Spring is here so now is the time to pop on your gloves, grab that trowel and get out in the garden.

No doubt many of you have already made a start, thanks to the bright, warm weather we’ve seen lately, and as such the pile of weeds and leaves may be stacking up.

If you have a green bin already then great, but if you haven’t here’s what it is all about.

Residents can subscribe to the green bin scheme run by South Kesteven District Council.

There is an annual charge (£35 for new customers joining the scheme, £25 for existing customers). The fee includes one bin and collection.

Households can have as many bins as they need, at a cost of £10 per additional bin.

The collection period is from April 1, 2014, to March 31, 2015. Collections are fortnightly all year round apart from December, January and February when collections will be once a month, due to the lack of green waste at that time of year.

An assisted collection service is available for people with disabilities.

To find out more, call 01476 406080 or visit www.southkesteven.gov.uk

At a public consultation last week on the next phase of a major housing development off Barrowby Road, Grantham, current residents raised concerns about increased traffic and safety.

Construction has already begun on building 1,800 new houses on the eastern section of the site, known as Poplar Farm, but now plans are being put together for a futher 1,400 homes to the west in an area called Rectory Farm.

After the consultation, a Barrowby Road homeowner who did not want to be named said: “I think most people’s main concern is the impact it will have on the road. It will impact on our quality of life, and there is a safety factor and a comfort factor.

“Already I have to sit waiting for 15 minutes to get out my drive, and that’s without these new homes and the increased traffic.

“There was no representative from the council or the highways who could answer our questions about the road, so at the moment we are still, in a way, none the wiser. And we are going to lose the views so we are all going to have our properties devalued, no matter what they say.”

Another resident living in Barrowby Road said: “I’m not happy because when I moved in I was told that no homes would be built there. My house looks out on to the fields and I like to walk my dog there.”

In order to meet the demands of a rapidly rising population, planning authorities across the country have been told by central government to boost the supply of new housing, with Grantham required to deliver 13,600 new houses between 2006 and 2026.

In its Core Strategy the council identified the land off Barrowby Road collectively referred to as the North West Quadrant, as able to provide up to 3,500 new homes.

The development will also see the creation of a new primary school, sports pitches, shops and other community facilities to serve the additional homeowners.

House builders Jelson Homes and Linden Homes invited those affected by the development to express their views at the public consultation in Newton House Care Home on Barrowby Road, and recognised that the influx of traffic that will be caused by the new homes was the primary concern.

Land and planning director at Jelson Homes Terry McGreal said: “We have carried out a traffic impact assessment which has identified new junctions needed to mitigate the extra traffic, which will form part of the planning application. This should be submitted in around five to six weeks.”

As well as the proposed junctions to improve access on Barrowby Road, the plans identify the new Pennine Way link road and a pedestrian footbridge which are both being provided as part of the Poplar Farm development as ways of tackling any traffic and safety issues.

Residents have expressed their gratitude to county councillor Linda Wootten after her efforts helped to transform Sunningdale Estate’s roads and pathways which had remained unmade for eight years.

Denise Tegerdine, who has lived on Blairgowie Close off St Pierre Avenue since 2006, said: “We were so excited when we bought our new house but the roads were like a bombsite.

“The residents started a campaign to get the work done, but it wasn’t until Linda came along that things started to happen. Without her we couldn’t have done it. I, my fellow campaigner Craig Hermiston and others would like to say thank you.”

Following her election last May, Coun Wootten decided to take action after seeing the appalling condition in which the estate had been left.

She said: “I was so shocked to see the state of the roads. They actually reminded me of the back streets of Tunisia.”

After researching the issue further, in July 2013 Coun Wootten contacted and received feedback from 40 households on the three main roads that had been left unfinished – Cavendish Way, St Pierre Avenue and Portmarnock Way.

At a meeting with Lincolnshire County Council’s highways manager Mark Heaton, they concluded the way forward was to use a clause in the Highways Act of 1980 to force the estate’s developer Persimmon Homes to either finish the site to an adoptable standard or have their bond seized to allow LCC to complete the work.

In addition, pressure was put on the developer through a petition sent to the LCC planning committee by Coun Wootten, who explained: “I spent two days going around and gained over 100 signatures.”

As a result, two of the three roads and pathways have now been completed, with the third Portmarnock Way currently under negotiation.

