The man behind the successful ‘Mallard: Story of Speed’ festival would like to see more steam and engineering events put on in the future.

Henry Cleary, chairman of the Mallard Grantham Partnership, spoke enthusiastically about the possibility of future events following rumours of a biannual steam/engineering festival to run between the biannual Gravity Fields Festival.

When asked whether he would like to be involved in a future event Mr Cleary said: “Of course. But the first thing we need will be an understanding with National Rail about what is possible - it may be possible to keep some of the track.”

He added: “We do want to investigate all the options. The land belongs to Network Rail so any future lease of the land has to be agreed with them but it will be well worth starting discussions, I think, on how we can keep the site looking good and possibly hold future events and I would be happy to help with those discussions.”

The event could possibly see other steam engines brought to Grantham and displayed.

Coun Frances Cartwright, SKDC’s political head of economic growth, said: “We were extremely pleased with the story of speed and the 15,000 visitors it attracted.

“We’re always willing to explore opportunities to celebrate Grantham’s and the district’s railway and engineering heritage. In time we’ll review if there are possibilities for further events of this kind.”

Firefighters in Grantham will be on strike outside the Harlaxton Road station this afternoon (Wednesday).

The four-hour strike, led by the Fire Brigades Union, begins at noon over a pensions dispute.

A spokesperson from Lincolnshire County Council said: “As good practice the service maintains and tests business continuity plans for all eventualities.

“Consequently, the service is prepared to maintain an emergency response to 999 calls during any periods of strike action. We would continue to remind people to take care when going about their daily business, and that there is further safety advice available on www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/lfr and on twitter @lincsfirerescue.”

A planning application has been submitted for a site which could accommodate up to 20 mobile homes for gypsy and traveller families.

If accepted, the site in Woolsthorpe Lane, Sedgebrook, would be home to 10 pitches - each pitch able to accommodate two mobile homes - and 10 toilet blocks.

An application by the same applicant - Mr T. Hone - for a site of the same size was rejected in October of last year on grounds including location, surface water drainage and ecology.

However, the applicant believes these concerns have now been overcome so has re-submitted the application.

The original application was opposed by Sedgebrook Parish Council on the grounds of road safety and the isolated setting.

The design and access statement says: “Mr Hone and numerous traveller families have enquired at a number of traveller pitches within the local area and have been told they are at full occupancy.

“As no further land has been allocated for this use by the county council, this has left the travellers homeless, thus forcing them to pitch on land which they do not own. This brings with it many problems and concerns for neighbouring residents.

“The available space for this type of land use is limited within its local are but the demand for accommodation is high. Making better use of this land will reduce the need for travellers to house on land which they do not own.”

Mr Hone and his agent argue the new {http://www.southkesteven.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=2230&ApplicationNumber=S13/2449|application} addresses the previous concerns and say the site:

+ has good, safe, convenient access to the road network

+ is coveniently located for schools and other community facilities

+ does not visually encroach into the open countryside

The application will be heard by South Kesteven District Council’s development control committee as a later date.

More than 600 drivers have made claims to Lincolnshire County Council for damage to their vehicle caused by potholes since January 2012, figures released under a Freedom of Information request show.

A total of 617 claims were made between January of last year and August of this year alleging the damage was as a result of potholes or other carriageway defects.

In its reply to the Journal the county council admitted there may have been many more claims forms requested and sent out but 617 is the total completed and returned to the authority.

As a result of the claims the council has paid out £89,919 in compensation to car owners.

The Journal asked Lincolnshire County Council how many of the claims it has accepted responsibility for. However, the authority was unable to provide that information as it would cost too much to compile.

In the FOI statement the council said: “A central record of the number of claims the council has accepted liability for is not held.

“To comply with this part of your request we would be required to review each of the 617 claims individually. We estimate that this process would exceed the 18 hour “appropriate limit” allowed to respond to FOI requests under section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act.

“We estimate that it would take approximately three minutes to review each claim, when calculated this totals over 30 hours (or just over £770 if charged at an officer working at £25 per hour).”

Lincolnshire’s firefighters are on strike today with a picket line outside Grantham fire station.

However, Lincolnshire County council has released a statement this afternoon saying there has only been three call-outs so far today and all have been dealt with “to the same high standard as normal”.

The spokesman said: “So far Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue has responded to three incidents during the strike period: one co-responder in the spilsby area, one RTC at long Sutton and one domestic fire in Sleaford. All incidents have been dealt with in the normal timeframe and to the same high standard as normal.

