BELTON PARK

Belton Park Captain’s Day was held last Sunday with fabulous weather and a big turnout of 160 players.

This year’s captain, Steve Glenn, has been a member for more than 30 years and is a long-term sponsor of the club.

Many prizes were played for including a Mercedes Cabriolet (for a weekend) supplied by Mercedes Boston for nearest the pin on the 17th hole. There was also a hole-in-one on the by Steve Chambers on the fourth hole. Twenty-seven ladies also joined in the day, playing a nine-hole Texas scramble. Captain Steve ended the day with the traditional captain’s drive-in.

More than £1,600 was raised on the day for Steve’s two chosen charities for his captain’s year, Lincolnshire Air Ambulance and Gifts-St Barnabas Hospice-Grantham and Sleaford.

Competition winners were Colin Walton, Dan Coyle, Keith Flinders and Jim Wiggins.

l The Gents’ section club championships have been decided with Dan Keddie winning the Clement Scratch Bowl for best gross score. Runner-up was Matt Haynes and Chris Burns was third.

The Shaw Memorial Trophy for best net score was won by Harry Glenn. Simon Gaunt was runner-up and in third was Gary Hill.

RASC Cup results: 1 Trevor Ireland and Gordon Lea, 2 Graham Feasby and John Duke, 3 Nigel Evans and Alan Park.

The Bramley Singles team lost 2-1 away at Cleethorpes. The first team lost 3½-2½ at Stoke Rochford and the second string won 3½-2½ at home to Stoke Rochford.

C Team

Spalding 5

Belton Park 1

Belton Park names first – Tony Davies and Paul Woods beat Monty Brittain and Mike Murphy 1 up, John Taylor and John Cooke lost to Rod Filby and Andy Cunnington 2&1, Dick Short and Martin Kelby lost to Dave Colwell and John Beba 6&5, Paul Green and Stewart Boylan lost to Kevin Siddle and Ray Barnett 2&1, Ian Carroll and James Philpotts lost to Ben Blom and Peter Julien 3&2, Colin Walton and John Baxter lost to Sam Sampson and Paul Hooper-Roe 4&3.

Seniors

Radcliffe on Trent 5½

Belton Park 2½

Peter Brooks and David Martin lost 5&4, Bill Brogan and Keith Ball won 3&2, Manny Barker and Tony Noble halved, Ray Clark and Ian Saunders lost 3&2, Mike Monaghan and Terry Bond won 2 up, Willie Badraum and John Carr lost 3&2, Andrew Cookson and Colin Farrington lost 2&1, Nick Craft and Barrie Stainton lost 1 down.

Belton Park 5½

Blankney 3½

Peter Brooks and Tom Brindley lost 3&2, Bill Brogan and Trevor Collis won 2 up, Fred Williams and Nick Craft lost 3&2, Gary Head and Peter Rollings won 3&2, Shaun Boney and Barrie Stainton halved, Wes Wright and Michael Goodacre won 8&7, David Martin and Terry Bond won 4&3, Norman Halliday and Ron Prothero won 2&1, John Carey and Tony Robinson lost 4&3.

BELTON WOODS

Seniors

Belton Woods seniors’ July Monthly Medal was won by Del House.

Results: 1 Del House net 70, 2 Len Astil 73, 3 Phil Stannard 76 ocb, 4 Terry Measures 76, 5 John Billot 77 ocb, 6 Tony Slipper 77, 7 Phil Turrell 78 ocb, 8 Pat Stamford 78 ocb, 9 Mike Whitington 78, 10 Bob Clarke 79.

Greetham Valley 4

Belton Woods 4

Alan Lowen and Kevin Hemingway won 4-3, Dave Inglis and Ray Woodcock lost 4-3, Colin Thornton and Mike Whitington won 1-0, John Sabin and Mike North lost 5-4, David Toule and Roland Shepperson won 4-2, Mick Hall and Ian Nisbett halved, John Billot and Tom Rea halved, Peter Bishop and Bob Clarke lost 4-3.