Coun Wootten added: “I can’t thank nor praise the highways manager enough for the time and effort he has dedicated to working both with and on my behalf in achieving such a satisfactory and pleasing result.”

SATURDAY (March 22)

Football

Northern Premier League

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

United Counties League

Division One – Harrowby United v Buckingham Town (3pm).

Central Midlands League

South – South Normanton Athletic v Barrowby FC.

Grantham & District Saturday League

Premier Division – Greyhounders v Cranmer Arms, Newark Flowserve FC v Bottesford Reserves.

HITS Consultancy Senior Cup – CK Dons Res v Ancaster Rovers, White Horse Sleaford v Caythorpe.

Grantham Hospital Charity Cup – Ancaster Rams v Bottesford.

Culverthorpe Cup – Barrowby Reserves v AFC Three Gables.

Rugby

Midlands League 2

East (North) – Loughborough v Kesteven (3pm).

SUNDAY

Football

Grantham & District Sunday League

Premier Division Cup, semi-final – Springfield AFC v Helpringham Rovers.

Charity Shield, semi-final – Caythorpe Sports & Social FC v Lions FC.

Premier Division – AFC Harrowby v Osbournby Rangers.

Division One – Colsterworth United v Nobody Inn Athletic, Long Bennington FC v Ancaster Athletic.

Lincolnshire Intermediate League

Premier Division – Grantham Town v Collingham (2.15pm).

South – Pointon v Swifts JFC.

TUESDAY

Football

Northern Premier League

Premier Division – Grantham Town v Stafford Rangers (7.45pm).

FOOTBALL RESULTS

Northern Premier League

Premier Division – Grantham Town 6 Droylsden 0.

United Counties League

Division One – Harrowby United 4 Raunds Town 1, Olney Town 2 Harrowby United 0.

Grantham & District Saturday League

Premier Division – AFC Three Gables 2 Cranmer Arms 5, Greyhounders 6 Croxton AFC 1, Newark Flowserve FC 5 Ancaster Rovers 0.

Grantham Hospital Charity Cup – Caythorpe 0 White Horse Sleaford 8.

Memorial Cup – Bottesford Reserves 0 Barrowby Reserves 2, CK Dons Reserves 1 Ancaster Rams 5.

Grantham & District Sunday League

Premier Division Cup, semi-final – Osbournby Rangers v Lions FC HW.

Premier Division – AFC Harrowby 0 Helpringham Rovers 3, Springfield AFC 5 Ruskington 2.

Division One – Totemic FC 0 Nobody Inn Athletic 4, Long Bennington FC 3 Caythorpe Sports & Social FC 1.

Lincolnshire Intermediate League

Andrew Bandelow Memorial League Cup, semi-final – Grantham Town 2 Ruston Sports 3.

South – Sibsey Youth 5 Pointon 1.

A play park promised more than 10 years ago will finally be built – but not where it was originally planned.

Developer Redrow Homes agreed to install a play park as part of an agreement, called section 106, to build homes off Dysart Road in Grantham.

Ten years on, planning officers at South Kesteven District Council have advised that the park, made up of five pieces of equipment, be located by the canal towpath off Earlesfield Lane, as the site previously outlined in Dysart Road is too small.

SKDC head of development and growth Mark Williets said told the development control committee that guidelines published since the developer’s application was first agreed state a minimum space between play equipment and residential areas.

He said: “At the time, guidance didn’t exist and subsequently, since the planning approval and 106 being signed, that guidance has come in which suggests that play equipment for children should be sited in a way that it has a buffer zone between it and any nearby residents.

“In this particular instance the current site offers precious little space, no more than 1.5 metres from the front of the properties to the play equipment, and the dwellings themselves are sited relatively close to the public open space.”

Councillors approved the new application to site the park elsewhere, after previously rejecting the idea.

Approval followed an explanation from Mr Williets that bringing the play equipment closer to the canal towpath fits in with an SKDC priority under ‘clean, green and healthy’ to rejuvenate the towpath through Grantham.

Tennis players in Grantham are already getting excited ahead of a new season.

The reason for their excitement is the new £3.2 million tennis centre development, which is nearing completion and which will provide the town with one of the best tennis facilities in the region.

Despite the wet and windy conditions over the winter, work on the site at Arnoldfield has progressed steadily since the ground breaking ceremony in June last year, which was attended by former British tennis number one and TV presenter Andrew Castle.