“We would continue to remind people to take care when going about their daily business, and that there is further safety advice available on www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/lfr and on twitter @lincsfirerescue.”

A cyclist who took photographs of potholes in and around his village before sending them to Lincolnshire County Council has reported action being taken.

Mr White of Whatton Close, Sedgebrook, sent his snaps to the county council and the Journal along with a letter documenting the exact location of the potholes.

Mr White took all of the photographs on Saturday (Sept 21), reporting deep potholes, poorly repaired potholes and some stretches where some had been repaired while others just metres away had been ignored.

However, he is pleased to see action is now being taken to repair the badly damaged roads.

A moped driver suffered a suspected broken arm in when his bike collided with a car on the A607 at Harlaxton yesterday.

Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue and Lincolnshire Police were called to the scene at 5.18pm after the moped collided with a Mini Cooper at the crossroads outside the Gregory Arms pub.

The moped driver, a 16-year-old from the Leicestershire area, was taken to Queens Medical Centre as a precaution having suffered a suspected broken arm.

Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue used absorbent granules to soak up a spillage of oil on the highway.

A “knight in shining armour” came to the rescue of a pensioner who tripped and cut open her nose.

Anne Day, of Redcross Street, Grantham, was walking along Castlegate on Thursday evening when she tripped over a drain cover which was raised at one end.
She said: “It’s a very serious tripping hazard so I came down with a tremendous crash. I’ve never had a knock like it.”
This week, Anne Day thanked Ben Johnston for coming to her rescue.
Ben, 21, a baker at Watkin’s in Grantham, had pulled over in his car as he saw Mrs Day lying on the pavement covered in blood.
He said: “I did first aid at college and knew what to do.
“I put pressure on her nose to stop the bleeding and got another lady who stopped to ring an ambulance but they were asking loads of questions and it was taking ages.
“So I took them to hospital myself.”
Husband Angus Day said: “He was absolutely wonderful.”
Mrs Day added: “He was a knight in shining armour.”

SATURDAY

Football

Northern Premier League

Premier Division – Grantham Town v Ilkeston FC (3pm).

United Counties League

Division One – Harrowby United v Potton United (3pm).

Central Midlands League

South – Barrowby FC v Clifton All Whites (3pm).

Lincolnshire League

Grantham Athletic v Cleethorpes Town Reserves.

Grantham & District Saturday League

Premier Division – Ancaster Rovers FC v Newark Flowserve FC, Barrowby Reserves v AFC Three Gables, Bottesford v CK Dons Reserves, Caythorpe v Ancaster Rams FC, Croxton AFC v White Horse Sleaford, Greyhounders v Bottesford Reserves.

Rugby

RFU National Intermediate Cup

First round – Kesteven v Leicester Forest.

SUNDAY

Football

Grantham & District Sunday League

Premier Division – Helpringham Rovers v FC Osbournby Rangers, Ruskington v AFC Red Lion Ruskington, Springfield AFC v Lions.

Division One – Long Bennington v Colsterworth United, Witham Wanderers v Ropsley, Totemic v Caythorpe Sports & Social, Ancaster Athletic v Nobody Inn Athletic.

Cricket

Grantham & Melton Association

Division Two – Sproxton v Rothley Park, Syston Town v Bingham.

FOOTBALL RESULTS

Northern Premier League

Premier Division – Marine 3 Grantham Town 3, Stafford Rangers 2 Grantham Town 2.

FA Vase

Second round – Peterborough North Star 1 Harrowby United 3.

United Counties League

Knockout Cup – Harrowby United 0 Deeping Rangers 4.

Lincolnshire League

Grantham Athletic 0 CGB Humbertherm 1.

Grantham & District Saturday League

Premier Division – AFC Three Gables 1 Ancaster Rams FC 4, Bottesford 3 Croxton AFC 1, CK Dons Reserves 1 Caythorpe 4, Newark Flowserve FC 1 White Horse Sleaford 0.

Grantham & District Sunday League

Knockout Cup, first round – FC Osbournby Rangers 8 Caythorpe Sports & Social 0, AFC Harrowby 2 Ruskington 1, Totemic 0 Lions 5, Helpringham Rovers 4 Colsterworth United 1, Springfield AFC 15 AFC Red Lion Ruskington 0, Ancaster Athletic 0 Ropsley 11, Long Bennington 2 Nobody Inn Athletic 4, Witham Wanderers bye.

Firefighters from Grantham joined crews across the country on strike this week in a dispute over pensions.

