding Pumpkin Festival, organised by South Holland District Council, Mr Nicholls is hoping to see a procession of top drawer designs at the town’s renowned parade.
Armed with chisels, kitchen knives, apple corers and even a plasterer’s saw, Mr Nicholls and his wife Angela, who runs Farmhouse Chicken Crafts, will set up stall to demonstrate the art and intracacies of their pumpkin carving craft.
They want parade -goers to think beyond the standard Jack O’Lantern and peel off some creative new figures to give extra variety to the sea of orange that will decend on the town centre on October 7.
Mr Nicholls, whose day job is as a broadband engineer for BT, said: “I want people to use their imagination and have the confidence to think outside the box, or beyond the pumpkin as you might say.
“Instead of the standard Jack O’Lantern there are so many other things you can create in a carved pumpkin and bring a smile to somebody’s face. It’s the humour that it creates.”
Among the couple’s repertoire for pumpkin design is a pumpkin-eating pumpkin, spiderman, sunflower, cat, autumn lady and errant pumpkins as inmates and those that have been drinking too much.
But it’s not just faces that have captured the couple’s imagination as they have used the orange spheres as houses, lanterns and even a toadstool.
The pair, from Gosberton, near Spalding, discovered the delights of pumpkins around 14 years ago during a trip to New England in the United States. There, youngsters take to the pumpkin fields, pick their specimen and return home to create a character or caricature of their own.
Carving is just one of many pumpkin-themed stalls and activities that will be at the Spalding Pumpkin Festival which runs from 10am until 9pm. There will be street entertainment and an interactive display from the National Farmers Union on why farming mattters. David Bowman donates thousands of pumpkins to schools for children to decorate and bring along to the parade.
Clowns, live music, a fancy dress contest fireworks and cookery demonstrations are all part of the line-up with the centrepiece of proceedings the pumpkin parade, headed by South Holland Flower Queen Daisy Ivatt in her pumpkin coach, which starts from 6.30pm.
South Holland District Council Deputy Leader Nick Worth said: “The whole programme is lining up to be yet another fantastic treat for the people of South Holland to come and enjoy. Join us, bring the family and celebrate the humble pumpkin!”
The Pumpkin Parade is organised by South Holland District Council and is supported by The Rotary Club of Welland Centenary and Spalding Lions. The event is sponsored by David Bowman Ltd with community radio station Tulip Radio as comperes for the event.
23 September
Councils in talks to share management and achieve further benefits
Great Yarmouth Borough Council has today entered into discussions with Breckland and South Holland District Councils to investigate sharing a single management team across the three authorities.
The talks come just twelve months after Breckland and South Holland appointed a joint chief executive and six months after they merged their management teams, a move which has created year on year savings of more than £1m.
It is believed that if the management merger across three local authorities goes ahead it will be the first of its kind in UK local government.
It will lead the way in shaping how District Council’s work with elected executive Cabinets, it will achieve improved value for money from the investment in senior managers, provide greater resilience to the Councils when this is needed and, in addition, provide further savings for Breckland and South Holland and create savings for Great Yarmouth.
Steve Ames, Leader of Great Yarmouth Borough Council, said: “Breckland and South Holland District Councils have demonstrated the way in which shared management can work and my council is delighted to be able to seize this opportunity to explore working with them.
“This offers Great Yarmouth the chance to develop greater resilience and it will give access to a wider range of management skill and experience, allied to better recruitment and retention prospects.
“Local government is changing rapidly and these talks put Great Yarmouth in the vanguard of this change. We are taking control of our destiny and ensuring that this authority is structured in a way that can meet the challenges we face head on.”
“These are difficult times and it is only by looking to adopt new and innovative ways of working that we can create the organisation and savings needed to continue to provide the quality services valued by our residents.”
William Nunn, Leader of Breckland Council, said he now expected talks to progress at a pace. He said, “During the initial stages of discussion the focus of our efforts will be to determine how a shared management team can work efficiently and effectively over the three authorities. We hope that by the end of 2011 we will have been able to conclude what the shared management structure will look like so that we can push ahead with proposals and a report in early 2012. We are acutely aware as we enter these talks that there will inevitably be a period of uncertainty for staff at all three authorities. We will endeavour to deal with all issues that arise in a sensitive, consultative and timely manner.”
The concept of sharing a single management team over three authorities breaks new ground in local government thinking but Gary Porter, Leader of South Holland District Council, said: “Our aim is to ensure that we keep locally accountable elected member representation at the heart of local government whilst still making the savings that our communities expect us to make and at the same time protecting the services that they care about.”
23 September
Giving job-seekers a chance
The first of a series of job opportunity fairs will be held in Holbeach on Thursday, October 6, 2011.
The Economic Development Unit at South Holland District Council, in association with Jobcentre Plus, is inviting employers to the Women’s Institute Hall, Park Road, from 10am until 2pm.
The emphasis on the fair is to provide information on jobs and careers and to help people get “job ready”, assisting them with applications, CVs and issues such as getting to work.
Statistically Holbeach has the second highest rate of joblessness in Lincolnshire.
Economic development officers are planning more job fairs next year.
Economic Development Portfolio Holder Councillor Howard Johnson said: “It is vital to the economic health of the district that we help people get into the workplace. By organising events such as this Jobs Opportunities Fair, we help jobseekers, particularly the younger members of our communities, seek full-time employment.”
Jobcentre Plus Employer and Partnership Manager Derrick Brown said: “We are pleased to be working with South Holland District Council to support local employers fill their vacancies, and at the same time help jobseekers find employment. This is an ideal opportunity for jobseekers to talk direct to employers who are currently recruiting. At the same time they can talk to a range of training and career guidance partners, to look at what other training opportunities might be available locally to them”.
15 September
Think twice when preparing your ice!
Businesses selling drinks and householders are being warned to take care when serving ice cold beverages.
A glass providing thirst-quenching refreshment - with ice to make it colder - may contain more than you have bargained for.
Thirty per cent of ice tested failed safety tests in a survey, by the Health Protection Agency and Local Authorities. South Holland District Council participated in this survey.
All four premises sampled by environmental health officers from South Holland District Council were unsatisfactory for at least one sample when either ice or machine/equipment was swab-tested.
The majority of these had coliform bacteria or enterobacteria, both of which are indicators of poor hygiene. This is usually caused by insufficient hand washing and/or poor cleaning of equipment and utensils.
All of the premises were subject to follow-up action by food officers from the council and re-sampling took place where appropriate.
Ice machines are notoriously difficult to clean and are an ideal breeding ground for mould and mildew in particular - mostly due to their storage position which is the cellar in most cases. In one case visible mould growth was present within the ice machine and within the ice cubes themselves.
A lot of premises now use commercially produced ice bags to try to avoid these problems. However, even these will be contaminated if poorly handled.
Ice samples are currently tested against drinking water standards which means that any slightly raised levels of bacterial growth will make the sample unsatisfactory.
Councillor Malcolm Chandler, Portfolio Holder for Environmental Health, said: “Food safety officers from South Holland DC participated in this national survey. We sample a wide variety of foods throughout the year as part of our sampling programme, to make sure the public are confident in the food they eat. They expect food to be safe and to have been handled hygienically. Officers have carried out the necessary follow-up action to ensure that all appropriate advice was given, and re-sampling carried out.”
The study, led by microbiology professionals at the HPA’s Food, Water and Environmental laboratory in Leeds was carried out in partnership with environmental health officers in local authorities across Yorkshire and the East Midlands. It involved collecting ice samples at random from 88 premises including coffee shops, hotels, public houses, restaurants and supermarkets.
14 September
Youngsters rebuild Land Rover for charity
Youngsters have been working hard to rebuild a Land Rover to be used by a charity providing holidays for deprived children.
The team, in Sutton Bridge, have helped strip and rebuild the vehicle – in a workshop provided by South Holland District Council – ready for it to be delivered to its new owners.
The council teamed up with police and a number of other partners in finding a project that would capture the imagination of young people in the 13 to 17 age range and help keep them off the streets.
Police Community Support Officer Ben Harrington said: “There have been problems with anti-social behaviour in Sutton Bridge so we we were looking for something specific for the kids to do. A few of the kids said they wanted to do something with cars.”