STOKE ROCHFORD

Seniors

Stanton on the Wolds 5

Stoke Rochford 3

Mick Rance and Keith Dugmore lost 3&2, Barry Coop and Roy Rowe lost 2 down, Greg Ewart and Mike Nixon lost 1 down, Brian White and Mick Graves lost 4&2, John Wright and Graham Manton won 1 up, Chris Woof and Ernie Armstrong lost 3&2, Eddie Plant and Mike Dickinson won 2&1, Ray Elsome and Brian Ayto won 5&3.

Market Harborough 7

Stoke Rochford 1

Mick Rance and Don Clements won 2 up, Barry Coop and John Wright lost 4&2, Don Werner and Dave Hamston lost 3&2, Ernie Armstrong and Alan Jessop lost 5&4, Mike Graves and Tim Haward lost 3&2, Charles Scott and Ray Smith lost 1 down, Ray Elsome and Trevor Harvey lost 2&1, David Hamilton and John Batty lost 1 down.

ADD PIX

Belton Park gents’ club championship winners Harry Glenn (left) and Dan Keddie.

Belton Park Captain’s Day winners, from left – Colin Walton, Dan Coyle, captain Steve Glenn, Keith Flinders and Jim Wiggins.

SUDBROOK MOOR

The Club Championship final went to a sudden death play-off between Pete Martin and Simon Green.

Both players parred the first extra hole before Pete’s steady par four clinched the result on the second to take the gross score Salver. Equal third were father and son Nigel and Martin Corby, with Paul Williamson fifth. The best net Millennium 36-hole trophy was claimed by Nigel Corby.

The twos sweep was shared between Pete Martin (3), Jon Machin (2), Michael Green, Simon Green and Andrew Green.

Both Pete and Nigel will now go forward to contest the County Champions’ event at Market Rasen in September.

A stretch of Grantham Canal is being abused by fly-tippers, this Journal video shows.

There is talk online of a volunteer group made of local people being set up to help keep the stretch between Earlesfield Lane and Swingbridge Road clean.

South Kesteven District Council says it occasionally cleans up the river banks but says the land is owned by British Waterways.

Look out for more in tomorrow’s Grantham Journal.

Sir Isaac Newton was immortalised in a blue plaque at his old school last week.

Scott Mandlebrote spoke about the achievements of the great man at the King’s School in Grantham.

Mr Mandlebrote also gave a lecture: “The Impact of Newton”.

People who are swimming in a reservoir near Grantham to cool off in the heat are risking their lives.

That is the warning given by Jeff Mawhood, Honorary Secretary of Grantham Angling Association, who describes people jumping and swimming in Denton Reservoir as “idiots” for taking such a risk.

And Mr Mawhood said that on Thursday evening last week he saw a man get into difficulties in the cold water and he had to be pulled out by his friends.

Mr Mawhood said: “This is a 23-acre lake. The water is crystal clear and ice cold. There was a chap in there the other night and if it had not been for his friends pulling him out it could have been a tragedy. Somebody is going to end up drowning in there.

“These people are idiots and they are going to kill themselves.”

People are jumping off the concrete wall at one end of the reservoir and “bombing” into the water. Mr Mawhood said there was a lot of concrete and rocks at the bottom of the reservoir which is not deep and people risked injury.

“If they jump in there and hit one of those big lumps of concrete they will break a leg. There is only five or six feet of water.”

Families with young children as young as 18 months have been seen in the water and people have been taking small boats and rubber dinghies out on to the reservoir which is banned.

Mr Mawhood is also furious that a number of ‘no swimming’ signs put up last week were then ripped up. A number of other signs, including no littering signs, produced by the Angling Trust, have also been vandalised.

He said: “The litter people leave around here is unbelievable. I have just ordered a lot more signs but it will be a week before they arrive.”

The reservoir is popular with anglers but many have been frustrated by swimmers who are jumping in nearby and disturbing them.

The water is home to carp, tench and bream. Some of the carp weigh up to 40lb.

Villagers have raised concerns about debris which has fallen on their homes following the massive fire at the Norbert Dentressangle plant in Easton last week.

The light material fell as dust and in lumps, some almost a foot in diameter, when a large plume of thick black smoke rose high into the air from the fire which took hold at the plant last Monday destroying a number of cold storage areas.

Roger Green, of Scotland Lane, Ingoldsby, contacted the Journal to say he had collected a number of lumps of material which had fallen in his garden. He has been in contact with a number of agencies asking them to analyse the material so they can confirm it is safe, but so far he says nobody has looked at it.