Both Grantham crews walked out for four hours from noon on Wednesday, standing outside the station in Harlaxton Road waving flags and placards.
They were protesting against the Government’s intention to keep firefighters working up to the age of 60. Those who retire early or leave because they fail a fitness test face losing thousands of pounds from their pension.
The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) argues that it would be dangerous for men and women to do the job of a firefighter at that age.
Ben Selby, the area’s FBU representative, said the 20-strong group “walked out the door with a heavy heart”. But they were spurred on by the support shown by passing traffic, their spirits picked up by the constant tooting of horns.
Ben, a crew manager at Grantham, added: “We’re not saying we don’t want our pension to change at all, we understand they’re having to so something to make pensions more sustainable and everyone’s taking a hit for the national debt. What we would like is the Government to look into its own report and share with us some similar proposals.”
Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue said six incidents were reported across the county during the four-hour period and all were responded to in the normal timeframe.

A number of schools in the Grantham area will be closed or partially closed on Tuesday when teachers go on strike.

Among those schools affected will be King’s School, Priory Ruskin, Walton Girls’ High School and Sir William Robertson Academy, all of which will be partially closed with some pupils told to stay at home.
Cliffedale Primary School will also be partially closed and Barkston and Syston Primary School will be closed.
Parents of children at Sir William Robertson Academy in Welbourn have been told the school will be closed to pupils in Years 7, 8, 9 and 10. Headteacher Mark Guest said: “Neither the Governing Body nor the headteacher is legally allowed to close the school ‘in sympathy’ with the strike and we will not do so. Nevertheless, our main concern is the safety of our pupils.”
Lincolnshire County Council has published a list of all schools on its website informing parents and guardians whether or not a school will be affected by the strike. More {http://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/schoolclosures|information on the council website|Visit the council website}

Teaching unions are going on strike over proposed changes to their pay and pensions.

Debbie Barnes, Director of Children’s Services, said: “We have advised schools that if they will be without staff they have to consider whether they have adequate cover to ensure the safety of children. This will determine whether they should close for the day or not. Schools that are closing should be informing parents and carers as soon as possible so that they can make arrangements for their children.”

David O’Connor, Executive Director for Performance and Governance, said: “Trade unions have balloted for industrial action in response to proposed national changes to pay and pensions. This is not a local dispute and is likely to affect many public services across the country. As a responsible authority, we have been making plans for this industrial action for many weeks and are working towards agreeing service exemptions with the trade unions to ensure vital life and limb services are maintained. Plans are also in place to minimise any disruption to other council services and we have asked managers to plan services around possible reduced staffing levels if some are taking leave to look after their children.”

Musician Pepe Hobson, the son of an Italian mother and an English father, moved to the UK as a teenager in 1960 speaking no English.

But he has never regretted the decision and has lived a packed life particularly when it comes to his twin passions - guitars and cars.

Pepe said: “I came here in November, 1960 as a 19-year-old to join my family. I met my wife in 1961 and we are still married. We’ve just had our 50th anniversary.”

Pepe featured in a number of bands including Ross and the Giants, Times Change and Which Way.

He used to own two music shops in Grantham in the mid-1970s and also ran a car spray shop where he would mainly work on Jaguars and Minis.

Pepe said: “I love Jaguar cars. I bought my first in 1980 and I have still now, 33 years on. I love anything mechanical and have a couple of Ducatis too.”

Pepe says he also loves guitars but, aged 72, he doesn’t get to play as much as he would like these days. He said: “I last did a gig when I was 70 with Times Change and we went down a bomb!”

A Grantham man has been given a suspended jail sentence after causing injuries with a knife.

Luke Garner armed himself with a bread knife when he confronted the victim after being goaded by him.

Mark Watson, prosecuting, told Lincoln Crown Court: “Garner took the knife and went outside for a confrontation.

“There was a scuffle between the two of them involving shoving, one or two punches and grappling.

“During the scuffle the victim received injuries caused by the knife. He had a one-inch cut on the ring finger of his left hand and three cuts to his right cheek. Those cuts are described as superficial and minor.”

Garner, 24, of Burrows Close, Grantham, admitted charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and possession of a bladed article in a public place as a result of the incident on June 23 this year.

He was given a 12-month jail sentence suspended for a year with 120 hours of unpaid work.

Judge Michael Heath said that throughout the incident Garner had been trying to protect his partner’s cousin from the victim.

He told Garner: “Your mistake was to take a bread knife out into the street to frighten him into leaving. He had been goading you and what you should have done was simply keep the door locked.

“If this had been a deliberate stabbing I would have had no hesitation in sending you straight into custody.”

Chris Milligan, defending, said there was a “substantial amount of provocation”.