The team managed to pick up a “battered and bruised” Land Rover Station Wagon 110 Defender which was wanted by a charity working in Africa.
The original 12-strong group set about working on the vehicle under the guidance of mechanics Stuart Coote and Andy Hunt, PCSO Harrington, Pc Laura Griggs, County Youth Development Worker Sarah Coote, SHDC Anti-Social Behaviour Officer Abigail Cooper and Annie Best from Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue.
PCSO Harrington said: “We stripped the vehicle down, repainted it and replaced old parts with new. We were going to pass it to a charity working in Africa but they no longer needed it, so I started trawling the internet and was delighted to learn that this particular vehicle was on another charity’s wish-list.”
Stuart said: “Over the past 17 months a very special group of young people have given their time freely and without conditions to strip and rebuild a 1999 Land Rover.
“I am proud of the group and would work with them anytime and do what I can to support them.”
The mainstays of the team have been 16-year-olds Karl Tear, Sam Bacon and Martyn Kennett, Daisy Kilbon (14) and Anthony Hughes (15). Teenagers Matthew Fuller and Ryan Gowler were also involved. Their work is accredited with an Asdan qualification.
Anthony said: “This has given me new skills in working on a Land Rover, working as a team and getting on with a different variety of people.”
Now the team is preparing to take it down to Portsmouth, Hampshire, to hand over the keys to new owners, The Second Chance Children’s Charity, which works with children from difficult and complex backgrounds.
From there, charity workers will ship the Land Rover out to Finland where it will be used to transport youngsters.
The charity, which was founded in 1984, takes youngsters fishing and uses the pastime to help give youngsters a sense of achievement, confidence and social understanding.
Councillor Nick Worth, SHDC Portfolio Holder for Community Safety said: “This project has given these young people something to focus on that has used and further developed their skills and qualifications. It has provided them with a real achievement that will help disadvantaged children. Well done!”
Lincolnshire Police Assistant Chief Constable Keith Smy said: “It was a privilege to visit those involved in this project and see first hand what they have achieved. Not only is it a practical diversionary project that teaches local teenagers some valuable skills, it has also benefited a worthy cause. I think that the young people taking part in this project should be really proud of their efforts as well as all those involved who have worked really hard to make this vision a reality.”
The project was a partnership between South Holland District Council, police, Lincolnshire County Council, the Lincolnshire Criminal Justice Unit and the Community Volunteer Service.
5 September
Pop fizzes at day of squash!
Spalding Pumpkin Festival: Friday 7 October 2011
Dance floor fillers the Wild Boys have been lined up to bring some sparkling pop to a day of squash at Spalding’s award-winning Pumpkin Parade.
Famed for yielding a bumper crop of musical covers, the five-piece outfit will finish off a day celebrating the harvest from South Holland’s fields of gold.
From Billy Idol numbers to KC and the Sunshine Band, the Wild Boys have built a reputation for their 80s-style sets and will round off the annual spectacle with some quality entertainment.
Rich Knight, the band’s vocalist, said: “Wild Boys are the ultimate live 80s cover band. Having formed in the summer of 2009 Wild Boys are already setting very high standards with their vast performing experience and exciting shows! Covering all the great artists from the best decade in music. The 80's!”
The day’s festivities start at 10am with a programme of family fun, live music from Megz Mcpartlin, indie trio the Romantic Idols who won last year’s Lincolnshire Battle of the Bands, The Wellocks, Kamikaze Hotshot, street artists and fireworks – all in honour of the humble pumpkin.
Grower David Bowman is the UK’s biggest producer of pumpkins, with more than two million decorating the landscape of the district during the year. Mr Bowman gives away thousands of them to schoolchildren and charities every year.
The parade, led by Spalding Flower Queen Daisy Ivatt, starts at 6.30pm and will tour the town centre. Children and their families are invited to join in with their decorated pumpkins.
South Holland District Council Deputy Leader Nick Worth said: “We are delighted that the Wild Boys are joining the line up of fantastic entertainment that will make the Pumpkin Festival another great success this year.”
The musical entertainment begins at 4pm, the fireworks display at 7.30pm before the Wild Boys wrap up the musical entertainment.
The Pumpkin Parade is organised by South Holland District Council and is supported by The Rotary Club of Welland Centenary and Spalding Lions. The event is sponsored by David Bowman Ltd.
5 September
Nuisance tenant evicted
A TENANT who failed to comply with an order banning illegal drugs from his home has been evicted.
Kevin Lewis (46), formerly of 22 Landsdowne Court, Spalding was removed from the property by South Holland District Council.
Enforcement action was taken by the council after a police raid on the home where amphetamines - a class B drug - were found by officers.
The council began possession proceedings for the property, having earlier been granted a suspended possession order in August last year.
The original order stated that the defendant, Mr Lewis, should not use the property, any shared area or the locality for any illegal, criminal, immoral or improper purposes, including the use, sale or storage of illegal drugs.
However in April this year a police raid on the property resulted in class B drugs being found. Mr Lewis was not at home at the time the warrant was executed but Mark Simpson, who was there, was subsequently charged with possession of a controlled class B drug.
SHDC received information from the police which verified that a quantity of controlled substances had been found at 22 Landsdowne Court and obtained a certificate of conviction from Grantham Magistrates stating that Mr Simpson (39) had been found guilty of possessing a class B drug.
Legal Services Lincolnshire commenced possession proceedings on behalf of SHDC and the eviction took place on August 15.
Councillor Christine Lawton, SHDC Portfolio Holder for Housing, said: "If people behave in an anti-social way we will take action. This tenant did not keep to an agreement and faced the consequencies.
"If local people are concerned that someone in their neighbourhood is doing something illegal, such as dealing in drugs, then they should contact the police. Once we have gathered the relevant information, we will take the appropriate action."
5 September
Gardening trio volunteer for "Dig Society"
Three community-spirited volunteers have turned to the "Dig Society" to help transform a patch of land and help fill the larders at a Spalding housing complex.
Roland Munton, George Isaac and "Brush" Wright have been getting their heads down tilling and cultivating the land outside their homes to grow vegetables and flowers.
They have embraced the spirit of the Big Society concept with their own "Dig Society", volunteering their time to produce fresh potatoes, spring cabbages, cauliflowers, tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes and onions.
They are even lining up a crop of Brussel sprouts for the dinner table at Christmas.
The trio are all residents at Nene Court, off Thames Road in Spalding, which is owned and managed by South Holland District Council.
Roland (67), who has spent half a century in horticulture, has been leading the way with his expertise and is ably assisted by retired site agent George
(78) and "Brush", who has spent 45 of his 62 years as a plumber.
Brush said: "To be honest this patch of land was a complete mess and needed a lot of attention. The council cuts the grass round here and we have been working on the beds and verges to put a bit of community spirit into the job."
Roland said: "We grow the vegetables and let the residents have them when they are ready."
For George, who originates from the Caribbean and who is the veteran of three-man gang, the work is a departure from his time as a site agent where he helped build schools, police stations and hospitals.
Now the three, while continuing the work they have already started, have
set their minds on expanding to include a nearby raised bed which has been reclaimed by nature and needs a good tidy.
SHDC Portfolio Holder for Housing, Councillor Christine Lawton, said: "As a veg gardener myself and a helper and weeder for Spalding in Bloom, I
really think these diggers of the Dig Society deserve our respect.
"I'm always impressed by how well-looked after our sheltered housing schemes are, and these gentlemen gardeners are a credit to Nene Court and South Holland."
Councillor Nick Worth, Portfolio Holder for Big Society and Localism, said:
"It is really inspiring to see these three people using their knowledge and expertise in growing vegetables to give their local community access to locally grown food. A great example of Big Society in action."
Nene Court scheme manager Alison Conroy said: "They asked me if they could work on it and plant some things there and it just took off from there. It keeps them busy and I'm hoping it might encourage other tenants to do something similar where they live. What they have been doing is really smashing."
Community Support co-ordinator Linda Woodger said: "It's great to see the three gentlemen coming together to do something for their community, enjoying it and even supplying residents with fresh vegetables.
