East League Division 5NW: Grantham 4 Ely City 3rd 2

Grantham got back to winning ways but will have to make do for some time without captain Oli Phillips who broke his leg in three places during the closing stages of his side’s victory.

The home side went 2-0 up quite quickly with Paul Hollingworth and Benjie Groom getting on the scoresheet, but were pegged back to 2-1 at the break after an attacker broke free and calmly slotted past Will Leadenham.

Ely equalised through a shot from the left of the circle, and there were signs that the match might be about to turn into a fourth straight defeat for the men in red.

Driven on by Phillips, Sam MacAllister and Alex Clark, Grantham pushed hard although they were defending their own line when Phillips was hit.

After his departure they cleared the danger and spent most of the rest of the match attacking. The third goal came when an overload was cleverly worked by Hollingworth, Groom and Clark, leaving Hollingworth a close-range finish.

As Ely pushed hard to get back into the match, Grantham countered and after Clark was fouled by the goalkeeper, MacAllister stepped up and calmly slotted the resulting penalty flick to make sure of all three points.

Goalkeeper Leadenham was named as the Duncan & Toplis man of the match for another commanding performance.

Grantham: Will Leadenham, James Kerr, Nick Wraith, Rob Buxton, David Braunton, Jem Hill, Mark Gray, Oli Phillips (captain), Sam MacAllister, Alex Clark, David Nix, Paul Hollingworth, Benjie Groom

Lincolnshire League

Grantham Ladies 1

Spilsby Ladies 2

Grantham were beaten by the odd goal in three at home to Spilsby in what ended up being a nine-a-side match at The Meres.

After a goalless first half, Grantham went behind after they failed to mark properly at a long corner. The visitors got their second with a powerful turn and shot in the D, giving Grantham’s keeper no chance.

Grantham won a penalty flick after a good move from Kirstin Barney and Smith. Smith volunteered for the high pressure shot, and calmly flicked it into the bottom right of the goal.

The Duncan & Toplis Grantham player of the match was Helen Mawer.

A round-up of this week’s forthcoming matches and last week’s soccer results

SATURDAY (October 20)

Football

Evo-Stik Northern Premier League

Premier Division - Grantham Town v Hednesford Town (3pm).

Chromasports United Counties League

Division One - Harrowby United v Northampton Spencer (3pm).

Grantham & District Saturday League

Grantham Hospital Charity Cup - AFC Ancaster v AFC Skillington, AFC Three Gables v Buckminster United, Bottesford Reserves v White Horse Sleaford, Caythorpe v White Swan Barrowby, Croxton AFC v Greyhounders, Harrowby Reserves v Bottesford, Heckington Millers v Cranmer Arms, Rippingale & Folkingham v CK Dons.

Rugby

Midlands League 3

East (North) - Southwell v Kesteven.

Notts Pennant League

Group 2 - Kesteven 2nd v Matlock 3rd.

Lincs Merit League

Cleethorpes 2nd v Kesteven 3rd.

Hockey

Boston v Grantham.

SUNDAY (October 21)

Grantham & District Sunday League

Premier Division - Ancaster Rams v Thurlby United, Lions v Helpringham Rovers, Ropsley Fox v Witham Wanderers, Three Gables Sunday v AFC Sleaford United.

Division One - Long Bennington v Ropsley, Totemic v Springfield AFC.

Charity Shield - Aslockton Cranmers FC v Nobody Athletic, Caythorpe v FC Osbournby Rangers, Grantham United TRE v Rippingale.

MONDAY (October 22)

Football

Evo-Stik Northern Premier League

Premier Division - Ilkeston FC v Grantham Town (7.45pm).

FOOTBALL RESULTS

Evo-Stik Northern Premier League

Premier Division - Kendal Town 1 Grantham Town 0, Grantham Town 2 North Ferriby United 3.

Chromasports United Counties League

Division One - Harrowby United 3 Buckingham Town 2.

Grantham & District Saturday League

Premier Division - Bottesford 3 Harrowby Reserves 5, Buckminster United 7 Cranmer Arms 0, Greyhounders 3 White Horse Sleaford 0, Heckington Millers 1 White Swan Barrowby 8.

Division One - AFC Skillington 3 Croxton AFC 5, CK Dons 5 Bottesford Reserves 3.

Grantham & District Sunday League

Premier Division - Helpringham Rovers 2 Ancaster Rams 4, Ruskington 1 Lions 1, Thurlby United 1 Ropsley Fox 6, Witham Wanderers 1 AFC Sleaford United 4.

Division One - Rippingale 2 Caythorpe 7, Springfield AFC 0 Grantham United TRE 4, Totemic 1 Ropsley 0.

