After a period of calm, another lorry has hit one of Grantham’s low railway bridges.

The HGV hit the bridge in Harlaxton Road this afternoon (Thursday), causing the road to be closed and vehicles diverted.

Its trailer collapsed on to two vehicles which were travelling behind. No injuries have been reported according to Lincolnshire Police.

Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue and Network Rail are on the scene and the road remains closed.

Grantham and District Indoor Bowls Club results:

Lincolnshire Over-60s Men’s League

Grantham 84

Louth 94

P Hewitt, I Lord, I Cole, D Hill won 24-15; W Stevenson, R W Smith, C Goodley, B Allen lost 9-19; M LeHair, T Asher, L Payling, J Lewis won 20-15; D Pimm, D Abernethy, R Turnbull, A Palmer lost 9-32; C Richardson, R Payne, A Alexander, J Pask won 22-13.

Lincolnshire Mixed League

Grantham 82

Lincoln B 94

I Cole, B Patten, R Murphy, R Turnbull won 22-19; J Wood, G Keasley, D Abernethy, D Wood lost 6-28; S Richards, H Whatley, C Goodley, J Lewis won 19-12; M Palmer, M Goodchild, B Goodchild, W Stevenson lost 13-22; L Appleyard, S Payling, M Appleyard, L Payling won 22-13.

Jack High League

Barnstone 70

Bingham 43

Barnstone names first :- P Aylward, S Wrate, R Smith beat P Jaques, A Cullen, K Handley 19-13; H McCandless, S Payling, L Payling beat J Cullen, B Davey, K Hackett 29-9; R Spencer, J Parker, S Taylor beat A Brailsford, P Thornhill, K Brailsford 22-21.

The chief constable of Greater Manchester Police has been drafted in to investigate the ‘potential conduct matter’ which saw Lincolnshire Police’s chief constable Neil Rhodes suspended.

According to a statement from the Police and Crime Commissioner for Lincolnshire, Alan Hardwick, this afternoon, Sir Peter Fahy has been brought in as investigating officer.

As reported, Mr Rhodes was suspended from his role on February 26 by Alan Hardwick over ‘potential conduct matters’ and the IPCC announced on Monday that they would not be investigating.

They ruled that the matter does require investigation but “does not amount to serious corruption or misconduct which would merit an IPCC investigation”.

Therefore the matter went back to Mr Hardwick who has in turn drafted in Sir Peter Fahy.

A statement from Mr Hardwick said: “I am pleased to appoint Sir Peter Fahy to conduct an independent and rigorous investigation and I look forward to receiving his findings in due course.”

Sir Peter Fahy, 54, was knighted in 2012 for services to policing and became the top cop at Greater Manchester Police in September 2008.

Neil Rhodes’ suspension was the first time a Police and Crime Commissioner has acted to suspend a chief constable since the role was created nationally in November.

Alec Wood has stepped in as acting chief constable for Lincolnshire.

More than 40 cakes were entered into the Great Fairtrade Bake-off on Saturday and an auction afterwards raised additional money towards winning Grantham the coveted Fairtrade town status.

Judges, including Journal editor Paul Richardson and Mayor Ian Stokes, took almost two hours to decide the winners at the Baptist Church in Wharf Road.

Two categories were won by males - Darsham Patel in the 11-16 years chocolate cake and pensioner Allan Jackson in the Victoria sponge competition - and around 100 people turned out to support Fairtrade initiatives.

Results: Chocolate cake: Under 11: 1, Mia Down; 2, Sheena Colton; 3, Georgine Stewart; 11-16: 1, Darsham Patel; 1, Pippa Jessop; 2, Rebecca Jarvis and Elisa Dolan; Over 16: 1, Jenny Dyrer; 2, Diane Watson; 3, Mavis Deptford. Fruit cake: Under 11: 1, Lucy Jarvis; 2, Woodlands Nursery; Over 16: 1, Louise Willett; 2, Zenia Ferguson; 3, Gill Baxter. Victoria Sponge: Under 11: Sheena Colton; 2, William Tapley; 3, Ethan Tamplin; Over 16: 1, Allan Jackson; 2, John Warner; 3, Nicole Gallagher.