"The three of them also do a fantastic job of maintaining the gardens around Nene House by ensuring that it is clear from weeds. I hope other people are inspired by them and the great work they do and possibly start something similar in their own area. "
24 August
New term: Autumn classes starting soon at the South Holland Centre
Adults can create some lovely floral designs for special occasions under the guidance of florist Martin Whitfield. Later in the Autumn the group will focus on inexpensive Christmas decorations and swags. The first 4-week course starts Monday 12 September 10am to 12noon for £30.
Adults who wish to develop acting techniques, presentation skills and improve personal confidence working towards small scale ‘studio’ productions should come along to sessions run by drama teacher Ian Mann. Starting Tuesday 20 September 7pm to 9pm, the five week course is £35.
Please note that the machine sewing sessions with Janet Strickland are now sold out.
For younger people, the Centre is still looking for new members to join its youth choir ‘Vibe’ led by Liz Lenten. This growing friendly group sing songs from Jessie J to Aretha Franklin and members can sing group and solo parts. Vibe starts up again for 8 to 18 year olds on Thursday 15 September 5.30pm to 7pm for just £3.50 per week.
Shake, Rattle ‘n’ Roll is for accompanied under 5s, who can discover the beauty of music, rhythm and pitch over 6 weeks with soundLINCS musician Elizabeth Padgett. There will be lots of fun instruments to bang, shake and scrape and activities encouraging sharing, communication and co-ordination.
Sessions start on Wednesday 14 September 10am to 11am for just £3 per week.
24 August
Rent a Room to bring in cash
Residents in South Holland who are struggling with the cost of living but have a spare room in the house are being urged to rent it out.
The Government’s Rent a Room scheme encourages households to take in a lodger and earn an extra income of up to £4,250 a year tax-free.
The scheme is available to both home owners and tenants - with the landlord’s permission - letting furnished rooms in their home.
South Holland District Council's Housing Advice team provides information to would-be landlords about the scheme and refer future tenants.
SHDC Portfolio Holder for Housing Christine Lawton said: “We acknowledge that in the current economic climate many people are living on reduced incomes while enduring higher costs but the Rent a Room scheme could help give you a vital extra income.
“South Holland District Council’s housing team is here to give help and advise anyone wanting to look into this initiative. We look forward to hearing from you.”
For more information on the rent-a-room scheme, call the Council’s Housing Advice team on 01775 761161 or visit www.direct.gov.uk.
19 August
Don’t lose your vote in 2012
VOTERS throughout South Holland are being urged to make sure they don’t miss out at election time.
Registration forms will soon be dropping through letterboxes across the district and residents are being urged to return theirs as soon as possible to make sure their voice is heard.
Between August 19 and 30 all households will receive a form to help compile the electoral register.
South Holland Returning Officer Terry Huggins said: “Registering to vote is very simple. All you have to do is update the annual canvass form with the details of everyone in your household who is eligible to vote and return it to us as soon as possible.
“Some people may not realise that legally they have to register every year so it is important that you respond to the registration form so you’re able to take part in any elections in 2012.”
All British, Commonwealth, Irish and EU citizens over the age of 18 should register to vote and there are four ways in which this can be done. If there are no changes to the details printed on the form householders can confirm their details by phone, internet or text message or by signing and returning the form.
Telephone, internet and text message can only be used if no changes need to be made to the information.
If details need amending or names need to be added or deleted you can only register by completing the form. The new register, which will include all residential properties, will be effective from December 1 this year.
The district council has to make the full electoral register available for anyone to look at. However on the registration form you can opt to have your details excluded from the edited register - which is readily available - stopping your details becoming available to commercial organisations.
The full register can also used by credit reference agencies when checking residency and if a person is not registered they may experience difficulties opening a bank account or obtaining credit.
If any household has not received a form by September 1, contact electoral services (elections@sholland.gov.uk) or Electoral Services at the Council Offices, Spalding on 01775 761161. Forms can also be printed off at www.aboutmyvote.co.uk.
12 August
Castle Sports Complex, Spalding
The future of a South Holland leisure centre will be debated in the coming months with a range of future options on the table.
South Holland District Councillors will be examining sports provision in the district with the future of Castle Sports Complex in Spalding at the heart of the agenda.
The centre was opened nearly 40 years ago and the council is in the process of paving a way forward that will take into account the current economic climate, involve residents and benefit the whole of the district.
Key sporting organisations, businesses and political figures will be encouraged to participate in future discussions on sporting facilities.
Councillor Howard Johnson, South Holland Portfolio Holder for Property, said, “This is a big decision for our community. We are looking at a number of solutions and following any decision will consult widely on the way foward. In the current financial times we will not be able to please everyone so there will have to be difficult decisions.
“The Castle Sports Complex is 40 years old and it is time to decide its future. We need to consider the options available to the council that provides the most cost effective provision for the community, from doing nothing, replacing it or refurbishing it, these are the issues that we will look at. Ultimately we have a responsibility to the Council Tax payers of the district and our final decision must rest on what best serves their interests.”
10 August
CASH help is on offer to help revamp and renovate historic shops and offices throughout towns in South Holland
Buildings which have lost their glory over the passage of time could be in line for vital funding to recreate architectural gems throughout the district.
Four town centre conservation areas in Spalding, Crowland, Holbeach and Long Sutton have been earmarked under the scheme.
Traditional repairs and work to reinstate the authentic look of commercial properties could be part paid for through the Partnership Schemes in Conservation Areas (PSICA).
The repair and reinstatement of traditional shop fronts, roofs, leadwork, guttering, windows, doors and other architectural features such as shutters and balconies are eligible for funding. The cost of professional fees could also be part-covered.
A survey of the external condition of all historic buildings, which are used commercially, has already been undertaken. To find out whether your building might be eligible for grant aid please contact South Holland District Council conservation grants officer Julie-Anne Middleditch on 01775 764551.
Grants will be available on a first-come-first-served basis and on meeting the relevant criteria, if funding is available, up until March 2012.
Since 2007, more than £600,000 has been spent on improving commercial properties under the scheme which is run by South Holland in partnership with English Heritage.
Of that figure, 25 buildings have been worked on with the average grant working out at more than £24,000.
Councillor Roger Gambba-Jones, SHDC Portfolio Holder for Conservation, said, "The PSICA scheme is a wonderful opportunity for those who own buildings that are valued by our communities, to seek help to restore them to their former glory.
“Given the ever increasing pressure on the public finances, it is even more important that we take full advantage of any opportunity to bring outside investment in to South Holland. I therefore urge all those with eligible properties to get in touch with the district council, to see how we can help."
9 August
ORGANISERS are already getting pumped up for this year’s spectacular Spalding Pumpkin Parade
With just two months to the annual festival a sackful of events and activities have already been drawn up that won’t ‘squash’ your expectations.
Thousands of youngsters and their families are expected to stroll through town in a sea of orange and in recognition of South Holland’s status as pumpkin-growing capital of Europe.
Food, fancy dress, spectacular fireworks, entertainment including music and drama, and the romance of the Flower Queen being escorted through the town centre in a pumpkin carriage have all been lined up for the town’s centrepiece event.
An exciting programme is being drawn up to celebrate all things pumpkin with thousands of South Holland residents and visitors expected to descend upon Spalding town centre on October 7.
South Holland District Council Deputy Leader Councillor Nick Worth said: “The Pumpkin Parade is one of the highlights of the year in South Holland and we are looking forward to another colourful celebration of harvest time in which whole families can get involved.”
Grower David Bowman is the UK’s biggest producer of pumpkins, producing more than two million every year to supply supermarkets up and down the country. He gives away hundreds of the hard-skinned, fleshy spheres at the festival every year.
The event started in October 2000 and has been held annually since with the town mobilised into a march with a difference every autumn.
The Pumpkin parade is organised by South Holland District Council supported by The Rotary Club of Welland Centenary and Spalding Lions. The event is sponsored by David Bowman Ltd.
8 August
Important changes to housing benefit
HOUSING benefit claimants in South Holland are being warned that help towards their rent is likely to be reduced from next year.
Changes to housing benefit legislation were introduced in April this year, which saw a reduction in the amount of Local Housing Allowance that some people were eligible to receive. Claimants currently receiving nine months' protection as a result of this legislation change will no longer do so from January 1 next year.