People are being urged to sign an online petition in support of better funding for Lincolnshire Police.

Lincolnshire is the lowest funded force in the country, with rural forces Cumbria, Dorset and North Wales also under-funded.

Independent police commissioner candidates for all four areas recently visited Downing Street to hand over a letter on the subject of inequality in police funding.

The campaign was launched by Lincolnshire candidate David Bowles.

He said: “This petition is not about politics. It’s not even about the election. It’s about getting fair funding for policing in rural areas, particularly Lincolnshire, in order to ensure our safety and security.

“In my experience these campaigns are more likely to work when we can get the politicians and the public on board. I would encourage everybody, no matter what party or persuasion, to sign this petition.”

Find it at epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/39285

Café Leo, in Westgate, is hosting its annual charity day in aid of Cancer Research UK on November 3.

They will have a market stall, homemade cake sale balloon race, Tombola, games and much more.

Cafe director Jessica Vincent said: “Last year we raised £1,030 for Cancer Research UK, and this year we hope to top this figure.”

Grantham Town shocked the league leaders with a top class first-half on Tuesday night – and then shocked fans when they let a 2-0 lead slip to a sixth straight defeat.

The Gingerbreads nosed in front of North Ferriby United early on at The Meres, and dominated the first half with flair and confidence. The second half was a different story.

Joint manager Jimmy Albans said he and Wayne Hallcro recognised that things were not going Grantham’s way at the moment.

Albans said: “We are trying to put our finger on exactly what is going wrong. The system we played in the first half got it right. Their plan B undid us.”

Albans also acknowledged that the step up to the Premier Division this season had been a bigger one than many had anticipated, but he said that Town’s battling attitude matched that of any opposition.

He said: “In terms of this league, we are a very young side. We face players who know this level very well each week.

“We have a squad with very little experience of football at this level, only a handful of games, so we need to learn it, which takes more than eight weeks.”

Signed this week was versatile new player Deon Meikle.

A product of the Eastwood Town youth set-up, Meikle should give the Gingerbreads a number of options and impressed Albans on Tuesday.

Albans said: “Deon Meikle had probably the best debut I think we have seen from anybody who has come to this club. He was strong, quick and comfortable on the ball.

“His distribution was top drawer. Just the type of player we are trying to attract.”

Grantham host Hednesford Town at The Meres on Saturdaywhen Albans hopes to have Ben Saunders fit to play. Kick-off is 3pm.

I refer to the comments attributed to Linda Neal, Leader of South Kesteven District Council, concerning the county council’s position statement on wind farms.

Firstly, our position has been based on clear, concise and impartial advice from our very experienced officers using planning appeal decisions from across the UK. There has been a clear scrutiny process that saw the statement supported unanimously by the All Party Environment Committee, which I chair.

Politicians should always be judged by what they hand over to the next generation. Lincolnshire’s greatest asset is its countryside, its big open skies and its natural environment. These things have no voice of their own, it is our duty to be the voice and it is our responsibility to stand up for our county, so future generations can enjoy what we have had the fortune to enjoy. Councillor Neal seems to have decided that fighting to protect the countryside of South Kesteven, for its residents, is beyond her ability.

She indicates that officers would not sign up to our position. It is for politicians to make the decisions and not the officers of the council. It might be best if she concentrates her mind on ensuring that her district council gets behind the county on issues such as this, and particularly in this case, when we have made it clear that we will support any district council who wishes to work with us to protect the countryside.

The residents of Lincolnshire overwhelmingly support the county council view on wind farms. However, it should be recognised that the county council has made an absolute commitment that we will play a full part in delivering a low carbon economy for our country. It will not be, however, at the price of trashing our countryside with a third rate and over-subsidised technology.

We will stand up to government on this issue and stand up for Lincolnshire. I invite her to join us, provided of course, her officers allow her to.

Coun Colin Davie

Chairman

Environmental Scrutiny C

Lincolnshire County Council

I read about the abandoned kittens being taken into Avenue Veterinary Centre, Grantham (Journal, October 12).

We at Grantham ROCK are also getting cats and kittens left weekly or even daily at our rescue centre and it is making extra work for us all.

Over July and August we had more than 60 kittens left with us, which made it very hard to cope. Extra food and cat litter had to be found, as well as vets bills to pay.

Instead of dumping your cats and unwanted kittens in holdalls, boxes and cat carriers, take some responsibility and neuter your cat before it gets pregnant. In females this can be done when they are six months old and males should be neutered before they start to roam and fight. It would make our life a lot easier and be much better for your cat.

