Grantham's News, History, What's on, Community Website
The inspectorate for fire and police services has praised Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue’s work over the last year.
Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has inspected how each of the 45 fire and rescue services in England responded to challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lincolnshire has received an incredibly positive report.
Cllr Nick Worth, executive councillor for emergency services at the county council, said: “It’s really heartening to see that the exceptional work our firefighters have been doing to support communities in Lincolnshire has been recognised by HMICFRS when they carried out their assessment. They have picked out many great examples of joined-up working and our firefighters and staff going above and beyond in challenging circumstances.”
Mark Baxter, Interim Chief Fire Officer for Lincolnshire, said: “In Lincolnshire we’ve had really positive engagement with our unions and crews to support them in the additional duties they’ve taken on, and I’m pleased to report that we have had only enthusiasm and an incredible willingness to help.
“We also have well-established relationships with other emergency services and partner organisations both within the Local Resilience Forum and beyond. This has put us in an even better position to help the combined response to this pandemic.
“There have of course been challenges and we have worked really hard behind the scenes to change how we operate safely, particularly for some of our community protection activities and so we can maintain staffing.
“I’m pleased that HMICFRS have recognised that our staff wellbeing has been a main priority. The action we’ve taken though has meant we have been able to offer a consistently good level of response to emergencies, and continue to protect those residents at most risk of harm.”
On Thursday at 3.15pm, officers carried out a warrant at a property in Riverside Close, Sleaford, following information that drugs were at the address.
Heroin, cocaine and cash were found and officers believe this could be linked to county lines.
Two men aged 18 and 42 were arrested and remain in custody.
An estimated 1,350kg of donations, the equivalent of around 3,213 meals, have been distributed across 40 community larders and food banks in December thanks to the generosity of local people.
Lincolnshire Co-op shoppers and colleagues collected essential items and also donated £16,675 of their dividend and cash throughout December 2020 in order to support those in need.
The Society reversed the traditional advent calendar format and instead, suggested one item each day that shoppers could drop in collection bins in their local outlets. These items ranged from tinned goods to toiletries and cleaning products.
Food banks typically experience an increased in demand over the festive season, but this year the need for community support was unprecedented.
Jenni Harding, Newark Food Bank’s Public Relations and Fundraising Co-ordinator said the food bank saw its highest ever demand in 2020, but also experienced the most donations they’ve ever received over the festive period. She said: “Donations are vital to us – if the local community didn’t support us, we wouldn’t be able to do our job and help others.
“We understand that Christmas is a busy and expensive time for everyone, so thank you so much to those who took the time to donate to the Food Bank Advent Calendar campaign.”
Donations continue to arrive at food banks throughout January, as those participating from home, work, or school were encouraged to collect their donations over the month and take them to food banks, community larders, or drop-off points at the end of the advent calendar campaign.
Sam Turner, Community Manager at Lincolnshire Co-op said: “We’re so grateful to everyone who donated to our Food Bank Advent Calendar campaign.
“Thanks to the generosity of our shoppers, members, and colleagues, we’ve been able to support the important work of local food banks in our area and help feed families at Christmas at beyond.”
A Lincolnshire consultant has won a national award thanks to his working alongside finance teams in Lincolnshire’s hospitals.
Mr Kulandaivel Sakthivel, an orthopaedics consultant known best as Vel, won the Working with Finance – Clinician of the Year Award at the annual Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) Awards.
The awards, held on Thursday 10 December, are a chance to recognise the work of finance teams and individuals across the UK.
This award acknowledges the importance of clinical engagement in financial management and in particular recognises a clinician who has taken financial responsibility for their services, led efficiency or improvement programmes or provided an example for other clinicians by engaging with the financial management agenda.
Vel was greatly involved throughout a Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) pilot and the subsequent and ongoing changes in trauma and orthopaedics following the review. Vel has engaged heavily with both his finance and procurement leads – showing a real business focus, with a willingness to challenge his clinical colleagues to provide ultimately a better service for our patients and an improved financial position.