If you are under 35, single and currently receive benefit towards renting a one bedroom property you will only receive financial assistance towards renting a room in a shared house.
The maximum rate of housing benefit will also be limited to the rate for a four bedroom property and not five bedrooms.
Current claimants will be notified of their new entitlements by the South Holland District Council when their annual review is due.
These changes could mean that you are no longer able to meet your rent payments. If you are one of these people, please contact the Housing
Benefit team on 01775 761161 to see how these changes will affect you.
29 July 2011
Lens look at South Holland’s landscape
TOP tips for taking photographs are being offered in South Holland throughout the summer.
Free workshops are being held to help you sharpen up your camera skills, the results of which will form part of a district-wide exhibition of your shots of the local area.
The Wide Horizons Photography Project, organised by South Holland District Council and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, starts next week (July 20 and 21) where top quality cameras will be available to use with the assistance of a professional photographer.
The project aims to explore the scenes and themes from chapters taken from the book Wide Horizons: A History of South Holland’s Landscape and People, which was commissioned and published by the council.
The five dates and venues for the workshops are: Spalding Library – July 20 (7-9pm); Gleed Girls School, Spalding – July 21 (6.30-8.30pm); Long Sutton Market House - August 25 (7pm-9pm); Ayscoughfee Hall Museum – August 7 (2-4pm) and August 28 (2-4pm).
For more information call 01775 761161 and ask to speak to a member of South Holland District Council ’s Community Deveopment Team.
27 July 2011
South Holland newcomers master English
NEWCOMERS to South Holland have been overcoming the language barrier and getting to grips with British culture by taking English classes.
More than 200 people who originate from all parts of the globe, including South America, South East Asia and Eastern Europe, have been learning the lingo.
The project, Learning English in South Holland (Lesh), a partnership between South Holland District Council and The Peele Community College, Long Sutton, culminated in an evening of celebration at Springfields where learners received certificates from District Councillor and Cabinet member Gary Taylor.
The objective was to provide English language and conversation classes where participants could learn and practice their speaking skills and followed a report which identified a need to provide such tuition.
The report authors, who looked at the needs of the community, consulted with schools, businesses, employers, agencies and community groups. Classes were then provided across the district including Spalding Library and in Holbeach, Spalding and Sutton Bridge Children's Centres. There were also family learning sessions held in four primary schools.
One learner, Bolivian Carmen De Almedia, whose first language is Spanish, said of the courses: "They were amazing. Before, I didn't have the opportunity to get better at English. It is very important for me to support my son who is in school and I want to be able to help him at home.
"I have much better pronunciation now have really enjoyed every course and everything I have learned. Each course gave me practice and I can ask questions of the teachers to explain things.
"I have learned about Christmas in England and I teach my son everything that I have learned about English culture. It is very important to me as my son was born here, we live here and it is important to understand the language and culture.
"My son and I took part in the family learning classes and we learnt about the tradition of fireworks and Christmas crackers."
Councillor Taylor said: "This is an excellent achievement for all of those who have been involved. English is a rich language and to make the effort to learn it helps to tackle the issue of cohesion in our community."
Nationalities included Russian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish Portuguese, Malaysian, Chinese, Bolivian, Spanish, Slovakian, Brazilian, Ecuadorian, Estonian, Greek and Bangladeshi.
The languages spoken were Russian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish, Portuguese, Cantonese, Chinese, Spanish, Slovakian, Arabic, Hindi, Urdu and Estonian.
Classes will start again in September. To register, or for more information, contact Christine Rawlings on 07586 460868.
Historic hall a science lab for Newton Day
YOUNGSTERS can discover the appliance of science this summer as Spalding's Ayscoughfee Hall hosts Newton Day.
The historic building will be temporarily turned into a laboratory for children to explore the life and times of Lincolnshire's world-renowned scientist and mathematician Sir Isaac Newton. A day of fun activities has been laid on to include hourly demonstrations, rocket building, wig making and a walk through the spectrum of rainbow colours. Visitors can also follow a specially-devised Newton trail through the hall and its gardens where they can admire the man's scientific work and ponderhis contribution to understanding gravity, particularly that moment in history when the fruit from an apple tree at Woolsthorpe Manor home fell to the earth.
Coun Howard Johnson, South Holland District Council Portfolio Holder forProperty and Assets, said:
"Children love to experiment and this is a fantastic way of them having fun while learning at the same time. Sir Isaac
Newton is so important to our scientific history and this will be an exciting day." Newton was a member of the Spalding Gentlemen's Society whose founder was Maurice Johnson II, "The Antiquary" of Ayscoughfee Hall in the early part of he 18th century.
The hall is managed by South Holland District Council and Newton Day, which takes place on August 4 from 11am until 4pm, is being run in partnership
with the Institute of Physics, Woolsthorpe Manor and Gleed Girls' Technology College.
6 July 2011
Feast of fun at South Holland Food Festival
ORGANISERS of next month's South Holland Food Festival are cooking up a banquet of culinary delights for the crowds to savour.
Following the success of the inaugural event last year, it's all systems go for another celebration of the district's contribution to feeding the nation.
This year, foodies and their families will descend on Spalding's historic Ayscoughfee Hall where the grounds will host an array of stalls offering delights to suit all appetites.
The free event is being organised by South Lincolnshire College, a centre of Boston College, and is supported by South Holland District Council.
SHDC Deputy Leader Nick Worth said: "This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the very best of what South Holland can offer and demonstrate how the district can claim to be the larder of England.
"We are delighted that the college has taken on the mantle this year after the success of last year's festival and we want to offer our unqualified support for this year's spectacle.
"We look forward to welcoming many families to the town for the three-day feast and celebration of good food and drink in the beautiful surroundings of Ayscoughfee Hall."
College Director of Corporate Services Janet Hemmant said: "We are very pleased to be running the Festival with the support of South Holland District Council. The college is committed to working with and supporting its local community and we look forward to seeing as many people as possible at this very special event."
Celebrity chefs, food demonstrations and sampling, kitchen theatre and family entertainment have all been lined up for the event which runs on the weekend of August 13 and 14..
24 June
Fantastic five join hospice mission
FIVE intrepid council workers will be taking to the streets late at night to help raise money for cancer care.
The team, nicknamed Mid-life Crisis, will be taking part in a Ladies Moonlight Walk , a six-mile stroll around Spalding in aid of St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice.
The group, Jackie Starr, Lynne Williams, Rhonda Oldfield and twin sisters Jacqui and Heather Berridge, will be pounding the streets on July 9 and hope to complete the course in about an hour-and-a-half.
Jackie Starr said: "All of us have lost relatives and have known people who have used the hospice. It's not just the good work that the hospice does for patients, it's the help it offers the relatives as well."
All five walkers are based at the offices of South Holland District Council in Priory Road, Spalding.
They have been sticking to a training plan to help them prepare for the challenge but some of the group are already veterans from the Cancer Research UK Race for Life fund-raiser which was held in Stamford last year.
Jackie Starr works in Property Services, Lynne Williams and Rhonda Oldfield in Members' Services and the Berridge sisters work for the Legal Services Lincolnshire team in Priory Road.
The Moonlight Walk promises a night of laughter, dancing and live music.
The Mid-life Crisis team are looking for sponsorship. To help contact: roldfield@sholland.gov.uk or jstarr@sholland.gov.uk.
16 June
Make sure your limo’s safe, prom-goers warned
PROM-bound revellers looking to book a limo to take them to the end-of-school party are being warned to put safety first and ensure their carriage doesn’t break the law.
As the school year draws to a close many primary and secondary pupils are planning to celebrate with an annual ‘prom’ or leaver’s celebration.
Aware of the sudden rush of excitement, local authority licensing teams throughout Lincolnshire are jointly warning parents booking transport to ensure the vehicle, driver and operator are properly licensed.
Under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 private hire vehicles, which includes limousines and hummers, their drivers and booking agents are all legally required to have a licence issued by the appropriate district council.
This rule applies to any hire vehicle which can carry eight or fewer passengers and comes with a driver. Limousines which carry more than eight passengers are required to be licensed by the Vehicle & Operator Services Agency (VOSA).