Mr Green, 66, a physics teacher, said: “It is strange looking stuff. It has a metallic sheen. It is very brittle. Most people I talk to have experienced it.

“All we are asking for is someone from the Environment Agency or another agency to come out and take some samples, take it to a lab and get it analysed and tell us it does not pose a threat to human health. That seems to me to be a reasonable request.”

In an email to Mr Green, the fire service said there should be no risk to members of the public from the material.

The fire service said: “A very small area of the plant contained low hazard asbestos roof cladded boards which did not pose a risk to members of the public off-site. It is possible that unburnt pieces of insulation within the cladding may have been carried into the atmosphere by the buoyancy of the fire and deposited over an undetermined area downwind of the factory. However the fire and rescue service is of the opinion that the products of combusion from the fire should not pose a risk to member of the public.”

South Kesteven District Council also said there was little risk. Head of Environmental Services Mike Butler said: “Public Health England assessed the fire as low risk and therefore residents should not be concerned on subsequent debris deposited to ground that may have entered the local area. Any debris is likely to be burnt residue polystyrene filler. This is not dangerous and any that is found is safe to be disposed of in resident’s black bins.”

Norbert Dentressangle says its Easton facility is up and running again after the fire.

Managing Director Phil Shaw said: “I can confirm that normal service has been resumed at our transport and storage facility at Easton, near Grantham, and no one was laid off as a result of the incident.”

l See letters, page 6

Cyclists are furious with Morrisons following a spate of bicycle thefts outside the store.

Riders say five bicycles were stolen within a week recently from the bike park in the car park next to the entrance to the Isaac Newton Centre.

Mark Mewes had his cycle stolen one day last week after he had locked it up at about 4.30pm. When he returned, he found the bike gone and parts of his chain lock on the floor.

Mr Mewes, who set up a Bike To Work scheme at Vacu-Lug where he works, says he and other cyclists who are victims of theft, are unhappy with Morrisons whose response has been “It’s a sign of the times”.

Mr Mewes says he does not expect to get his bike back but would like to see some security near the bike park as it is not covered by CCTV.

Mr Mewes said: “It only needs a bit of basic security. It would not cost the earth to put up a camera there. If we can make more people aware of what is going on hopefully we can nip it in the bud.”

Mr Mewes’ wife, Debbie, put a message on Facebook to see if anybody had seen the bike and was surprised to the response from many people who had also had their bikes stolen from the Morrisons centre.

Mrs Mewes said she was angry with the way Morrisons had handled the situation. She was told by the store it was not its reponsibility and it only dealt with queries or complaints inside the store.

She said: “They simply dismissed it and told me to get in touch with head office, but I don’t feel I am getting anywhere. I do not want people to go through what we have gone through.

“My husband is still paying for the bike because he got it through the Bike to Work scheme and has only had it a few months.”

Sarah Foss, who responded to Mrs Mewes’ Facebook message, had her bicycle stolen outside Morrisons in September. She left the bike during the day and cannot believe nobody saw it being taken.

She said: “The town is gridlocked and the quickest way around is on a bike. We are encouraged to get on two wheels but we are being persecuted for it because criminals see them as an easy target.”

A Morrisons spokesperson said: “We were sorry to hear about the theft of Mr Mewes’ bicycle. We want bikes parked outside the centre to be secure and so will look at potential deterrents including CCTV.”

A Grantham schoolgirl has been chosen to perform at one of the most spectacular outdoor musical events of the summer.

Ten-year-old Lauren West, who goes to Isaac Newton School, will sing for an audience at RAF College, Cranwell, on Saturday.

The youngester is one of four talented amateur performers who will entertain in the afternoon as crowds gather for the Anthems In The Park event.

Lauren, who won her place on the bill in a county-wide competition, will sing Over the Rainbow, and Hushaby Mountain.

She will be cheered on at Cranwell by friends and family including proud mum Lisa, sister Kaitlin, nine, brother Haydn, six, and nan Teresa.

Mum Lisa said Lauren was very excited about the chance to perform at such a big event, but her daughter would not be fazed by the crowd.

She said: “Lauren just loves to perform. She is happy-go-lucky, but can be quite quiet until she gets the chance to sing. Then she turns into a different person, full of confidence.”