As clinical lead Vel had the responsibility of driving forward changes to improve the number of elective surgeries taking place. He reviewed financial opportunities, such as moving to single suppliers, and then getting this implemented across all ULHT sites.
The judges said: “We are impressed by the very close collaboration between the clinical, finance and management team to address the reorganisation of orthopaedic services at United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust using GIRFT data and winning hearts and minds.
“A blueprint and momentum have been produced to use the same approach across the trust in other clinical services and has created a can-do approach to change based on clinical and financial collaboration.”
Vel gave his immense thanks to Sally Cotterill, Kirsty Stanley and all in the Finance team.
“I work with a great team of both clinical and non-clinical staff and it makes my job a lot easier. I am proud to be an employee of ULHT and very happy to see that we are in the press for a great achievement. Being nominated in eight categories and shortlisted in three for national awards is no mean feat. Let’s keep up the good work and make ULHT great!”
ULHT’s Director of Finance and Digital, Paul Matthew said:” This is the first time we have entered in the HFMA awards, so we are extremely proud to have been shortlisted for three awards and to have won one! We wanted to highlight the immense hard work of our finance teams and will be displaying this award with pride.”
As Coronavirus restrictions continue and communities continue to work together to keep each other safe, police say they would like to thank people who obeyed the Lockdown rules.
The majority of residents have followed the Government guidance which means officers’ time has been spent carrying out their usual calls for service rather than spending time dealing with those breaching the rules.
Some of our priorities include locating high risk missing people, dealing with daily incidents such as violence, road traffic collisions and tracking down our most wanted people. These are just a handful of calls for service that fill officers’ time.
Due to a majority of residents following the guidelines and rules, they have been able to place more resources into various incidents.
These have included an assault in Sleaford Road, Boston on Sunday (17th Jan), in which a man was taken to hospital. Officers swiftly arrested a man (28) and a woman (41) on suspicion of assault and they have since been bailed.
And in ongoing work to target high-harm offenders, they have located six of our Most Wanted people: https://www.lincs.police.uk/news-campaigns/news-and-campaigns/2020/lincolnshires-most-wanted/
However, there have been some occasions where fines have been issued to those who have shown blatant disregard for the rules and regulations.
576 fines have been issued from the beginning of the first lockdown in March last year, to 17th January.
Some of the most recent fines were given to eight people from different households who thought it was acceptable to have a party in a one-man tent in Oftlers Plantation in Woodhall Spa. Officers attended soon after 11pm on January 16th and handed them fines.
On another occasion, a 45-year-old male was issued a fixed penalty notice during the early hours of January 9th. The man drove from Chesterfield to do a countrywide road trip, to see the Lincoln City Football Ground.
Assistant Chief Constable Kerrin Wilson said: “We’ve got a brilliant community spirit across Lincolnshire.
“By and large everybody has been patient and they are doing their utmost to make sure that we are as a county looking after the vulnerable and being as safe as we can.
“We do however have a number of Covid breaches that are increasing here in Lincolnshire and that takes a toll on our officers to be able to deal with them.
“Some of them are quite flagrant breaches such as parties in the woods, or people travelling to go and visit a football stadium. That is breaking the rules, and we are dealing with those very robustly.
“But we do have a number of people who are bending the rules as well and that might be as simple as having an extra support bubble, or just meeting somebody to go for a coffee or inviting somebody into your house to have coffee.
“That’s putting people at risk so it’s those bending the rules that are actually adding to the potential spread of this virus, at the moment. So I’d just urge you to consider that, because by and large, we have been really, really good in this county.
“We’ve got some great news on the horizon with the rollout of the vaccines and the vaccine centres across the county, but we do need to be considerate of our behaviour, because there’s still some hurdles to get through until we get everybody vaccinated.