An unnamed sponsor has shown an interest in taking over the running of Charles Read Academy in Corby Glen, raising the hopes of those who hope to see it spared from closure in 2014.

News of the sponsor came last Friday when Grantham MP Nick Boles and leader of Lincolnshire County Council Martin Hill attended a meeting of parents and others opposed to the closure at Corby Glen Methodist Church.

Georgina Kelham, who has a son in Year 7 at Charles Read, said the meeting was very positive. She said it had emerged that the academy which had shown an interest in Charles Read was well established with a big interest in Lincolnshire and in maintaining smaller schools.

She said: “Hopefully it is not too small a school as it all comes down to the money side of things. After Friday’s meeting I am feeling quite positive again.”

Another parent, Sharon Broughton-Eley, who has three children at the school, has collected close to 4,000 signatures for a petition she organised. She presented the petition to Mr Boles’ office at the weekend.

Chief executive of the West Grantham Academies Trust, Trudy Brothwell, told the Journal: “As you know, The West Grantham Academies Trust is in the middle of a consultation process to address the issue of The Charles Read Academy’s long-term future. During the process, another academy sponsor has approached us to discuss the possibility of the academy joining their network. We are in the very early stages of negotiations, and we need to work with the Department for Education and our Trustees before this can proceed.

“At this stage all options, including the academy joining another sponsor, are being seriously considered. It would be wrong, however, for us to set an expectation of what the outcome of the consultation and other discussions will be. All current negotiations are confidential and will form part of the submission to the Minister at the end of the consultation period (March 28, 2013). We are therefore unable to comment further until the consultation has finished.”

Councillor Hill said: “This is a welcome development which needs to be considered as part of the consultation process. It has been clear that parents and pupils at the school don’t want to see it close, especially as it would mean travelling vast distances to another school. As I have said, Grantham has growth point status and we will need to find more school places in a few years’ time, so this approach from an academy sponsor who might be able to provide the necessary support needs to be explored.”

Councillor Mrs Patricia Bradwell, Executive Councillor for Children’s Services, said: “The West Grantham Academies Trust is working hard for a positive resolution to Charles Read’s long-term future and we are pleased to see another option on the table that will be included as part of the consultation process. It’s important for parents to be patient and there is no need to transfer children at this time.”

A fighter from Grantham Amateur Boxing Club won his debut bout against an opponent named Mohammed Ali.

Sixteen-year-old junior heavy-weight Sam Steadman took on the Huthwaite ABC boxer at Forest Town Miners Welfare last Friday.

Although sporting a name similar to arguably the greatest heavyweight of all time – Muhammad Ali – fellow debutant Ali lost nevertheless on points to the Grantham man.

Sam came out in the first round with his upright style, and put in plenty of jabs to outbox his opponent. He carried on in the same vein throughout to give the judges an easy decision.

Grantham ABC coach Dean Fardell said: “Sam kept flowing, jabbing and moving. He has a lovely boxing style.”

Sam is back in the ring tonight with a bout at Immingham.

Another of Fardell’s heavyweight charges – Lee Chapple – cruised to victory in his first bout for the Grantham club.

The 22-year-old took on Calverton WMC’s Paul Stephenson on his home turf and stopped him in the first round.

Lee caught Stephenson with a couple of jabs early on and the referee gave him a standing eight count. Lee stopped the Calverton man midway through the opening round.

Fardell said: “Lee hit him with a jab and a right, followed by a left hook – and he bit the dust.

“Lee has done very well, and done the club proud.”

Despite losing 3-2 at home to Whitby Town on Tuesday night, Grantham Town joint boss Gary Sucharewycz said he was pleased with their comeback after going three down in the first half.

The Gingerbreads were pretty much run ragged in the first half and conceded a goal when Alex White knocked the ball in after a corner kick.

Whitby doubled their lead on 23 minutes with Nathan Mulligan getting the slightest of touches to Ibby Hassan’s seemingly goalbound free kick.

The visitors continued to be generally superior in all departments and at times the Gingerbreads were reduced to being little more than spectators.