Councillor Malcolm Chandler, Portfolio Holder for Regulatory Services at South Holland District Council, said: “Public safety is the highest priority. Before we issue licences for both vehicles and their drivers we carry out rigorous checks to make sure that they are safe for all passengers.
“These range from making sure that drivers have had a Criminal Records
Bureau (CRB) check to ensuring that vehicles are safe and well maintained.
We want to make sure that parents check out the company before hiring a vehicle and that their children are safe.
“Limousines are usually constructed in the United States and only licensed for three to five years, after which time they are shipped over to the UK and other parts of Europe. These types of vehicles need to be checked regularly by an authorised garage to make sure they meet mechanical and safety standards.
“When you’re booking transport check that the booking operator has a licence number. You can then confirm this number with your local council’s Licensing Team. On the night, the driver will also be able to show you their licence, licence plate and driver’s badge.”
One district council in Lincolnshire successfully prosecuted a business providing unlicensed limousines and drivers. The limousine was found to be in such a dangerous condition that it was seized by Lincolnshire Police.
The driver provided by the company was found to have a criminal record, which would have made him unsuitable to hold a Private Hire Licence.
Driving vehicles without a licence is an offence and carries a maximum fine of £1,000. South Holland District Council will investigate anyone who is found to be illegally driving or taking bookings for an unlicensed vehicle.
Operating or driving without the required licences may also invalidate any insurance.
16 June
Help us help you, businesses urged
Business brains are being picked to help map out the future for firms in south Lincolnshire.
South Holland District Council has launched its 2011 business survey to find out what bosses have to say about working in the region.
Responses from the survey, devised by the council’s economic development unit, will enable officers to gauge opinions and organise services to support firms throughout the district.
Questions focus on areas such as training and skills, recruitment and job losses, transport, turnover, land and site needs and planning for the future.
Hundreds of businesses responded to a similar survey two years ago as the onset of the recession began to hit the region. The current fact-finding exercise is aimed at updating the council on how firms have coped and responded to the economic challenges during that time.
Councillor Howard Johnson, SHDC portfolio holder for economic development, said: “This survey will enable us to plan services and find out whether there are needs that we are currently not catering for. For example, a company might be looking to relocate or move to bigger premisess and we can assist them in their search.
“We want to find out about the barriers and blockers that are affecting our businesses and will seek ways of removing them to help ensure that they can operate effectively. We want to retain and attract more businesses to the district.”
The survey can be filled in online at http://www.sholland.gov.uk/doitonline/business11.htm. or contact the Economic Development Unit at the Council Offices, Priory Road, Spalding, PE11 2XE. Telephone: 01775 761161 or email: economicdevelopment@sholland.gov.uk
15 June
Councillors' £5,000 kitty for their own communities
CASH help is to be handed out in every South Holland District Council ward to give support to grassroots community projects.
Each district councillor has been allocated an annual budget of £5,000 to spend on schemes that directly benefit their ward.
Using their in-depth knowledge of the area, councillors will approach local groups which they feel are having a positive impact on the community and encourage them to apply for funding from their allocated budget.
Grants will vary in size according to need and decisions will be made directly by the councillor who will work within guidelines set out by the council.
South Holland District Council Deputy Leader Nick Worth said: "Councillors are at the heart of their communities and can direct this money toward the grassroots level - to exactly where it is needed.
"The money must go toward local initiatives and projects within the councillor's ward. However, councillors can choose to work together within their wards, or partnering wards."
The budget can be spent on a single project or a number of different initiatives. Councillors will approach groups to encourage them to apply for funding.
Councillor Worth added: "This is an open and transparent process and councillors are accountable for all the money spent."
A report outlining the Designated Councillors' Budgets proposal was considered by the council's cabinet when it met last night.
"This is an important initiative which will see money fed into projects that can really make a difference to local people, " said Councillor Worth.
Information on how the money has been spent will be made public on the council's website and, where possible, through the local media.
8 April
Empty Homes Project gets to work in South Holland.
An empty home that led to neighbours’ complaints about rubbish and vermin has been cleared and the house is on the market.
People living near the property, in Albert Avenue, Gedney, said they had serious concerns about the deterioration of the house and the waste that had been dumped.
T
hey were also upset that they were getting mice in their own home.
As a result, South Holland District Council contacted the mortgage company which owned the property.
Negotiations led to the waste being cleared and the house is now for sale.
The council is part of the Lincolnshire Empty Homes Project, which aims to bring long-term empty properties back into use.Vacant housing is a priority of the council, particularly in a time of housing need. The council has a range of measures to support owners in bringing homes back into use.
The council can assist people with selling or letting a home as well as providing a loan for renovation.
For further information please call Community Housing on 01775 761161 or visit www.lincsemptyhomes.org.uk.
8 April
People line up to get funding
People from 42 organisations in South Holland met funding experts to find out first hand about grants available to help support them with their community project.
More than 50 delegates from community groups, sports clubs, parish councils and village hall committees attended the free event held at Gedney Victory Hall. It was organised in response to South Holland being a priority area for the BIG lottery and the Heritage Lottery Fund due to low rates of applications being submitted from the district.
The event aimed to increase awareness of the grants that the lottery has available and also to build skills, confidence and knowledge of group members so more organisations will be in a position to apply for money.
Karen Johnson, South Holland District Council Community Development Officer, said: “It is important that community groups know that funding is still available to support their local projects. We were pleased to see so many groups come along to hear directly from the BIG Lottery and Heritage Lottery Fund that they still have funds available.
“Hopefully now groups will take back what they have learnt and submit a funding application”.
The event was organised in partnership between South Holland District Council, Lincolnshire County Council, South Lincs CVS, Heritage Lottery Fund and the BIG lottery.
1 April
South Lincs CVS find a new home
The range of services available in the South Holland District Council offices has grown again as another outside organisation has decided to make its base there.
Earlier this year Spalding staff of HM Customs and Revenue moved into the Priory Road buildings. Now the South Lincolnshire Community and Voluntary Service is also making its home there.
Two ground floor offices have been allocated to SLCVS - a large room for up to about eight people and a smaller, private room for interviews with members of the public.
SL CVS Chief Executive Officer Ladey Adey: "I am delighted that South Lincolnshire CVS will be moving into the Priory Road offices. This move will bring our services closer to the South Holland residents who are looking at volunteering to give back to their communities or as a pathway into employment. Alongside this it will provide us with space to meet with local community groups and voluntary organizations.
"I look forward to developing our already close relationship with South Holland District Council as well as working in partnerships with the other organisations utilizing the space at Priory Road."
It is expected that a third agency will move into the offices within the next few months, widening the range of services under one roof still further.
Space is becoming available at the council headquarters because of various changes, including partnership arrangements with other local authorities.
21 March
South Holland District Council welomes new neighbours
The range of services available in the South Holland District Council offices has grown again as another outside organisation has decided to make its base there.
Earlier this year Spalding staff of HM Customs and Revenue moved into the Priory Road buildings. Now the South Lincolnshire Community and Voluntary Service is also making its home there.
Two ground floor offices have been allocated to SLCVS – a large room for up to about eight people and a smaller, private room for interviews with members of the public.
SL CVS Chief Executive Officer Ladey Adey: “I am delighted that South Lincolnshire CVS will be moving into the Priory Road offices. This move will bring our services closer to the South Holland residents who are looking at volunteering to give back to their communities or as a pathway into employment. Alongside this it will provide us with space to meet with local community groups and voluntary organisations.
“I look forward to developing our already close relationship with South Holland District Council as well as working in partnerships with the other organisations utilising the space at Priory Road.”
It is expected that a third agency will move into the offices within the next few months, widening the range of services under one roof still further.
Space is becoming available at the council headquarters because of various changes, including partnership arrangements with other local authorities.
“It makes sense to use the surplus accommodation which we now have as wisely as possible,” said David Fannin, South Holland’s Head of Partnerships, Performance and Community Development.
“These moves reflect the changing world of local government. Bringing in other agencies is in the interests of operational efficiency and it creates revenue income from rental of the space.”
18 March
Oympic inspiration comes to South Holland
The final countdown to the Olympic Games has started - and London 2012 has officially come to South Holland.
A new scheme bringing classes and courses to centres throughout the area has been awarded the accolade of a place in the London 2012 Inspire programme.