“Until we do that, policing still needs to continue, and I don’t have a separate team of people who deal with all of Covid breaches. They are the officers who are preventing harm and serious injury and dealing with criminalities across the county, so they’re dealing with organised criminals they’re dealing with drug offences, violent offences, domestic abuse, safeguarding children; all of that are the same officers, and I would prefer to send them to those people who are really in need, as opposed to Covid breaches.
“So if you’re not breaching then I won’t need to send people out but what I do want to say is a big, big thank you to everybody who is working with us to try and keep our communities safe.”
Grantham area county councillors have received a letter back from the Minister of State for Health and Social Care, Edward Argar MP, acknowledging their concerns about the delay in resolving the long-running issues over NHS services and A&E provision at Grantham Hospital.
Councillors Linda Wootten, Ray Wootten, Mark Whittington, Bob Adams and Adam Stokes wrote to the Government asking for support in saving the A&E service at Grantham Hospital and reinstating from its current status as an urgent treatment centre.
The county council’s Health Scrutiny Committee for Lincolnshire has been informed of the response, which acknowledges the “temporary” changes to services during the Covid pandemic and the “frustration with the delay in resolving the ongoing longer term issues around the provision of services in the Grantham area”. It goes on to highlight the importance of “appropriate engagement with staff, local people, and their representatives” for any service changes. The letter has been forwarded to the Department of Health and Social Care.
“Although it’s taken some time with the ongoing pandemic, we were pleased to get a reply from the minister” said Councillor Linda Wootten, county councillor for Grantham East. “Our priority has always been to ensure that the people of Grantham and district receive the best hospital treatment that the NHS can provide and we will continue the fight for the return of our A&E.”
“We are a rural town and residents are suffering much inconvenience having to travel for A&E services.”
Councillor Carl Macey, chair of the Health Scrutiny Committee, said: “It is welcome news to see that fellow councillors concerns have been acknowledged by Government. We all share the concerns of the many people in Grantham about the changes which have had a significant impact for people, particularly in terms of travel to other sites and the downgrading of Grantham A&E.”
“As a committee we have previously written to Government on this issue and we will continue to press United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust and NHS management on plans for ensuring comprehensive hospital services that local people deserve.”
Firefighters in Lincolnshire have again been stepping up to a range of different activities to support the countywide Covid-19 response.
Behind the scenes, Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue have been part of many multi-agency teams keeping services running, ensuring stocks of PPE are available where needed and supporting Lincolnshire communities.
As well as driving ambulances when demand has been high, fire crews from Lincoln South and Wainfleet have been helping with the roll out of lateral flow testing in Lincoln and Boston. Firefighters from Skegness, Boston and Lincoln North supported the construction of vaccination sites in their local areas too.
And this is on top of continuing to respond to emergencies around the county, providing advice over the phone, and continuing to visit the most vulnerable residents in their homes.
Mark Baxter, Interim Chief Fire Officer, said: “Just like during the last lockdown, our firefighters have again been playing a key role in the ongoing coronavirus response- protecting our residents and helping wherever they’re needed.
“We remain committed to supporting our colleagues and partner agencies across Lincolnshire and to carry on with our prevention work that helps those most at risk of harm.”
Cllr Nick Worth, executive councillor for emergency services at the county council, said: “I’m incredibly proud of both our frontline firefighters and our staff working behind the scenes who continue to work for the benefit of the county.
“They have taken on additional responsibilities and new working practices, whilst still providing a first-class response to their communities. We often say the role is not just about fires, and the last year has shown just how much firefighters do to keep people safe.”
The Grosvenor House Hotel, North Parade, Skegness has had their Alcohol Premises Licence Revoked
The Alcohol Licensing Team from Lincolnshire Police submitted paperwork for a Licence Review Hearing following a visit to the premises on 19th November 2020, where officers seized CCTV footage. Once this footage had been examined The Grosvenor Hotel was found to be open and trading on Friday 13th November 2020 and Saturday 14th November 2020. The business was open with customers inside consuming alcohol in contravention of the government closure order which started at midnight on 4th November 2020.