Grantham went further behind after 36 minutes when White headed in his second after a perfectly executed corner kick.

The Gingerbreads failed to capitalise on any rare Whitby mistakes and forlornly went into half time without a goal to their name.

But Grantham came out after the break with the bit between their teeth and pulled a goal back on 53 minutes when Jamie McGhee ran clear down the left and lobbed Whitby keeper Nick Liversedge.

With their tails up, Grantham scored a second time three minutes later when Greg Smith headed in Sam Purcicoe’s cross.

The Gingerbreads had the chance to level on 59 minutes when Gio Carchedi was tripped in the penalty box, but Liversedge dived the right way to save Smith’s spot kick.

The game continued in an end-to-end fashion but neither side was able to find the back of the net again.

Sucharewycz said: “Conceding three goals in a game from set pieces is criminal.We tore into them at half time and got a reaction after the break. We came back strongly and were unlucky not to have got a point from the game. We feel we are good enough to get something from games.”

Grantham Town host AFC Fylde at The Meres tomorrow and the club has issued another great value admission offer for families.

Adults pay just £5 when accompanied by up to three children – who are admitted free. Additional children are £2.

AFC Fylde are chasing a play-off spot and the Gingerbreads are anxiously looking for some points to put some air between themselves and teams struggling against relegation.

Co-manager Gary Sucharewycz said they would “fight fire with fire”. He said: “Fylde will score goals against any side. You need to attack them. We will need to get on the front foot on Saturday, be strong in defence and take the game to them.”

Regular keeper James Martin is still out with a shoulder injury, Kallum Smith is struggling with his thigh, and Karl Demidh is suspended.

Kick-off at The Meres is 3pm.

Grantham cyclists took part in the first East Midlands road race of the year at Darley Moor, Ashbourne, on Saturday.

Witham Wheelers Paul Conneely and Chris Carter were both happy with top 20 finishes in the third/fourth category event. Reece Egner and James Carter contested the juvenile under-16 race and finished just outside the points in fifth and sixth places respectively. Clubmate Jennifer McAndrew rode well in another chasing group to finish as first girl.

In the under-14s, Adam Egner rode strongly but was out of the placings, and Robert McAndrew gained good experience in his first race in this age category.

Now riding for new junior team Forme Racing, Peter Cocker took part in the elite/first/second/third category event, riding a defensive race for his team-mates but still managing to bridge to the main chasing bunch and finish seventh overall in the final sprint.

+ A quartet of Witham Wheelers braved the cold for an early season open time trial at Folkingham on Sunday.

Hosted by Bourne Wheelers, the 14.3-mile hilly event saw riders battle a bitter wind and hailstones on the outward leg to Billingborough, with a helpful tailwind back to Folkingham.

Results: Martin Hedley 40min 41sec, Chris Crawford 40.59, Bill Harrison 42.10, Tony Hardenberg 43.51.

A nursery which has been threatened with closure at the end of May could still find a lifeline.

Acorn Day Nursery at Grantham Hospital was told it would close after a company which had taken on the new lease decided to pull out.

But the United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust which leases the nursery building now says it will go back to the company, Childcare Enterprise Ltd, and ask it to reconsider. Failing that, the lease on the building could be put out to tender again.

Parents, staff and Trust officials met last Friday to discuss the situation. Rachel Stark, a mother with a daughter at the nursery, said there was an excellent turnout of parents at the meeting. The Trust was under the impression that only nine children attended the nursery when in fact there are 36 places at Acorn.

Most parents work at the hospital or are employed by the NHS. Mrs Stark said that in many of the hospital employee’s contracts it was stated that the nursery would be there for them if they needed childcare.

Nursery owner Marie Sparks said: “I think the Trust have reconsidered and have decided that they are not closing the nursery at the moment. They may well be looking to tender it out again.”

A spokesman for the Trust said: “We have listened very carefully to what the staff and parents have to say. These are people who are very important to the Trust.

“We understand how important the nursery is to their lives. We are exploring all the options to keep the nursery open, but it has to be a solution that is affordable to the Trust.”