The project, which aims to bring activity sessions of many kinds to more than a dozen local centres, is organised by the Lincolnshire Active Community Network working with South Holland District Council,
The venues which will host the sessions – from fitness to flower arranging, computers to needlecraft - will be the 14 community rooms in the area’s sheltered housing schemes.
On March 15, when the 500-day countdown to the London Olympics began, the project was officially signed and awarded the Inspire Mark and given the right to use the 2012 logo.
“For an organisation to be recognised in this way it has to prove that the project was genuinely inspired by the 2012 Games and that it is innovating and inspiring,” said Coun Amanda Puttick, South Holland District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Healthy Communities.
“We are delighted that our project met these and other strict criteria and has been recognised in such an exciting and high profile way.”
The London 2012 Inspire programme aims to bring the benefits of the 2012 Games to every part of the UK – giving millions the opportunity to participate as never before.
Coun Puttick said: “Our project is an exciting idea to make greater use of the community rooms and to widen the scope so that other people will be able to take part in activities,”
“The residents’ usual activities will not be affected and, of course, they will be able to join in any new classes or courses that are provided.”
17 March
Ayscoughfee Hall Gardens get new play area
A Jeep to ride, games panels to play and talking tubes to hold long distance chats are among the innovative items being installed at the Ayscoughfee Gardens play area.
Ten of the very latest in playground amusements will be unveiled when the refurbished play area opens for young children early in April.
“It is an exciting project designed for the youngest children, up to about eight years old,” said Cllr Nick Worth, Deputy Leader of South Holland District Council.
“We think parents and grandparents will enjoy going to the new play area as much as the youngsters themselves.”
South Holland District Council has paid £50,000 but the scheme is actually worth £60, 532. The 17 per cent added value was achieved thanks to the competitive tendering process used.
Contractors Hags Play Ltd are supplying the items, which also include a trampoline set into the ground and swings, climbing apparatus, a roundabout and seesaw – all updated with the latest new looks and safety features.
17 March
Traditional tales told by a tree...
Traditional tales and modern myths are combined in an exhibition using the latest technology at Ayscoughfee Hall this month.
People have told stories of history and legend for centuries and the exhibition captures some of that sense of ancient tradition with its magnificent Whispering Willow at the centre of the storytelling.
The trunk of the tree is where films showing the magic and mystery of the Fens are screened and historic objects help illustrate the stories.
Different aspects of life in the Fens are explored using animation, drama and the latest film-making technology.
Fenland Stories has been created by people who live in the Fens and the exhibition is touring towns and villages throughout the area.
11 March
Built in Quality Awards
Top quality work on building projects within South Holland from small self-builds to full-scale developments was applauded at a ceremony in Spalding.
Now the winners face another stiff contest when they go through to regional and national rounds of the Local Authority Building Control Excellence Awards.
“All our winners at the South Holland Built-In Quality Awards have excelled by building projects of the highest standard and we are keen to see their achievements acknowledged in the next level of competition too. We are also very grateful to Jacksons Building Centre for sponsoring these awards and helping us to showcase excellence. ” said Phil Adams, Building Control Manager for South Holland District Council.
“Builders and their teams deserve to be rewarded for the work they do, from designing to managing and completing building work of an excellent standard.”
About 150 nominations were received by the council from builders, agents and applicants working on every type of property in the area for this year’s Built-In Quality Awards.
The competition and presentation ceremony, held at the South Holland Centre, were sponsored by Jackson Building Centre.
Award winners will now go on to compete in the East Midlands regional competition to be held in Leicester and the national awards to be held in London by the Local Authority Building Control.
9 March
A brighter future for South Holland Youth Council
An energy company’s latest gift promises a brighter future for South Holland Youth Council.
Spalding Energy, which has given funding to the Youth Council for the last three years, is handing over £2,000 for 2011.
“It’s excellent news,” said Youth Council chairman Richard Skells. “We are very keen to be in touch with young people right across the district this year and are delighted that this funding will help us do just that.
“It gives us opportunities to develop ideas, be independent and work on projects throughout South Holland.”
Michelle Morley, Community Liaison at Spalding Energy said: “We are very pleased to be working again with the Youth Council this year, supporting the valuable work of this youth led forum in achieving their goals and objectives.
“The Youth Council has used previous funds to host a number of events, and employs a part time member of staff to carry out outreach and consultation work with schools. As a result the Youth Council has highlighted several major issues affecting the young people in this district.
“The Spalding Energy team is looking forward to supporting the South Holland Youth Council in 2011. Our aim is to make a difference in our community and build upon our already excellent community relations.”
23 February
Pitching for a new career
New market traders are being given a helping hand to launch businesses in market places throughout South Holland.
The First Pitch scheme offers special deals incuding some free trading days, discounted rents and the advantages of being a member of the national market traders’ organisation at a huge saving in the normal cost.
There is also a competition for new traders with £2,000 cash offered by the National Market Traders’ Federation as the first prize.
“Everyone wants markets to be vibrant places and South Holland District Council has signed up to be part of the First Pitch scheme,” said Cllr Nick Worth, Portfolio Holder for Rural Strategy.
“We are very happy to help new traders where we have pitches available and where their business fits in with our markets policy.”
Councillor Angela Newton, South Holland District Council Representative to the National Association of British Market Authorities said the scheme had been launched by the National Market Traders’ Federation with the aim of bringing new people into market trading and keeping them in the business.
She was also keen to emphasise that there are training programmes available for newcomers as well as the other incentives.
Glen Chapman, the council’s Neighbourhood Services Manager says, “We have pitches available at Holbeach, Long Sutton and Crowland,” he added. “At Spalding there is space on a Saturday. All the stalls are taken on a Tuesday but pitches are available for people who bring their own units.”
For more information, contact Barry Bradley, Street Scene Manager: Enforcement at South Holland District Council, 01775 761161.
21 February
Gore Lane clean up
One of Spalding’s grottier spots is being given a major clean-up by South Holland District Council.
Gore Lane and Abbey Path, just off the town centre, became an eyesore of mess and broken glass and food debris – but not any more.
Most of the worst areas were on privately-owned land but businesses and landowners were at a loss how to deal with the scale of the problem.
People using the area for drinking and drug-taking, were leaving behind bottles, syringes, litter and mess of all kinds, including human faeces.
As a result South Holland District Council decided to bring in a specialist company to carry out a complete environmental clean.
“We have heard the concerns of members of the public and we are taking action on the issues that matter to them. We hope that, after this major purge, businesses adjoining Gore Lane and Abbey Path will be able to keep on top of the situation,” said Cllr Gary Taylor, Portfolio Holder for Stronger Communities and Ward Councillor for that area.
“The police are also treating this part of town as a priority area and we are asking relevant businesses and landowners to do their bit to keep the area clean after we have done the tidy up.”
The company is expected to carry out its work at the end of February.
17 February
Coming soon to a community centre near you…
New classes in anything from art to flower arranging, from computers to new age kurling, could be coming to a centre near you.
More than a dozen community rooms scattered through South Holland could soon be hosting morning and evening sessions in a wide range of activities under a new scheme due to be launched this spring.
South Holland District Council is joining forces with Lincolnshire Active Community Network, which aims to provide extra activities for all age groups.
The venues will be the 14 community rooms in the area’s sheltered housing schemes. They are already used for a range of activities by residents and other over 60s but usually in the afternoons.
“It’s an exciting idea to make greater use of the rooms and to widen the scope so that other people will be able to take part in activities,” said Cllr Amanda Puttick, South Holland District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Healthy Communities.
“The residents’ usual activities will not be affected and, of course, they will be able to join in any new classes or courses that are provided.
“They will also benefit financially – up to 10 per cent of any income generated can be given back to them, probably through the Sheltered Housing Tenant Participation Compacts.”
LACN estimates it could use up to 80 per cent of the available free time in South Holland’s community rooms and hopes to extend use in the future for weekend activities.
Its plans include activities like art classes, exercise, yoga and samba dancing. It would also allow outside groups to hire rooms for meetings or classes of their own.
“There are some activities that will not be allowed, like celebration parties or discos.” Cllr Puttick said. “The community rooms are in residential areas and the needs of the residents will always be taken into account.”