Mrs West, of Ambergate, Grantham, said Lauren discovered her love of singing at her previous school, Barkston infants, where her music teacher encouraged her to pursue the raw natural talent in her strong voice.

This has continued at Isaac Newton School, and this week she performed for parents at an end of term concert.

Anthems In The Park 2013 will raise funds for the RAF Benevolent Fund and will feature flying displays and music in the atmospheric setting of the world’s oldest aviation college.

Topping the bill will be Britain’s Got Talent finalists Jonathan and Charlotte and the Band of the Royal Air Force College.

The concert will also feature vintage Lancaster, Spitfire and Hurricane aircraft from the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

The concert will culminate in a spectacular Proms-style finale and fireworks display.

The conceert itself starts at 7pm but the unique event gets underway at 3pm, when the entertainment will also include a display by The Red Arrows, the Cranwell Military Wives Choir, a Hunter aircraft and top London youth performers West End Kids.

Tickets are still available and can be bought at Sainsbury’s in Grantham, Sleaford, Lincoln, and Newark or at www.rafbf.org/anthems or call 01689 30005. Adult tickets cost £25, tickets for children (aged 5-17) are £15 and under-fives go free. Family tickets (two adults two children) are £65.

visit: www.rafbf.org/anthems

A visitor to Grantham who has spent five decades living in Africa has compared the town to a “third world country”.

Derek Bird (right) grew up on a farm alongside Grantham Canal before moving away. He returned earlier this month and was disgusted by what he saw.

He said: “This part of the canal bordered the farm where I was brought up and, for me, it’s quite a sentimental walk. Very few urban dwellers have access to such a tranquil area and the people who live there should treasure this bit of nature.

“However, I was very upset at seeing some of the rubbish in the canal.”

Mr Bird, who now lives in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, took photographs of some of the worst areas of the canal between Earlesfield Lane and the Ramada Hotel to illustrate his point.

But, as well as the amount of rubbish dumped into the water, he also found much to criticise in the state of Grantham’s roads.

Mr Bird said: “I felt that Grantham generally had an air of neglect and some of the pot holes were the biggest I have ever seen – Walton Gardens is a case in point.

“I have lived in Africa for 49 years and have had plenty of experience of the third world; unfortunately the rubbish and the pot holes are reminiscent of the third world and I urge Granthamians to pressure the municipal authorities to sort these problems out.

“Surrounding market towns are in much better nick than Grantham.”

There has been talk online of people living in the Earlesfield forming a group of volunteers to help clean their stretch of canal.

There has been talk online of people living in the Earlesfield forming a group of volunteers to help clean their stretch of canal.

And they would have the support of John Knowles, founder of Grantham Rivercare, a group of volunteers who regularly clean the River Witham in and around Wyndham Park, giving up a couple of hours a time.

John said: “Our group is made of people who live along the river so it would be a great idea for people in the Earlesfield to group together. It just needs someone as a leader.

“If there was, I would be only too keen to help. Once you get going, you keep going.”

John has his group sponsored by Anglian Water and also receives help from South Kesteven District Council.

He said: “It only needs half a dozen people to start with to get it going and when people see it happening they think ‘this is good, I’ll join in’.

“I would have thought it would make all the difference.

“People have much more respect for the area if they see it being cleaned, but if they see a load of rubbish in it they just add to it.”

If you are interested in forming such a group, contact the Journal 01476 541431 and we will put you in touch with Grantham Rivercare.

A motorbike was dragged out of Grantham Canal last week as those who wish to see it returned to its former glory ask - who’s responsible for the clean-up?

Jim Wheeldon, water bailiff for Grantham Angling Association, believes the onus falls on South Kesteven District Council.

He said: “I go along the canal banks and sometimes collect eight or 10 dustbin bags full of rubbish. I just don’t know where it’s going to end I really don’t.

“I’m led to believe that part of the canal belongs to the council - they bought it off the water board for a nominal £1 fee and they lease it to Grantham Angling Association.

“If that’s the case, surely they are responsible for looking after it.”

Mr Wheeldon sells licences for people to fish along the stretch. This year he has sold only one.