It is now expected that the second and final phase of the development will be completed by mid-April.

The ambitious scheme will provide the town with a state-of-the-art tennis centre with four indoor acrylic courts, a social lounge, café, gym, changing facilities, treatment rooms, office, indoor and outdoor viewing areas and a sport/tennis shop.

Outside, there will be four artificial grass courts, four mini red hard courts and five artificial clay courts.

Seven of those courts were laid in phase one of the development, with the mini red hard courts and two of the artificial clay courts being added along with the indoor centre in phase two.

Funding for the project has come from Grantham businesses and £1 million in grants and loans from the Lawn Tennis Association.

The club has remained open while the work has been in progress.

The tennis club’s project manager Sarah Patton said: “It’s a really exciting time for the club. The indoor tennis centre is going to be an amazing facility for the town.

“We have been talking about it for so long it’s hard to believe that it’s nearly here.”

The new centre is already having an impact, with membership of the tennis club breaking through the 600 mark and currently standing at 657.

There is to be an official open day to formally launch the new centre on May 31.

Contractors for the work are Clegg Construction.

BELTON PARK

Belton Park’s first and second teams began the season with their annual friendly match against Radcliffe on Trent.

Unlike league matches, in which all games are played off scratch, the fixture was a handicap event that proved too much of a hurdle for the first team who were defeated 5-1. The Belton Park second string fared much better and enjoyed a convincing 4.5-1.5 win at home.

Seniors

A solid entry of 41 competitors contested the March Seniors stableford competition at Belton Park Golf Club.

With the course in superb condition, and on a calm sunny day, the top four players were separated by just a single point. On top with a score of 37 points was Peter Hawkins, followed by seniors captain Bill Brogan who finished second on countback after a crucial birdie very late on in his round. Dave Langley was third and Keith Brown fourth; the latter three players all scoring 36 points.

Also in the prizes were Andrew Cookson, who won the back nine competition with 19 points, and a new member of the senior section – Dave Jackson – who won the front nine with an excellent score of 20 points.

Ladies

A Texas Scramble was won by the team of Jenny Gardiner, Sue Hodgson, Kathy Hill and Julie Hamer.

l Sue Walker-Sherriff won Silver Division in the England Golf Medal played with a net score of 69. Second place went to Annette Fordham with 70, and third on countback was Shelley McClelland.

In the Bronze Division, first was Sue Addis with net 72. Runner-up with 73 was Jacquie Barson, and Sue Hall was third on countback.

l The second round of the Mail on Sunday Competition resulted in victory for Belton Park ladies Julie Hamer, Annette Fordham, Shelley McClelland, Joy Stepney and Anna Clarke.

Josie Short and Lucy Morley won their first round of the Daily Mail Foursomes competition at Sleaford Golf Club.

l In the Australian Spoons, first place went to Jean Tetley and Carole Taylor with 39 points. A point adrift were Jane Renfrew and Jill Barry with 38, and Kathy Hill and Jean Sutcliffe were third with 37 on countback.

BELTON WOODS

Windy conditions for Sunday’s Monthly Medal made the Lakes Course a challenging prospect.

With the course standard scratch being 75, the lowest net score was a highly commendable 68 from John Harrison. Runner-up in Division One was David Charlton with 73, with Paul Otter one point behind in third.

Division Two was won by Andy Williams with net 71, ahead of Harry McKeen (76) in second and Steve Todd (77).

Seniors

The Marshall’s March Medal was won by Richard James with a score of net 72.

Others: 2 Colin Thornton 73, 3 Bob Clarke 75 ocb, 4 Denny Pang 75, 5 John Sabin 76, 6 Denis Manton 78 ocb, 7 David Toule 78 ocb, 8 Tony Turner 78, 9 Del House 79, 10 Mick Hall 81.

STOKE ROCHFORD

Seniors

Stoke Rochford seniors’ Winter Warmer was a pairs multiplier with Roger Smith and Duncan Bennett victorious on 76 points.

Runners-up with 71 points were Eddie Malloy with Roger Smith, his sleeping partner, and Mick Rance and Phil Hewes were third.

With only the final individual stableford remaining to be played, Alan Dolby appears to have opened up an unassailable lead with 54 points, from Phil White 49, Brian Ayto 43 and Brian White 41.