17 December 2010
Local Heroes DVD – an ideal Christmas present
‘Local Heroes’, the film launched last month about Long Sutton’s wartime experiences, is now on sale as a DVD – and it could make the perfect gift.
Veterans from the village, an evacuee and a prisoner of war recall the very different roles they played in the Second World War.
The film, made by Sophie Currell, of Kangaroo Kommunications, and sponsored by South Holland District Council, was premiered at Long Sutton Royal British Legion Hall on November 30.
Stories include a first-hand account of the D-Day landings, an ex-Naval man speaking about minesweeping in the North Sea and a former RAF navigator talking about his missions.
The old village school played an important role in the lives of the London evacuees who shared the classrooms with the Long Sutton pupils, each having half-a-day.
The evacuee who recounts his time at the school liked the village so much he came back after the war, married a local girl and stayed.
Coun Paul Espin, South Holland’s Portfolio Holder of Place for Long Sutton, said he was very pleased the DVD was now available as a permanent record of a vital slice of Long Sutton history.
Coun Espin said: “One of the reasons for doing this was to enable everybody, particularly younger people, to learn about our history and the role local people played in it.”
17 December
Christmas comes early for village stores
Two county businesses have each received an early Christmas present, helping them revitalise local services.
Glenside Stores in Surfleet and The Village Store in Harlaxton have both recently benefited from a Rural Gain Grant, awarded by Lincolnshire County Council.
Chris Briggs, Head of Accessibility and Policy, said:
“We want to help local businesses thrive. The grant scheme was set up to protect essential services in the face of Post Office closures, but in a way that would also preserve rural Lincolnshire’s traditional way of life. A village store or local pub can often be the heart of a rural community, and I wish both these businesses continued success.”
Clive Gerrans and his wife, Gillian, have run Glenside Stores for 11 years. During that time, they’ve worked hard to expand the business, incorporating a Post Office, cash machine and facility for paying gas and electricity bills.
Clive said:
“The grant’s enabled us to invest in some much-needed new refrigeration and freezer units, helping us increase our product range. We’ve also installed new lighting and an outdoor canopy. The changes have all proved popular with our customers, and we’re already seeing improved sales as a result.”
Roy Holden and his wife, Lesley, opened The Village Store in 1997. Since that time, they have increased the range of services the store offers to now include a Post Office and dry-cleaning agency alongside a wide range of groceries.
Roy said:
“We’ve been able to add both a hot food cabinet and hot drinks dispenser, thanks to the grant, which will be a real bonus for customers now winter’s arrived. We’ve already received positive feedback on the improvements. Our customers love having an even greater variety of goods to choose from.”
9 December
Getting a taxi – Make sure you are safe on your journey home
At this time of year, we may indulge in a drink or two and will not want to ‘Drink and Drive’. Also as the weather is cold, people will be considering how they will get to their destination and back home safely.
Because of this, South Holland District Council is reminding people to be careful about their choice of taxi and to pre-book whenever possible.
Nigel Payne, Community Services Manager said: "The Council is advising people using taxis and private hire vehicles to take care, particularly late at night and to pre book over the busy Christmas and New year period. Under normal circumstances we would not jump into a vehicle alone at night with a person that we did not know. Therefore why should taxis be any different? By using a licensed driver and vehicle, members of the public can be assured that the necessary safety checks have been made."
The Council are asking you to carry out the following simple steps to ensure that you arrive safely at your destination. Members of the public using such vehicles should make sure of the following:
• Ensure that the vehicle has a licence plate fitted to it (yellow for a Hackney Carriage, red for Private Hire). There should be one plate fitted externally, and one internally, bearing the same number.
• If the vehicle is a Hackney Carriage (taxi), a meter and a 'top box' should be fitted.
• The driver should be wearing a licence badge. This will contain a photograph and an expiry date. Check it!
• A table of fares should be clearly displayed. Ask what fare rate you are being charged and ensure the meter is set to the correct rate. Between 07:30 and 23:00 = Rate 1, between 23:00 and 07:30 = Rate 2, and Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day = Rate 3.
• The vehicle should be clean, tidy and respectable. Look at the general condition of the vehicle. Is it clean & tidy and generally well maintained? Whilst licensed vehicles receive regular compliance tests, if the interior and bodywork have been neglected then the mechanics of the vehicle may also have been neglected.
• Pre book well in advance especially at peak times during Christmas and New Year.
If you are booking a vehicle, ask if it is licensed and ensure you know the company who is picking you up and agree the fare if private hire. You may wish to use a recommended operator.
If you have any concerns about the legitimacy of a vehicle/driver, or wish to complain about any related matter, please take the vehicle registration number and relevant details, then contact the Food Safety & Licensing Team on 01775 761161 who will investigate.
26 November
Blooming good grant makes Donington’s Christmas
The sound of music, the smell of Christmas food and the sight of Peter Pan are coming to Donington this weekend, thanks to a special grant.
Lincolnshire County Council’s Community Development Grant supports local volunteering projects and community participation. Donington in Bloom and the Parish Council successfully applied for £1197.50, enabling them to expand their usual small-scale Christmas celebrations to include a large portable ice rink, a range of market stalls selling food and crafts and a Santa’s grotto, this Sunday 28 November.
The event, at Thomas Cowley High School between 10am and 5pm, will also include choir and band performances from its pupils and children from the Endowed Primary School and local youth club. The local drama group will also put on a Peter Pan show.
Elizabeth Walker, event organiser from Donington in Bloom, said:
“It’s wonderful to see everyone coming together for this event, from local children to local businesses. We always try to hold an event to create a Christmas atmosphere for Donington but the county council’s grant will really make this year something special and create even more community spirit.”
Bev Finnegan, Community & Public Places Team Leader at Lincolnshire County Council, added:
“The Community Development Grant is available for projects which directly benefit a number of people and contributes to improving the quality of life in the community. We’re therefore really pleased to help the volunteers in Donington in creating an even more special Christmas event this year.”
Another part of the fund’s criteria is that organisers must also be able to provide their own funding contribution.
The ice rink is designed to cater for all needs with a disabled skate chair, footwear for toddlers and an ice scooter. Everyone is welcome.
24 Novemeber
Teenagers keen to set the record straight on anti-social behaviour
LAW-abiding teenagers in South Holland are keen to set the record straight on anti-social behaviour.
Fewer than three out of every 100 youngsters ever become a nuisance - but it seems the well-behaved majority are tarred with the same brush as the troublemakers.
Last year some 230 South Holland youngsters engaged in acts of anti-social behaviour – but this is only 2.3 per cent of the district’s 10,000-strong population of young people aged from 10 to 18 years.
South Holland Youth Council member Alicia Tibbs said: “The media portray teenagers as a lot worse than they really are and we want a chance to defend ourselves and to be given a chance to speak.
“We can’t deny the fact that some teenagers do cause damage, but this is a minority and why should it condemn the rest of us?”
Alicia (16) is concerned about adults forming negative opinions of teenagers because of the clothes they wear – such as hoodies – or because they hang around on street corners.
She said: “For some, a group of teenagers on a street corner hanging out is seen as anti-social, but they are not doing anything wrong – they’re just seeing their friends and, surely, this is sociable behaviour.”
South Holland Youth Council was joined by pupils from Spalding Grammar School and Spalding High School for a live webcast debate on anti-social behaviour.
Youth Council members are now keen to do media interviews to spread the message that the majority of young people are good and well behaved.
12 November
Long Sutton’s Local Heroes share their WW2 memories
SOME of Long Sutton’s “Local heroes” speak about their lives during the Second World War in a moving film which will have its premiere at the end of this month.
Sponsored by South Holland District Council, the film looks at life through the eyes of forces’ veterans as well as an evacuee and a prisoner of war.
Film maker Sophie Currell, of Kangaroo Kommunications, said: “I had never thought in detail about how local people slotted into the bigger picture of the Second World War.
“These stories are very moving and it has been very, very interesting. People don’t normally get the chance to talk to veterans unless they are a relative or a family friend – and this film will preserve important stories for generations to come.”
Stories include a first-hand account of the D-Day landings, an ex-Naval man speaking about minesweeping in the North Sea and a former RAF navigator talking about his missions.”
Sophie also interviewed an evacuee from London whose whole school – pupils and teachers – were billeted in the village.