He said: “There’s thousands of fish and there’s some big fish too. Last year a pike came out between Earlesfield Land and Trent Road just over 30lbs in weight and, by the Ramada, a 23lb carp came out.

“I’m worried we’re going to lose the fish because of the state of the water.

“Once over you would have 10 or 15 people up here fishing most nights but you don’t get anything now and if you do they haven’t got a licence. When I approach them, they say ‘why should I pay to fish in something this state?’And you can’t argue.”

There has been talk on Facebook of volunteers banding together to clear up the canal.

South Kesteven District Council say the land is owned by British Waterways but if they are alerted to excessive litter in the area they will arrange a litter pick.

UPDATE: The Journal has been contacted via Twitter by the Canal River Trust (formerly British Railways) who say they are NOT responsible for this stretch of the canal, their responsibility ends at the A1.

Thanks to @CRTStephen for the update.

Friendly

Grantham Town 2

Boston United 1

Grantham Town made it five wins out of five with a solid victory over Boston United as their pre-season campaign continued to gain momentum.

It was a good workout for both sides, with an unrelenting pace throughout despite a quite warm, muggy Meres atmosphere.

The Pilgrims made nothing of a few early set-pieces and it was Jamie McGhee who ignited the fuse to put Town in front in the 17th minute, with a fine individual effort beating keeper Sam Vince from all of 20 yards.

The Gingerbreads had a chance to double their lead within two minutes, but Deon Meikle was unable to get a shot off from close range. And Paulo Pillerio had the ball in the net on 25 minutes but the flag was already up for offside.

Grantham goalkeeper Dan Haystead deftly plucked a good cross by Niall Delahoy to safety in the six-yard box, with Charley Sanders breathing down his neck.

Town’s search for a second goal continued in the 27th minutewith Pillerio stabbing a short cross into the 18-yard box where Greg Smith rushed in but knocked the ball over the target. Four minutes later, Smith shot off target again after a good build-up by Massiah McDonald.

Speculative efforts came from Grantham’s McGhee in the 33rd minute and Boston’s Elliott Green three minutes later, but both missed the target from distance. Haystead kept Town in front going into half time, saving with his feet when one-on-one with Ricky Miller.

Despite multi-substitutions at half time and more throughout the second half, the game continued in the same vein with Grantham generally dominating.

Emeka Nwadike put his half-volley over as Boston struggled to clear their lines five minutes into the second period, and United failed to equalise three minutes later when Indi Aujla curled his free kick over the wall land the bar.

The Pilgrims drew level on 55 minutes when Miller opened up the Town defence and slotted past the Grantham keeper when one-on-one.

Boston looked to capitalise on their goal, with Billy Bennett whipping in a corner kick across the face of goal in the 58th minute, but Sanders was unable to get the slightest of touches it would have needed.

Grantham substitute Kallum Smith’s 70th minute back header forced a good dive from Vince, although the linesman’s flag had already saved United, and another Smith strike, a low screamer, brought another good stop from the Boston keeper.

The Gingerbreads re-established their lead in the 77th minute. Karl Demidh lined up his 25-yard free kick to the left of the penalty area and his effort managed to elude his own players, the Boston defence and keeper, and drop into the bottom corner of the net.

Grantham went close to increasing the advantage three minutes later when Rhys Lewis headed Sam Purcicoe’s cross just over the bar.

Boston’s keeper denied Nathan Watson from close range in the 82nd minute, and Town’s final real attempt on goal saw Adie Hawes’s header go not far off target from a corner kick.

Grantham Town: Haystead, Kean, Ridley, Meikle, Lister, Nwadike, Towey, Pillerio, McDonald, G. Smith, McGhee. Subs: Purcicoe, Hawes, Demidh, K. Smith, Lewis, Watson, Chambers, Graham, Turner.

A Grantham Tennis Club junior travelled to compete at Middlesbrough at the weekend.

Andrew Isaac contested a Grade 3 regional event as the fourth seed and made it through to the final, beating the top seed on the way, and enjoyed a fine 6-2 6-1 victory to win the event.

Grantham Tennis Club’s week started with a loss to Saxilby in the mixed doubles Lincolnshire league. The team of Neil Robertson, Ella Tapson, Jon Cummins, Yvonne Walker, Ben Howbrook and Jill Pindar lost 6-3.