Ladies

Winners of the Hi-Lo Greensome Stableford competition were lady captain Carol Hamilton and Lynn Ewart with 37 points. One point adrift in second place were Jane Mantell and Sue Booth.

l The Joy Vase teams of three Texas Scramble was won by Sue Booth, Marion Carvath and Sue Taylor with a score of gross 74 (net 65) on countback.

l In round one of the national Daily Mail Foursomes competition, Stoke Rochford’s pairing of Carol Hamilton and Doris Kent paid dividends with a 5&4 victory over their Radcliffe on Trent opponents.

SUDBROOK MOOR

The third event of the Rainbow fun series of non-qualifying Saturday competitions took place at the weekend.

The pairs event with combined stableford points saw the best scorecard come from 12 and 13-year-old juniors Alex Doig and Joseph Ablewhite.

Their score of 79 points clinched the top prize from father and daughter Steve and Caroline Davis on 77. Third with 75 were Kevin Turner and son-in-law Andrew Green.

Following them were Mick Lincoln and Michael Coupland, from Phil Hall and Graham Ritchie.

Professional boxing coach Russ Brown announced this week that he has joined forces with Leicester professional boxer Martin Concepcion .

Russ will be working alongside the former Midlands light-middleweight champion and English title contender at his Withambrook Park-based Browny’s Boxing Gym.

Russ, has been a professional coach with the British Boxing Board of Control for the past year, said: “This is fantastic news for myself and the gym. It also helps my other fighters progress, especially my very own home grown talent – Tom “The Bomb” Crosby – who turns professional himself this summer. Theres a few lads turning professional over the next year.”

Martin is fighting for the English title on April 5 in Bath and tickets are available at Browny’s Gym.

Pupils at an additional needs school in Grantham were joined by MP Nick Boles today as they were sponsored to jump on a trampoline for Sport Relief.

Mr Boles took his turn on the trampoline at the Sandon School, which is part of the Grantham Additional Needs Federation with Ambergate Sports College. Students from the college also took part.

After his stint on the trampoline, Mr Boles said: “It’s been a trip down Memory Lane. I haven’t been on a trampoline for 40 years. I am very impressed by the agility of my fellow bouncers. It’s a great way for everybody to get involved and important everybody, whatever their limitations, feels able to get involved in some form of physical activity.”

The government is making an “exceptional payment” of £3.3 million to Lincolnshire to help repair pot holes in the county’s weather-ravaged roads.

But the payment is a pittance compared to the £400 million Grantham county councillor Richard Davies said it would cost to repair all the pot holes in Lincolnshire.

Mr Davies, head of highways, told the Journal recently: “Last year I met with the Secretary of State for Transport and to bring all of Lincolnshire to the national A-grade standard we would need £400 million, and we currently have about £40 million, although it is going up.”

The £3.3 million payment is part of a £11.7 million package given to the East Midlands by the government and a total of £183.5 million sum for the whole country. Lincolnshire received the biggest slice of cash in the East Midlands.

Grantham Town followed up their victory over second-placed Skelmersdale United with a 6-0 demolition of bottom club Droylsden at The Meres on Saturday.

The Manchester side have yet to win a game and looked unlikely to do so against the Gingerbreads. Despite Grantham’s dominance, it took almost until half time before they registered a goal.

Town’s joint manager Jimmy Albans said it had been an accomplished performance: “I was very impressed with the quick start we made to the game. We should have been comfortably in front earlier than we were.

“I was pleased we created the chances, but disappointed that we didn’t take them. Once we got the first two, it was always going to be a question of how many.”

The Gingerbreads have nine games remaining, the toughest two being away fixtures at FC United of Manchester and AFC Fylde.

Albans said his and co-boss Wayne Hallcro’s side would be going out to pick up as many points as possible.

Albans said: “We can’t afford to let things slip over the next few games. There are 27 points to play for. We are third in the current form table and there is no reason why we shouldn’t stay there.

“Fylde and FCUM will be very very tough, but at this stage of the season, every game is tough, but those two stand out as being games where anything is a bonus.”

With a trip to Buxton tomorrow (Saturday), Grantham Town this week announced that Kallum Smith has left the club, but the Gingerbreads have been bolstered by Richard Whyman who has dual-signed with Dunkirk, Michael Jacklin has returned to the club, and 23-year-old striker Jordan Hempenstall made his debut on Saturday.

Albans said: “Jordan is at the right age to learn and understand what we want from him.”