Members of the Grantham Canal Society will be dressed in traditional clothes worn by boat people in the early 20th century as part of a three-day exhibition next week.

Visitors will see how the society is working to restore the waterway with a range of exhibits at the town museum, from Thursday until Saturday (March 23).

There will also be a workshop showing techniques used to decorate clothes and furnishings of people who lived and worked on the canal during its heyday.

Rosemary Gibson, the society’s events team leader, will be holding a workshop on the needlework of the canal boatwomen on the Saturday. Email Rosemary on RhuMaere@aol.com to book a place on the workshop.

The canal was opened in 1797 to transport coal to the town and help boost its prosperity and industrial growth.

I’m intrigued by the decision of South Kesteven District Council planning committee to hold part of a recent meeting in secret.

We should be told why the meeting was in secret; was it to do with the two plots of land on either side of Stephenson Avenue, at its junction with Gonerby Road? If it was, I presume the decision was made to cover up SKDC’s embarrassment.

I would like SKDC to answer the following:

Since SKDC has maintained the two plots of land for nearly 30 years, under the mistaken impression it was “their” land, why, when they discovered it actually belonged to Jelsons, did they not claim it under “Squatters’ Rights”, thus keeping a valuable green amenity for the local community?

When Jelsons found out it was their land, did they apply for planning permission on them?

If planning permission had been refused, when Jelsons sold the land was it made clear that that was the case?

Was it made clear to the new owner that planning permission had been refused previously?

Who has bought the land?

If it is true that the new owner intends putting caravans on the sites, what pre-emptive action is being taken by SKDC to prevent such an occurrence happening?

Or, will we have to wait for the next Bank Holiday to find the new owner has turned up with lorry loads of ballast, caravans and fencing to turn it into an eyesore?

Alfie Kent

Lynden Avenue, Grantham

Dog lover James Taylor has decided to start up his own business, removing dog poo from homes and commercial buildings.

Mr Taylor, 53, has called his new company DoggieDooDoos. He will remove dog waste from gardens, paths and driveways for householders or companies and will offer a pet safe disinfectant service to clean up infected areas including kennels, garden toys and play areas. Prices will start from as little as £8 per visit.

He is a dog lover himself, keeping four dogs - three Yorkshire Terriers and a Pug/Shih Tzu cross - at his home in Buckminster Gardens, Grantham. He currently works at a distribution company, and will run his new company on a part-time basis.

Mr Taylor said: “I thought I have got four dogs and I know a lot of people don’t like doing it so why not start a dog waste clean-up service. I have spoken to a few people and have found there has been interest. I have my own dogs and I pick up their waste and it doesn’t bother me.”

The business will serve customers in Grantham and surrounding areas and he will offer a one-off, daily, weekly or monthly service. For more details on DoggyDooDoos or for an estimate call Mr Taylor on 07934 709390 or e-mail DoggieDoo
Doos@virginmedia.com

Shoppers can pick up some life-saving skills along with their shopping tomorrow (Saturday, March 16).

St John Ambulance’s Grantham Badger and Cadet groups will be in The George Centre in Grantham between 9am and 4pm, where they will demonstrate several basic first aid techniques, including dealing with an unconscious patient who is not breathing, administering CPR, treating burns and bleeding, helping someone who is choking, and dealing with an asthma attack. Members of the public can even have a go themselves.

Anyone who takes part in the challenge by attending a training session will be presented with a certificate on the day. The event has been organised by St John Ambulance to mark 25 years since Badger units were founded and 90 years since the charity’s first Cadets joined the organisation.

THURSDAY DOUBLES

Results (week 10): Giraffes 10 Old Codgers 0, Kanada St 8 Lavender Hill Mob 2, Cobblers 8 Revrite 2, Last Resort 2 Smokey Mountain Duo 8, Jetsetters 10 Spare Parts 0, New Venture 1 Cool Runnings 9.

Highs: female – HGS 191 Katie Tagg, HGH 230 Meryl Watts, HSS 559 Katie Tagg, HSH 655 Katie Tagg; male – HGS 245 Graham Kettle, HGH 272 Graham Kettle, HSS 602 Graham Kettle, HSH 683 Graham Kettle; team – HGS 428 Giraffes, HGH 485 Giraffes, HSS 1159 Giraffes, HSH 1328 Giraffes.