On Tuesday 19th January 2021 a digital hearing was held in front of Skegness District Council Licensing Sub-Committee. After hearing all the evidence they agreed with the police that this licenced premises had opened in breach of the regulations when other businesses were subject to closure.
The Sub-Committee were of the view that the breaches were so serious in a time when coronavirus was particularly prevalent in the area and when the Government had declared a national lockdown for the country that it was appropriate for the promotion of all four of the licensing objectives to revoke the licence.
There is a 21 day appeal process; if no appeal is submitted then the suspension comes into force.
Lincolnshire Police initially received a photograph from a Facebook account which appeared to show a group of males sat in a large group drinking pints and posing for photos.
Sergeant Kim Enderby, Alcohol Licensing Manager for Lincolnshire Police, said: “Following that initial Facebook image being sent to my team we carried out a thorough investigation. We quickly attended at the hotel and carried out a review of the CCTV hard drive. I thought after 29 years in the police there wasn’t a lot left to shock me but the way in which this venue was operating was awful. Nearly two weeks after the November lockdown had started we found footage of over fifteen people in the bar area. They were being served pint after pint by the owner of the premises Mr Sparks. Obviously this hotel bar should have been closed; people should not have been allowed inside to drink alcohol. But of equal concern was the total lack of social distancing measures in place. At one point over ten men were crammed round a small table drinking and posing for what we think were the Facebook posts. There were no face masks being worn by customers or staff, nothing had been put in place to try and prevent the spread of the virus.
“We also discovered footage of three males smoking in the bar area, despite the fact that it has been illegal to smoke on licensed premises in England since 1st July 2007- over thirteen years. The males were seen to be drinking and smoking whilst children sat and ate at a table behind them. Mr Sparks claimed it was an error of judgement on his part to open the bar but that is a poor excuse. The blatant disregard for both the closure order and social distancing measures demonstrates a lack of management and control over these premises.
“We are not yet out of this pandemic, whilst the vaccine rollout is well under way, we still need everyone to be sensible and follow the regulations. Anyone responsible for running licensed premises is expected to do so responsibly and within the law.
“The decision of East Lindsey District Council to revoke this licence sends a really strong deterrent message to anyone owning or running licensed premises. They need to follow the guidance, operate lawfully and responsibly. We will not hesitate to take action against any licensed premises whose operation presents a risk to the public, where there is criminality and where the licensing objectives are undermined.”
you can click on the following link to view the forms and plans of any planning application.
http://www.southkesteven.gov.uk/planningsearch
S20/1993 South Witham Listed Building Consent for repainting of front door.Applicant: Mr Steve Stanbury14, Church Street South Witham NG33 5PJ
S20/2047 Grantham Single storey -monoppitch extension to north elevation.Applicant: Mr John Edwards, 18 Rosedale Drive Grantham NG31 8PY
S21/0008 Barkston Proposed low voltage overhead lines work adjacent to The Lodge Hough Road Barkston Lincolnshire NG32 2PA; Applicant: Stephanie Sheehan, Wayleaves Speacialist (Grantham) Isaac Newton Way Alma Park Industrial Estate Grantham NG31 9RT
S21/0061 Corby Glen Fell fir tree.Applicant: Ian Clayton, Woodhouse Arms 2 Bourne Road Corby Glen NG33 4NS