A man who was led to believe he might have cancer by scammers has described them as “evil”.

The 29-year-old Grantham man, who does not wish to be named, was a victim of an email scam which has targeted thousands of people around the country.

Before he received the email, the man had gone for a blood test at Swingbridge Surgery in Grantham to check on his cholestrol levels.

Later he received the email purporting to be from NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence ) which said his results could indicate he had cancer. The email asked him to open an attachment with more details on the results, but he could not open the attachment on his iPad.

He said: “These people are pretty evil. They are preying on people’s mortality. It is the harshest thing I can think of. When it is something to do with your health it is hard to resist doing what these things say.

“I assume it was a virus and if I had opened the attachment it would have stolen all my details.”

He later rang his doctors’ surgery and was told by them that another two people had contacted them about the email.

A spokesman for Swingbridge Surgery said the practice would never send out an email containing results and asked patients to ignore attachments.

A spokesman for NICE said: “NICE is aware that a spam email is being sent to members of the public regarding cancer test results. Please be assured that this email is not from NICE and we are investigating its origin. If you have received the email, do not open the attachments.”

Another regiment based in Grantham will disband, with soldiers going on parade this weekend to mark the occasion.

Over 100 soldiers will be on parade to mark the disbandment of 160 Transport Regiment RLC and the formation of 160 (Lincoln) Squadron. This follows the disbandment last year of the 168 Pioneer Regiment. Both moves are part of the Army’s restructuring exercise.

The newly formed squadron will form part of 158 Transport Regiment RLC and will be based in Sobraon Barracks, Lincoln.

Soldiers from the regiment and newly formed squadron will march on to the parade square at Prince William of Gloucester Barracks at 2pm tomorrow (Saturday).

A national regiment formed in 1995, 160 Transport Regiment RLC recruited personnel from all over the country. Based at Prince William of Gloucester Barracks, the regiment has provided an opportunity for soldiers to pursue a transport career in the Army Reserve.

160’s role was to provide transport of combat supplies and heavy lift capability in support of the Regular Army, in peace or times of conflict.

All the soldiers serving in 160 Regiment RLC have the opportunity to join other Army Reserve regiments.

Teachers’ unions have called on their members to strike on Wednesday which could mean the closure or partial closure of schools in Grantham.

Debbie Barnes, Director of Children’s Services at Lincolnshire County Council, 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.”

As well as getting the latest updates from schools, parents are advised that information will also be published on the council’s website at www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/schoolclosures

King’s School in Grantham has told parents it will remain open but cannot guarantee that classes will go ahead as normal because unions do not have to inform the school if any of their members are striking. If any lessons are disrupted pupils will attend supervised private study lessons in the main school hall.

The county council will update its website with any news of closures.

David O’Connor, Executive Director for Performance and Governance, added: “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.”

Grantham Town were busy out and about in the community last weekend.

A Legends night at the stadium’s MCS Centre raised £500 for charity on Friday night, and joint manager Jimmy Albans and striker Greg Smith (pictured) helped board members and fans on a market stall on Saturday morning.

They sold supporters’ club lottery tickets and gave away tickets for the afternoon’s game against Droylsden. A bingo evening in Sewstern boosted club funds.

The club has also made a number of local donations thanks to co-sponsor John Bromfield of Discount Cabs, including £100 to Harrowby United.

Grantham Town community manager Darren Bills said: “When I took this position last November the club promised Harrowby United a friendly where they would keep the gate money.

“Unfortunately, due to both clubs having a fixture pile-up we have not been able to arrange the friendly. With Harrowby pushing for promotion, we will be giving them £100 which will hopefully help them.”

Darren has been round Grantham schools giving away free tickets to pupils, staff and friends.

He has also invited St Barnabas Hospice up to The Meres to watch a home game and receive a donation from the club.

A Westborough racing driver and former champion is returning to the track.

1993 Renault 5 ELF Turbo UK Cup champion Mark Howard will rekindle his association with the Renault brand this season – some 21 years since winning the title – having purchased a new fourth generation Clio Cup car for participation in this year’s Renault UK Clio Cup.

Forty-nine-year-old Mark will contest his maiden season in Renault UK’s flagship contemporary saloon car championship in a 1.6-litre turbo-powered Clio with the Kidderminster-based DRM Motorsport Solutions squad.