She said: “The Long Sutton school was shared between the local children and the London children with each having half-a-day.”
The evacuee describes how he returned to London after the war but came back to Long Sutton because it felt more like home.
He married a local girl and now lives in the house he moved to as an evacuee because the family regarded him as a son and left the property to him.
Coun Paul Espin funded the film on behalf of South Holland District Council in his role as Portfolio Holder of Place for Long Sutton.
Coun Espin said: “I am extremely pleased to have been able to work with the local community and to recognise the part played by these men and women.
“One of the reasons for doing this was to enable everybody, particularly younger people, to learn about our history and the role local people played in it.
“I would like to pass on my sincere thanks to the men and women who took part in this project and made the whole thing possible.”
An invited audience will attend the November 30 premiere of “Local Heroes” at Long Sutton’s Royal British Legion Hall.
Film clips will be made available on www.sholland.gov.uk to coincide with Remembrance Sunday and, following the premiere, the entire film will be put on Long Sutton’s own website, www.longsuttoncommunity.info
Tourism grows by £1.3 million in South Holland, reaching £67 million!
20.08.2010
Visit Lincolnshire can exclusively reveal the value of the tourism within South Holland District’s visitor economy is now worth £67 million – an increase of £1.3 million from the previous year.
On a county level tourism to Lincolnshire has grown to a record breaking £971 million in 2009 from £959 million in 2008. In addition, the number of visitors to the county reached 17.2 million in 2009 (an increase of 200,000) and fuelled the creation of 349 new jobs in the last 12 months.
Behind the stunning success story is Visit Lincolnshire, the organisation championing tourism in the county with support from local authorities, tourism businesses and stakeholders. Their marketing campaigns promoting Lincolnshire as a place to visit have seen significant success, as supported by these official statistics.
Marc Etches, Interim Chief Executive for Visit Lincolnshire said “We’re delighted to see evidence that the value of tourism, and the contribution it makes towards Lincolnshire visitor’s economy has risen from £959 million in 2008 to £971 million in 2009”
“Last year was a very challenging time for businesses and visitors due to the economic climate, but the continued ‘staycation’ trend encouraged people to rediscover what was on their doorstep.”
“The growth that we are seeing in tourism is a testament to the hard work of everyone involved in Lincolnshire’s visitor economy. The developments made over the last year have had a positive impact on Lincolnshire’s ability to attract more paying visitors.”
“Last year we rebranded Visit Lincolnshire and relaunched the website VisitLincolnshire.com. In addition, we improved the quality of the county’s flagship visitor guides; launched online booking opportunities for businesses; generated extensive national and regional PR and launched Visit Lincolnshire’s social media activity.”
“Despite this success we must not get complacent; there is still a need to keep Lincolnshire fresh and competitive against other destinations. Since 2009 we’ve upped our game and we’re looking forward to exceeding these figures next year by continuing to work closely with our members and partners.”
Cllr Gary Porter, Leader of South Holland District Council said, “Those of us who live here know how good it is so it’s no surprise to us that people want to come. We have been working hard with Visit Lincolnshire to promote what the district has to offer and it’s good to know that this hard work has paid off.”
The statistics from 2009 show that Lincolnshire’s most significant visitor spend is on shopping (grown to £210 million from £202million) food and drink (grown to £173 million in 2009 from £165million in 2008).The largest increase in visitor spend is in recreational activities an increase of 9% from the previous year.
Key findings
• 2.02 million overnight-staying tourists visited Lincolnshire in 2009, spending 9.53 million nights in commercial tourist accommodation, both serviced and non-serviced.
• 1.06 million visitors stayed some 2.51 million nights with friends and relative (SFR) in Lincolnshire.
• Overnight visitors spent £562.03 million in Lincolnshire with day visitors spending a further £409.61 million.
• The temporary 2.5% reduction in the standard VAT rate had an impact on the total amount of VAT paid by visitors on tourism-related goods and services. The amount of VAT generated by tourism activity declined by 11% to £94.5 million.
• Approximately 13,905 jobs (full time equivalents) were directly supported by tourist expenditure in Lincolnshire and a further 3,270 jobs were supported by indirect revenue from tourism.
• Average expenditures per day per tourist category are as follows: serviced (i.e. hotels and B&Bs): £92.44; non-serviced (i.e. self-catering): £41.51; SFR: £38.11; and, day visitors: £28.87.
• Day visitors coming to Lincolnshire account for 42 % of the total tourism revenue. Seasonality also influenced the number of day visitors that Lincolnshire received, rising from a low of 567,200 visitors in December to a peak of 2.65 million in August.
• Although the number of sleeping spaces in serviced accommodation remained at 13,451 throughout the calendar year, there was a significant variance though in the number of maximum non-serviced sleeping spaces available from a low of 27,288 in January to a peak of 61,103 in July and August.
Medieval England comes to life at Ayscoughfee Hall Museum
ENGLISH medieval history will spring to life at Ayscoughfee Hall Museum in Spalding when Lord Burgh’s Retinue takes up residence for the August Bank Holiday weekend.
A tented camp will be set up in Ayscoughfee Gardens and visitors will be able to talk to costumed soldiers, ladies, musicians, officers, clerks and clerics as they go about their daily business.
There will be opportunities to handle beautiful recreated pottery from the period, as well as wood ware and clothes.
And, where safe to do so, visitors will have a chance to hold medieval weapons and armour.
The Lincolnshire-based living history society is dedicated to the accurate recreation of Sir Thomas Burgh’s Retinue and Household.
The society shares information about the Burgh family and its homes at The Medieval Manor House, in Gainsborough, and Starborough Castle, in Kent, as well as the family’s association with notable sites such as Lincoln Castle
The retinue attends major re-enactments of medieval battles as a member group of both The Federation of The Wars of The Roses and Livery and Maintenance.
Many of the men train with medieval weapons such as the sword, bill, longbow, crossbow and handgonne while other members focus on non-military jobs such as chaplains, ladies-in-waiting and nuns.
Cllr Nick Worth, South Holland District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Leisure, said: “This will be a fantastic opportunity to see what daily life was like for many people only a few years after Ayscoughfee Hall was built.
“Lord Burgh’s Retinue are one of the best re-enactment groups around and we’re delighted to welcome them back to Ayscoughfee.”
Admission is free and the event runs from Saturday, August 28 to Monday, August 30.
eliver the savings to residents and keep service standards high over the next 10 years.”
New websites connect communities in words and pictures
State of the art community websites are under construction for Holbeach, Long Sutton and Sutton Bridge.
Their capacity will enable them to accommodate podcasts, web clips and films created by local residents and community groups.
Commissioned by South Holland District Council, the sites will be packed with the kind of information you would expect from community websites like opening times of key services such as libraries.
But the bulk of the entries – news items, pictures, reports from clubs, local archives, upcoming events and audio and film footage – will be supplied by residents themselves.
The sites will be fully interactive – allowing for meaningful consultations on important local matters – and there will be links between the three town websites as well as links to South Holland District Council’s own website www.sholland.gov.uk.
Cllr Paul Espin, Council Portfolio Holder of Place for Long Sutton, said: “We are now asking residents to supply us with their news and information so we can complete the building of the websites.
“These are real community websites, which means they can be used by anybody in the community, and the large capacity means they are adaptable for a wide variety of purposes.
“It is our intention to foster the real community spirit that already exists in Holbeach, Long Sutton and Sutton Bridge. Last year we applied to the Government for additional cash to help these communities and the Connecting Communities Website project is being funded from the £78,000 cash grant that we were awarded.
“Safeguards are being built into the system so the websites are used responsibly and for the benefit of the communities they serve.”
The council has appointed Sutton Bridge firm Kangaroo Kommunications to develop and maintain the websites.
Residents of Holbeach, Long Sutton and Sutton Bridge are now being urged to send material for potential inclusion on any of the three sites to admin@suttonbridgecommunity.info or follow the link on the contact page of each website.
Once the sites are fully built – and that is likely to take just a matter of weeks – they will be listed on global search engines like Google and Yahoo. But they can be visited now at the following addresses –
www.holbeachcommunity.info/
www.suttonbridgecommunity.info/
www.longsuttoncommunity.info/