The men’s second team fared better, winning away at Louth with the team of Michael Cragg, Ed Milner, Josh King, Nigel Birch, Murray Shaw and Toby King.

The ladies’ A Team fought hard but lost 14½ sets to 3½ against Lady Bay. The team comprised Lilly Braddock, Angela Anderson, Yvonne Walker, Carol Binz, Elaine Maplethorpe and Janet Thompson.

The ladies’ short format faced Upper Saxondale at home with the team of Sarah Patton, Sue Cox, Angela Anderson, Jo Carstairs, Claire Marris and Jackie Edgley losing 12-6.

The mixed doubles fourth team also found it tough against Mansfield at home. The team lost 15-3 with Paul Kennedy, Katy Dines, Colin Walton, Sue Rowland, David Todd and Lorraine Walton.

THURSDAY DOUBLES

Results: Last Resort 8 Cobblers 2, Revrite 10 Jetsetters 0, Old Codgers 2 New Venture 8, Spare Parts 4 Kanada St 6, Lavender Hill Mob 7 Smokey Mountain Duo 3, Cool Runnings 8 Giraffes 2.

Highs: female – HGS 180 Natalie Tagg, HGH 218 Natalie Tagg, HSS 499 Katie Tagg, HSH 583 Elaine Jackson; male – HGS 223 Matt Curtis, HGH 256 Matt Curtis, HSS 558 Steve Bilner, HSH 6402 Matt Curtis; team – HGS 374 Revrite, HGH 444 Last Resort, HSS 1109 Revrite, HSH 1232 Revrite.

Positions: 1 Smokey Mountain Duo 185pt, 2 Revrite 177, 3 Old Codgers 155, 4 Giraffes 146.5, 5 Kanada St 146, 6 Last Resort 142.5, 7 Cobblers 138.5, 8 Cool Runnings 132.5, 9 Lavender Hill Mob 125, 10 Jetsetters 119, 11 New Venture 81, 12 Spare Parts 72.

MARREN TILES TRIOS

Results (week 8): Crafty Foxes 4 Oddsods 7, Team Powerplay 3 Team Bar 8, Grumpy Old Men 4 Magic Weasels 7, 9ers bye.

Highs: female – HGS 185 Jackie Dickson, HGH 233 Jackie Dickson, HSS 502 Jackie Dickson, HSH 646 Jackie Dickson; male – HGS 196 Steve Bilner, HGH 222 Alister Curtis, HSS 514 Stephen Speechley, HSH 608 Alister Curtis; team – HGS 542 Team Powerplay, HGH 604 Team Powerplay, HSS 1463 Team Powerplay, HSH 1747 Team Bar.

Positions: 1 Grumpy Old Men 46½, 2 Team Bar 45½, 3 Magic Weasels 44, 4 Crafty Foxes 40, 5 Team Powerplay 36, 6 9ers 28, 7 Oddsods 24.

Nationla Rail is reporting major delays between Grantham and Newark North Gate this afternoon.

A signalling problem was causing disruption in the Grantham area but has since been resolved.

There is now a broken down train near Grantham station.

Because of this, journeys between Grantham and Newark North Gate may be delayed by up to 120 minutes.

This is mainly affecting trains from Grantham towards Newark.

These delays will continue until approximately 16.30pm.

Passengers may be able to claim compensation for the delays.

Find out more here: http://www.eastcoast.co.uk/about-us/passengers-charter1/delay-repay/

Commuters are being urged to keep up to date with developments by via #Grantham on Twitter.

@Phoebe_Collier tweeted: Would love to know why every single delay occurs at Grantham. It’s like the Bermuda Triangle for trains

David Burling, I salute you, no, seriously I really do! Because you at least had the nerve to write your article on union funding and its required transparency! (Journal, July 19).

You openly admit that the unions play a vital role in policy formation and that’s when you lost it, right there...bang.

So let’s look at what your statement indicates and why it really concerns me.

Why on earth should the unions have anything to do with political policy?

They should confine themselves to doing battle with their members’ employers and keep their meddling and corrupt little fingers out of the cookie jar. What, you may ask, gives me the right to use the words “meddling and corrupt” in the same sentence? That is really simple to answer in just one word – Falkirk! It would be so much better if the Labour Party, in any of its many guises, paid less attention to Red Len McClusky and listened a lot harder to its voters, but Labour won’t because of the union dosh pouring in.