Positions: 1 Smokey Mountain Duo 83, 2 Revrite 67, 3 Giraffes 60, 4 Last Resort 56, 5 Cobblers 55, 6 Cool Runnings 55, 7 Old Codgers 54, 8 Kanada St 51, 9 Jetsetters 38, 10 Lavender Hill Mob 31, 11 New Venture 30, 12 Spare Parts 20.

A Grantham swimmer won three medals at the National Disability Junior and Youth Swimming Championships last weekend.

In the 14-16 years age group, Hayley Milne, who is only 13 years old, won a gold medal in the 100m breaststroke. She beat her personal best by three seconds and was the fastest SB7 under 17 years old.

In the 50m freestyle event, Hayley won a silver medal and she won bronze in the 100m freestyle, smashing her personal best by more than six seconds.

Haley also swam the 4x100m relay for the East Midlands region.

l The third round of the Peterborough Mini Meet last weekend proved very successful for Grantham swimmers last weekend.

Highlight of the evening was Abigail Farkas delivering a superb performance in 50m freestyle, setting a new club record for 10 years old girls in a time of 33.87sec.

Other swimmers also achieved some impressive personal bests with Cameron Chow swimming a great 200m freestyle, improving by 17 seconds and finishing in eighth place. Amelia Peters showed signs that she will be very strong this year with a cracking 11 seconds PB in 200m individual medley, and David Evans finished fifth in 200m freestyle with a 10-second PB.

Lara Hawkes narrowly missed the club record in 100 IM, improving by almost five seconds, and finished second in her age group.

The biggest improvement in 50m freestyle was recorded by Kerry Sanders, who broke the 40-second barrier for the first time. In the boys’ 50m butterfly, Kendall Wilkins showed his strength to go under 35 seconds for the first time, finishing in second place.

With just one round to go next month, the highest ranked Grantham swimmers are as follows in their respective age groups: Lara Hawkes – second, David Evans – fourth, Katie Hitchcock and Kendall Wilkins – sixth.

Grantham Athletic Club’s annual Newton’s Fraction Half-marathon took place in freezing cold conditions on Sunday.

Despite the weather, 401 of the 470 entrants started the course which started at South Kesteven Sports Stadium and went out into the Vale of Belvoir, taking in big climbs at Woolsthorpe and Casthorpe. With the biting wind and threat of snow, well-lagged runners’ performances were down on normal.

First town runner to finish was Grantham Running Club’s David Kay who finished in just over 85 minutes for 11th overall. Grantham Athletic Club veteran Arthur Short was three minutes adrift.

GRC’s Scott Jones scooped his second half-marathon personal best in eight days, Phil Hall (GAC) improved to a season’s best and GRC’s Cathy Caley finished sixth in her age group.

Results: 11 David Kay 1.25.18, 20 Arthur Short 1.28.07, 31 Ben Hatherley 1.30.19, 58 Iain Brown 1.33.57, 63 Scott Jones 1.34.16, 71 Thomas Williamson 1.35.36, 78 Ben Mason 1.36.37, 105 John Ellerby 1.39.09, 171 David Gregory 1.45.46, 201 Sophie Hunt 1.47.56, 213 Louise Taylor 1.49.01, 275 Phil Hall 1.58.00, 348 Ruth Dunstan 2.13.48, 349 Anna Littlecott 2.13.49, 380 Yvonne Taylor 2.24.10, 385 Cathy Caley 2.25.39.

Ropsley Road Runners results: Tony Johnson 1.33.36, Paul Jepson 1.56.30, John Flaxman 2.14.04, Alan Bird 2.31.10.

Ninety-four competitors also ran the 3km Little Apple Fun Run with GAC’s William Tucker and Sophie Tucker winning their classifications in 10.22 and 10.45 respectively.

+ Grantham RC’s Mark Wilson was their sole entrant in the Grindleford Gallop 21-mile multi-terrain event in Derbyshire on Saturday.