Mr Milligan added that the injuries were not caused deliberately but occurred during the scuffle that ensued.

More trains will travel between Grantham and London each day thanks to the new-look King’s Cross station which was opened today.

The Department for Transport has announced there will be “eight new trains every weekday between Grantham and London helped by King’s Cross upgrade”.

The improvements will see an additional five southbound services and three extra northbound services between Grantham and London each weekday, increasing the East Coast service from 57 to 65 trains per day. This includes an additional two morning peak services from Grantham to London each weekday, increasing total morning peak service to eight per day.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin marked the completion of the £550 million redevelopment of King’s Cross Station when he officially opened King’s Cross Square today.

He said: “I have been travelling to and from my Derbyshire Constituency for years and I remember when King’s Cross and St Pancras were not places you would hang around. Now it is a destination in its own right.

“The official opening of King’s Cross Square marks the completion of one of the largest station modernisation projects across our national rail network and one of the government’s top infrastructure projects. With more platforms, a redesigned concourse and improved facilities, work at this iconic station has transformed the experience of thousands of rail passengers travelling into London for the better.

“It has also been the catalyst for one of the largest regeneration schemes in Europe, attracting £2.2 billion of private investment and allowing the ongoing development of more than 60 acres of brown-field land into offices and retail space and the construction of 2,000 new homes for Londoners.

“Major investment in our railways is just one part of a pipeline of over £100 billion worth of public investment in infrastructure projects over the next parliament announced by government earlier this year. By investing in our infrastructure we are helping build growth in our economy over the long term.”

The coffin of a firefighter who died at the age of 47 will be taken through town on a vintage fire engine tomorrow (Friday).

Steve Woods, a retained fireman in Grantham for 18 years, died of a brain haemorrhage on September 12. He was a father of five children and grandfather of three. His second wife, Samantha, 27, is expecting their second child.

Tomorrow, six of Steve’s colleagues from Grantham Fire Station and an officer in charge will accompany his coffin on the vintage engine as its makes its way from Robert Holland Funeral Directors in St Catherine’s Road at 1pm to St Wulfram’s Church for the funeral service. The engine will pass along Wharf Road and Dysart Road to Coles Way where Steve lived, before making its way to the church.

Steve’s coffin will be draped with the Union Jack as he was a former member of the Armed Forces. There will also be a Guard of Honour at St Wulfram’s where the service will take place at 2pm. This will be followed by burial at Grantham cemetery.

SATURDAY

Football

Northern Premier League

Premier Division – Whitby Town v Grantham Town (3pm).

United Counties League

Division One – Woodford United v Harrowby United (3pm).

Central Midlands League

South – Barrowby FC v Linby Colliery FC (2pm).

Lincolnshire League

Grantham Athletic v Grimsby Borough Reserves.

Grantham & District Saturday League

Premier Division – AFC Three Gables v Bottesford Reserves, Ancaster Rams v CK Dons Reserves, Caythorpe v Newark Flowserve, Croxton AFC v Cranmer Arms, Greyhounders v Bottesford, White Horse Sleaford v Ancaster Rovers.

Rugby

Pennant League

Kesteven 2nd v Mellish 2nd.

Merit League

Cleethorpes 2nd v Kesteven 3rd.

SUNDAY

Football

Grantham & District Sunday League

Premier Division – AFC Red Lion Ruskington v Lions FC, Helpringham Rovers v Ruskington FC, FC Osbournby Rangers v AFC Harrowby.

Division One – Totemic FC v Long Bennington, Witham Wanderers v Ancaster Athletic, Colsterworth United v Nobody Inn Athletic, Ropsley FC v Caythorpe Sports & Social.

Lincs Intermediate League

Andrew Bandelow Memorial League Cup, second round – Cleethorpes Town v Grantham Town.

South – Pointon v Northgate Olympic Blue.

FOOTBALL RESULTS

Northern Premier League

Premier Division – Grantham Town 4 Blyth Spartans 2.

Doodson

United Counties League

Division One – Wellingborough Whitworth 0 Harrowby United 3,

Lincolnshire FA Junior Cup

Third round – Hykeham Town 0 Barrowby 1, Mareham United 2 Ancaster Rams FC 7, Pointon 1 Gainsborough Town 6.

Lincolnshire League

Grantham Athletic 1 Sleaford Town Reserves 6

Grantham & District Saturday League

Premier Division – AFC Three Gables 6 Newark Flowserve 2, Bottesford Reserves 1 Barrowby Reserves 3.