After winning the Renault 5 title with Mark Fish Motorsport, Mark left the racing scene to focus on family and business commitments, but made a long overdue return to action in 2011 in the Volkswagen Racing Cup.

Making a handful of appearances in Radicals the following year, added to a few more VW outings, he returned to the sidelines once again last season but is now ready to mount a full-time campaign in the prestigious Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship-supporting Renault UK Clio Cup.

Mark said: “Twenty-one years after winning the championship, I’m back with Renault to race people who weren’t even born when I had my previous success. I’m firmly in the Masters Cup class now and it’s going to be an interesting time seeing if I still have the reactions and speed to match my competitiveness.

“I can’t wait to get out there in the car. It’s a big challenge, one I really am relishing, but I’m not taking anything for granted as it’s a very long time since I won in the Renault 5 Turbo UK Cup!”

The opening two rounds of the championship will be at Brands Hatch next weekend.

In last week’s Journal, Jacob Stuart raised a legitimate point that councillors should be civil at council meetings .

However, instead of following up this theme, he then criticises two opposition councillors (of which I was one) for raising amendments to the budget.

It is right and proper for opposition councillors to put forward budget amendments at the meeting that votes on the annual budget.

Important issues deserve to be raised in a public forum, and we are not going to agree on everything. When I proposed an amendment calling for free parking for the first two hours every Saturday, in Grantham, I was heckled by some Conservative councillors.

I must ask why Jacob Stuart has chosen to attack those of us who raised legitimate concerns, representing our community, and not those who behaved poorly or attempted to duck the questions.

Coun Charmain Morgan

Deputy Leader Labour Group

I thought I must write in defence of The Haven in the Vale as reported in the Journal (March 7).

My wife and I have enjoyed many Sunday carvery lunches, and it is that good we held our 50th wedding anniversary lunch party in September 2013 at the hotel.

The place is very clean and tidy, the food is excellent and the staff are first-rate.

Come on Grantham Journal, businesses in the area need all the help they can get, why put in a photo as well!

I have been in the retail trade locally for over 50 years and I appreciate good service when I see it.

Mr and Mrs D. Frankish

Barrowby

Thieves have stolen two bee hives containing thousands of bees from the owner of a commercial honey farm.

Bob Halsey, who owns the Colsterworth Honey Farm, had five hives on the site from where two were stolen at Birkholme on the A151 between Colsterworth and Corby Glen.

Mr Halsey, 55, said: “They must have known what they were doing. The fact that they did not take all five suggests that someone is looking to start beekeeping, rather than someone who already has bees. It’s a very expensive hobby.”

Mr Halsey has kept bees all his life, but only started commercial beekeeping in 2002.

He believes one of the stolen hives contained about 25,000 bees and the other about 12,000.

He said bees, hives and associated equipment are sold at auctions and fetch good money.

He said: “They are my assets. I have done the hard bit, bringing them on from last summer. I was just about to reap the rewards and then someone takes them away from me.”

He also said there have been hives on the Birkholme site for 30 years and there has never been a problem before.

The theft happened between February 23 and March 9. Police want to know if anybody saw the beehives being loaded onto a vehicle or has any relevant information. Contact 101, quoting incident 122 of March 14.

A fundraising club has been launched in a bid to restore a steam locomotive built in 1902.

The Eastwell History Group has set up a 100 Club to raise funds for the restoration of the Lord Granby, a loc0motive used to transport ironstone quarried around Eastwell.

The society aims to restore the locomotive to its original glory and make it part of an exhibit which will celebrate the history of ironstone quarrying.

The Lord Granby was taken out of commission in 1951 and ended up at the Leeds Industrial Museum but it has since been rescued and returned to the village by the history group which found it in a severely decayed state.

John Wood, of the history group, saidthe restoration would be a long-term project which could take up to 20 years. He said that 30 people had already joined the 100 Club since it was set up a few weeks ago.

Mr Wood said: “The first step is to dismantle the Lord Granby and take it down to its component parts to see what needs to be done.”

He said that to restore The Lord Granby as a static exhibit would likely cost in the region of £50,000 and if it was possible to restore it to a full-working steam locomotive, it would cost about £100,000.

Members of the 100 Club pay a monthly subscription of £5 per month and at least 25 per cent of the fund is returned to subscribers in a monthly draw. Anybody interested in supporting the appeal should go to www.lordgranbyrail.org or call 
Colin Darby on 01949 860333.