Veteran runner Mark finished 61st in 3.14.59.

Two girls from Grantham were amongst the winners at the National Badminton Awards ceremony held at the International Conference Centre in Birmingham on Friday.

Seventeen-year-old Laura Graves won the Young Coach of the Year (19 years or under) award.

She qualified as a Level One coach in May last year and has made a tremendous difference as a volunteer coach in and around Grantham and for the sports charity Inspire+.

She delivers weekly badminton sessions at her school, KGGS, and is the appointed student badminton officer at the school.

Laura runs BISI festivals for primary schoolchildren and coaches at South Kesteven Badminton Academy. She also coaches badminton at junior holiday camps and helps organise a weekly pay and play adult session.

Young Volunteer of the Year went to Tracey Lamb.

A lead presenter and joint organiser of the East Midlands Young Leaders Camp, now in its third year, Tracey organised a training session for 250 young ambassadors and delivered a presentation to Lord Coe on the Inspire+ student leadership programme.

Her participation and enthusiasm as part of the Youth Sport Trust Ambassador National Steering Group has also displayed her strengths as part of a team and supporter for others.

Badminton England chief executive Adrian Christy said “It is a fantastic achievement for two young people from South Kesteven to win both of these national awards.”

Laura Graves (left) is pictured with Tracey Lamb and Badminton England player of the year Chris Adcock.

Barkston and Syston Cricket Club junior section’s 2012 prize presentations were made at this season’s first indoor training session at Grantham College.

Trophies were awarded by local umpiring stalwart Vic Heppenstall to players in the club’s under-11, under-13 and under-15 squads, as well as the under-13 girls’ team who made it to the final of the County Cup.

Vic also presented the under-15s with the Lincolnshire Youth Cricket League Fair Play Trophy for the third consecutive season. He praised them for consistently playing in the true “spirit of cricket”.

We, the undersigned, pledge our full support of Gary Walker, David Bowles and other “whistle blowers” who had the courage to speak out about patient safety in our NHS.

For their courage they have been treated like criminals. David Nicholson was a leader of the Stategic Health Authority, who oversaw the horrific catalogue of disaster in Stafford hospitals. This man actually wrote a letter in praise of those hospitals! Needless deaths, appalling neglect – but it seems they actually saved money! His reward was a promotion and he became CEO of the Department of Health! What a recipe for disaster!

Now we are learning that Gary and David were not alone. Many caring medical professionals also voiced their concerns about patient safety, with the pressure to reach unreasonable targets for non-emergency operations. So under Nicholson’s instructions they were allegedly crucified by the bully boys in the various SHAs.

Our NHS is the jewel in Britain’s crown. It has been seriously tarnished by Nicholson and his ilk. We urge you all to do as we have done, write a very strong letter to the Prime Minister and Jeremy Hunt, the Secretary of State for Health, insisting on, first firing Nicholson forthwith, and then carrying out a full investigation, no cover-ups, we demand the full truth. And make sure you send a copy of your letter to your MP. Like us you are taxpayers, you are paying the inflated salaries of these people who are gradually ruining our NHS. Let us positively deluge them with letters, they may ignore a few, but they cannot ignore millions!

The SHAs have been abolished under the new plans. However, the East Midlands SHA managed to strike a massive final blow to Grantham Hospital, by taking away from us a man who is the finest A&E nurse manager in the country, Paul Lewis. Another brave man, who had the courage to put patient safety first. He and his family were caused unnecessary suffering a few years ago. It seems that East Midlands SHA wanted to go out in a blaze of glory with a final act of disgraceful bullying. All the brave people who have spoken out have been made to suffer. If we don’t all speak out then our beloved NHS will be in ruins. We need to get back to its core values, patients not profits – and let nurses be nurses not box tickers!

Nicholson and his ilk must go. Show the people like Gary, David, Paul, Julie Bailey of Cure the NHS and all the other brave ones that their courage has not been in vain.

Please write letters as soon as possible. We really need your support!

Margery Radley

Past Chairman of SKDC

Joan McDaniel

Resident and campaigner