S20/2150 Castle Bytham: Proposed new chalet bungalow on land Adjacent To Pineview Holywell Road Castle Bytham NG33 4SL; Applicant: Mr M NicholsOakwood HomesConstruction House Fengate Peterborough PE1 5BH
S20/2169 Grantham Proposed single storey rear extension.Applicant: Mr and Mrs Nelson and Mable Chiwaridzo,10, Goldsmith Road Grantham NG31 9QW
S20/2175 Harlaxton Single storey extension to front & rear with two storey extension to side.; Applicant: Mr Steve Manson 8, Swine Hill Harlaxton NG32 1HP
S20/2178 Pickworth Erection of a single 2-storey detached self build family dwelling and single storeydouble garage with associated landscaping works.Applicant: Mr & Mrs GriffithsBridge House, Village Street Pickworth NG34 0TD
S20/2219 Grantham Section 73 application to vary condition 3 (hours of operation), to increase to hoursof operation to 08:00 am – 18:00pm Monday-Friday.Applicant: Mr Robin Barker, Absolutely Barkers 24 Rushcliffe Road Grantham NG31 8ED
S20/2188 Harlaxton Demolition of conservatory and erection of single storey oak garden room. Alterations to the main elevation of existing garage. Applicant: Mr Christian Gleave Waterside, 11, Pond Street Harlaxton NG32 1HW
S20/2189 Foston Erection of car port to side of dwelling (including replacement of adjoining window with patio doors) following the change of use (partial) of land adjacent property to residential. Applicant: Mr James Baggaley Springbank Chapel Lane Foston NG32 2JZ
S20/2193 Ancaster Single storey rear extension, white render to dwelling, erection of single storey entrance hall and sheltered porch, new proposed enlarged window to master bed and proposed alterations to existing garage. Applicant: Mr and Mrs Clarke 25, Angel Court Ancaster NG32 3PR
S20/2196 Grantham Change of use from offices to single dwellinghouse. The Priory 7 Market Place Grantham NG31 6LJ; Applicant: Mr Burrows Lindpet Investments Ltd Lidpet House Market Place Grantham Lincolnshire NG31 6LJ
S20/2225 Grantham Erection of two storey and single storey side extensions.Applicant: Mr B Ward 3 Peascliffe Drive Grantham NG31 8EN
S21/0002 Sempringham Proposed extension, alterations and detached garage building.Applicant: Mr Richard WellsCrown Cottage 3 Neslam Road Sempringham NG34 0LA
S21/0024 Burton Coggles Yew – front garden – reduce height by 3m and piull in sides to shape (by 1m), beech- Front garden – reduce height by 4m and laterally reduce by 1.5m due to fungal activity found at base of tree, yew – rear garden – crown raise to 3m, lime – side of drive – prune back upper branch back to historic cut points. Applicant: Mrs Hobbs The Old Rectory Church Lane Burton Coggles NG33 4JZ
S21/0025 Grantham Discharge of conditions 12 (road design) & 16 (landscape management plan) of permission S14/3571 on Land South Of Barrowby Road, Grantham; Applicant: Countryside Properties 1 Penman Way Grove Park Leicester LE19 1SY
S21/0026 & S21/0027 Long Bennington New rear extension and partial demolition to the rear. External landscapingalterations to front and rear. Internal alterations to listed building and replacement ofexisting windows to frontage of listed building. Applicant: Mr D Lepley Elmtree House, 54, Main Road Long Bennington NG23 5DJ
S21/0028 Long Bennington Proposed conversion of detached garage with erection of first floor extension and single storey link extension. Applicant: Mr Michael Potts 18A, Costa Row Long Bennington NG23 5DY
S21/0031 Little Bytham Submission of details reserved by Condition 3 (materials), 4 (soft landscaping) and 5(hard landscaping) of planning approval S20/1183 (Erection of detached dwellinghouse including alterations to existing access). Applicant: Mr Richard Evans 18, Station Road Little Bytham NG33 4RA
S21/0036 Harlaxton : T1 – Prunus – To fell, T2 – Corylus Avellana – Coppice back, T3 – Corylus Avellana Coppice back or pollard.Applicant: Mr S AllamIvy Cottage 28 High Street Harlaxton NG32 1JD