So Davy boy, you can stop banging your Labour drum. Block voting should be totally outlawed.

Your petty and childish pop at Boles was unnecessary and has mired your character.

Boles has failed his constituents big time and I personally think that 90 per cent of politicians have utterly failed this great nation of ours, so I wouldn’t put your faith in “hope” as I believe hope is now known as UKIP!

Roy Coldham

Peascliffe Drive

Grantham

Just what is going on at the Springfield/London Road junction?

Someone told me that Pizza Hut is being demolished. Also, why has the council waited all this time to do the job? When the Manners Arms was demolished they could have bought the whole site rather than wait until now. It appears to me that all they are doing is robbing Pizzas to pay Paul!

And why is it going to take so long, surely it could be done in a couple of weeks if they worked day and night?

Please Grantham council, enlighten us!

Robb Lambley

Saltersford Road

Grantham

The extensive coverage given by the Journal to the fire at Easton (July 19) made no mention of the plume of pollutant which deposited considerable amounts of material, over a wide area, downwind of the fire.

I live around three miles from the fire and have collected debris ranging in size from a foot across to small specs. I have reported this to the Fire Brigade, the Environment Agency, Public Health England and SKDC Environmental Health.

The only response has been vague reassurances that the material is burnt polystyrene or possibly burnt fibreglass and that this is non-hazardous.

However, no attempt has been made by any of the agencies to take samples of this material in our area for analysis.

It is only when this is done and an accredited laboratory analysis carried out, that the health hazard can be properly assessed.

The cost involved, in reassuring local residents that the material is indeed non-hazardous, would surely be well justified.

Roger Green

by email

Many readers may have been as bemused as I was by the comment from the United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust that they will recruit new nurses from Spain and Ireland as “clinical staff do not necessarily want to live and work in Lincolnshire”.

If £7 million is available to recruit 200 nurses, why not use that to train local student nurses who would love to qualify and work in a local hospital, or is it simply that Spanish and Irish nurses are cheaper?

“Transparency” and “openness” are not the first words that come to mind when we hear pronouncements like this.

Former Grantham hospital consultant Mr L. N. Chakrabarti, and former ULH NHS Trust chairman David Bowles, both express concerns that decisions are taken to allocate money where it suits the politicians and their puppets – not to provide optimum benefit to local patients by retaining and developing excellent local facilities.

The regular compliments we read from patients about their care in Grantham Hospital surely contradict the criticism in the Keogh report about ULH Trust shortcomings in “patient experience” – so is Grantham going to be subsumed into a Trust-wide statistical exercise – and possibly set up as a scapegoat when more shuffling of numbers is demanded?

We all know where the bureaucrats’ political priorities are strategically; where their ethical priorities are, anatomically, is anyone’s guess.

Brian Bruce

Bourne Road

Colsterworth

On behalf of the Wyndham Park Forum, we would like to thank everyone who took the time over the May Bank Holiday to take part in the public consultation for the new design for the paddling pool in Wyndham Park.

The result was that design number five was the outstanding winner. This was the one featuring a paddling area as well as a splash pad.

While there is still some way to go in the process, we are pleased to inform you that an application for funding is being submitted before the end of July to WREN (Waste Recycling Group) by the Wyndham Park Forum in partnership with SKDC, and as soon as the results are known, more details will be given.

Thanks again to everyone who continues to support the work of the Wyndham Park Forum.

John Knowles and Elizabeth Bowskill

Chairman and Secretary

Wyndham Park Forum

Last Saturday we held a children’s tombola at the Morrison’s shopping centre which raised £426.33 and on Sunday 21st, the Bottesford village Treasure Hunt raised £330.54.

Grantham Railway Station kindly allowed us to hold a collection on Wednesday, which raised a further £44.69.

Many thanks to those who donated items to the tombola and to everyone who has supported these events.

So far, we have raised over £1,108 for the St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice £1 in the Pot appeal for Grantham hospice.

We would like to thank Morrison’s, Hazel Eaton-Knight and Liz Fletcher for organising the treasure hunt and the railway station.

Janie McCormick

Community events fundraiser

Grantham Hospice