Grantham & District Sunday League

Knockout Cup, second round – FC Osbournby Rangers 1 Springfield AFC 2, Helpringham Rovers 4 AFC Harrowby 1, Witham Wanderers 2 Ropsley FC 4, Lions FC 4, Nobody Inn Athletic 4 (Nobody won 4-2 on penalties).

Premier Division – AFC Red Lion Ruskington 1 Ruskington FC 2.

Division One – Totemic 2 Ancaster Athletic 0.

STOKE ROCHFORD

Seniors

Stoke Rochford seniors played a Bamford Multiplier as the third round of their Winter Warmers Series.

Teams of three multiplied their stableford scores on each hole and winners with 158 points were Trevor Harvey, John Martindale and Dave Hudson.

Runners-up with 155½ were Cliff Mills, Mike Palmer and Greg Ewart, and Mike Dickinson, Jim Price and Roland Slack were third with 153.

Highest scores on a single hole were by two teams with 27 points, one on the 11th the other on the 12th. Overall leader is now Greg Ewart with a three-round total of 11 points, with six chasers on nine – Peter Gill, Trevor Harvey, Dave Hudson, Cliff Mills, Don Werner and Phil White.

l The Lincolnshire County Poppy Appeal Finals were held at Woodhall Spa on Friday. Played as an individual stableford, Stoke Rochford’s Don Werner finished second with 36 points after a countback.

SUDBROOK MOOR

The November Saturday qualifier was the final contributing competition for the annual Sword of Achievement award.

There were three names in the frame going into the final event, but nothing changed on the day with Graham Ritchie finishing on top with a final tally of 115 points. Runner-up was Neil Baker and Nigel Corby finished third.

Other consistent performers this season were fourth placed Martin Corby, fifth Michael Coupland and sixth Paul Brough.

Competing in the same event, top ladies were Lorna Jackson and Caroline Davis.

The strokeplay competition was won by 13-year-old Alex Doig from a field of 34 gents. Yvonne Geach was best lady and best high handicap junior was Joseph Ablewhite whose scorecard cut him from 42 to 34.

Notts, Lincs & Derbys Under-11 Cup qualifier

Grimsby 0 Kesteven 35

Scunthorpe 15 Kesteven 0

Sleaford 15 Kesteven 0

Kesteven travelled up to Market Rasen and got off to a fantastic start in their first match against Grimsby.

Excellent tackling from Harry C. and some long straight runs from Tom H. resulted in Ks finishing the first half 20-0 up.

The second half continued in the same way with three more tries. Scorers were Zak D. (1), Tom Helliwell (3), Daniel K. (1), Harry C. (1) and Alfie S. (1).

The next two matches were not as successful despite good tackling, runs and line-outs.

Man of the match went to Tom Helliwell for his resounding perseverance and determination.

A pub with a troubled past has been bought by the district council – although plans for its future are not yet clear.

Jacko’s, which is in Trent Road, most commonly known as the former Rose Castle, has been purchased by South Kesteven District Council.

Property development manager Neil Cucksey said: “We have purchased Jacko’s as a strategic acquisition to assemble with our adjacent land.

“No decisions have been made on the future of the site at this time, but we will be looking at developing the area in a positive way to benefit the surrounding community.”

A pioneering method of investment is being trialled by a Grantham-based developer.

House builder Webster Homes is the UK’s first company to offer crowd funding opportunities directly into developments.

The idea is that members of the public can get involved. Anyone over 18 can be an investor, with a minimum initial outlay of £1,000. The firm is promising a guaranteed seven per cent return.

Webster Homes director Tom Webster said: “We are really excited about this development in our business as it, for the first time, allows the house building market to connect with the public. The public can now see great returns in their investments whilst facilitating the construction of fantastic new exciting places to live. It can be business model that becomes a game changer for the house building market.”

Mr Webster believes the crowd funding venture will lead to more houses being built across the East Midlands. The campaign will initially be used to finance the development of small sites around the Grantham, Melton Mowbray, Lincoln and Nottingham.

He said: “The model can lead to the increase of new homes being built as it can remove some of the barriers preventing good development sites from being built. This is what makes the idea really exciting, for the first time being able to bring the public closer to the house building industry.

“All of the homes we build will be eco homes, so it will increase the publicity and the demand for homes which are cheaper to run and more environmentally friendly. Hopefully this will be a trend other house builders follow too.”

The firm plans to build 20 homes in the next 12 months through the crowd funding business model, expanding to 100 the following year.

The scheme, which is also known as ‘peer-2-peer lending’ opened in October in order to gain enough capital to begin construction in the new year.