S21/0037 Harlaxton Erection of single storey front extension and garage conversion. Replacement of flat roof with pitched roof. Applicant: Mr & Mrs Pell 32, Gregory Close Harlaxton NG32 1JG
S21/0040 Grantham Two storey and single storey rear extension to dwelling.Applicant: Mr & Mrs Swift305, Harlaxton Road Grantham NG31 7JP
S21/0066 Great Gonerby Green waste storage and processingat Hook Cliff Farm Newark Hill Great Gonerby NG31 8PA; Applicant: Planning Technical SupportLancaster House Orchard Street Lincoln LN1 1XX
S21/0055 Grantham Several works to trees – all details in submitted tree report. Applicant: J Sainsbury Plc – 453016 London Road Grantham NG31 6HJ
S21/0071 Fulbeck Silver Birch (T1) – Fell due to rot in large wound.Applicant: GertnerChurch View Cottage The Green Fulbeck Lincolnshire NG32 3JJ
S21/0053 Long Bennington Discharge of condition 3 (materials) of permission S20/1454. Applicant: Mr & Mrs S Haywood-Grey 40, Main Road Long Bennington NG23 5DJ
S21/0056 Long Bennington Erection of one dwelling at 48 Church Street Long Bennington NG23 5EN.; Applicant: Mr Barry Woodward 48 Church Street Long Bennington NG23 5EN
S21/0057 Londonthorpe Ash (T1) – reduce (by 50%) to just above old reduction points.Applicant: Mr P SteerApple Tree Cottage, 24, High Road Londonthorpe NG31 9RU
S21/0058 Grantham Erection of single storey rear extension, first floor rear dormer extension and external alterations. Applicant: Inman 243 Barrowby Road Grantham NG31 8NP
S21/0063 Grantham Erection of single storey rear extension.Applicant: Mr & Mrs D Moulds44, Gloucester Road Grantham NG31 8RJ
Sgt Dan McCormack reports that two people were caught travelling 100 mile round trip to Grantham, from a different county, to ‘try & find a PlayStation’.
Covid fines were issued.
He asks: “Was an essential journey!
“I’m a gamer but that’s not essential travel! We are in lockdown for a reason.
“To save lives.”
Warnings of heavy rain for Lincolnshire over three consecutive days next week have been issued by the Met Office..
People are being warned to expect prolonged and heavy rain may lead to flooding and travel chaos from the early hours of Tuesday (19 ) until noon on Thursday (21)..
The Yellow Weather Warnings say homes and businesses could be flooded, buildings damaged, trains and buses cancelled or delayed and communities cut off by flooding
Motorists could also face treacherous driving conditions from spray and flooding, and homes and businesses could be affected by power cuts.
The Met Office says:: “Several days of persistent and occasional heavy rain are expected to affect the region.
“The heaviest and most persistent rain is likely to be across Wales and the high ground of northern England (Pennines).
“By early Thursday, 30-60 mm of rain is expected to fall widely across the warning area, with 100-150 mm over the high ground of Wales and northern England.
“Up to 200 mm is possible across parts of north Wales. Melting snow across higher parts of the Pennines may exacerbate the potential for flooding.
“Strong winds will also accompany the rainfall and may add to travelling difficulties across areas higher and more exposed routes.”
The outlook for the East Midlands on Monday is a mainly fine but cloudy day, with rain and increasing winds later in the afternoon and temperatures reaching 7C.
Tuesday to Thursday is forecast to be much more unsettled with a wet and windy Tuesday, some rain and hill snow on Wednesday, and a cold and windy Thursday with some snow.
Six Covid fineswere issued to group of ‘urban explorers’ who have travelled from three different counties to have a look around the derelict parts of the hospital on Manthorpe Road, Grantham, reports Sgt Dan McCormack.
“Not on,” he says.
“Not essential and simply a breach of the lockdown.”
The top Grantham media site for:
News
Old pictures
What’s happening
Or a good old moan about Grantham issues
To contact us:
GranthamMatters@gmail.com
07913 694812