We are still getting kittens handed in and have a few waiting for good homes.

There is help with neutering costs for those who need it.

Cath Rowson

Grantham ROCK

A Christmas Shopping Bonanza will take place at Grantham Hospice in Barrowby Road on Wednesday, October 25 from 7pm until 9.30pm.

Stands will include jewellery, perfume, beauty products and food. Tickets, which include mulled wine and a mince pie, are £5 or pay on the door.

Call 01476 591010. All proceeds go to St Barnabas Grantham Hospice.

Lincolnshire firefighter Neil Fritzsche received one of the nation’s highest honours at Buckingham Palace today (19 October).

Lincolnshire firefighter Neil Fritzsche received one of the nation’s highest honours at Buckingham Palace today (19 October).

South Kesteven District Council launched a consultation this week on their new Supplementary Planning Document which will guide how the council deals with wind farm applications in the future.

The SPD will set out rules on wind farm construction, operation and decommissioning, as well as where they should be sited and how impact can be minimised.

The six-week consultation starts today (Friday).

The draft SPD can be viewed at the council’s Grantham office or online at www.southkesteven.gov.uk

Councillor’s Ian Selby has written this open letter to planning chairman Coun Martin Wilkins about his concerns about the proposal to turn the Cherry Tree pub into a Tesco.

Here is his letter in full:

I am writing to you to express serious concerns about proposed plans by Tesco to turn the Cherry Tree Public House, on Harrowby Lane, Grantham into a new Tesco Express store.

I am informed by planning officers that a change of use planning application is NOT required for this to take place, however Tesco’s are required to submit a planning application for a change in the signage that they would need.

Personally I find it difficult to believe that this is NOT a significant change of use for this building. I have spoken to my fellow ward colleague Cllr Bruce Wells and he totally agrees with me and also neighbouring ward colleague Cllr George Chivers also shares the same view.

There are other major implications with a proposed Tesco Express store. These serious issues are highways, with clearly an increase in traffic especially heavy haulage. The Harrowby Lane in question is already very heavily congested and there is concerns for the Belton Lane Primary School just yards up the road from this proposed new store.

The local residents will also not have any opportunity to raise their concerns if NO application is required. Furthermore, it should be noted that we already have a nearby Co-operative store, but I accept that issue is not a planning reason for refusing any such proposed new store.

I am therefore asking you if you would kindly look into this issue as a matter of urgency to see if the information I have been given is correct that Tesco’s do not require planning permission to undertake this change of use. Also would you enquire with planning officers to see if there is any other positive action that can be taken to address these concerns that we have.

Is the change of signage the only opportunity for any objections with this proposal ? I am therefore requesting that this issue is taken before the planning committee for them to deliberate over this item.

I look forward to your response. Would you also kindly acknowledge safe receipt of this email.

Thank you very much.

Yours sincerely

Cllr Ian Selby

Harrowby Ward

GRAVITY-defying Jim Coleman won the Drighlington BC hill climb for the second successive year on Sunday.

l A presentation was made for the winners of Witham Wheelers’ circuit race league at sponsors Pedal Pushers racing bike shop in Inner Street, Grantham.

Junior Peter Cocker collected his award for winning the Male Category 2/3/4 competition.

The 10 youth categories and the ladies’ category were won by riders from throughout the East Midlands.

A Grantham mum fears a child could be seriously injured or killed because of drivers trying to shave a few minutes off their daily commute.

But she has found that when she and her son get the “green man” to cross the road safely, the cars heading along Station Road away from the railway station also get the green light.

Ordinarily this would not create a problem if drivers, as they are supposed to, drive straight ahead into the one-way system.

But some drivers coming away from the train station are ignoring the “no left turn” sign and swinging into Harlaxton Road - bringing them straight into the path of crossing pedestrians.

Sarah said: “It’s causing real problems when I’m trying to get my children to school on a morning. In the last couple of months we’ve nearly been hit four or five times.

“One the other day had the cheek to beep his horn at us! I’m trying to teach my kids to cross the road safely - and they are - but this is still happening.”

Sarah can’t be sure if it is drivers simply trying to save time or they are not seeing the sign.

She said: “I know it’s a long way round but they are turning straight into us.”

Sarah says she has contacted Lincolnshire highways but the problem is essentially with drivers flouting the law and turning from Station Road into Harlaxton Road.

So many near misses has made Sarah dread letting her son walk to school on his own in the future.

She said: “When my boy’s older he’ll be crossing this road on his own which is scary.

“I always teach him to cross safely but that’s not enough here.”

l What can be done to make the crossing safer? E-mail your views to us at: comment@granthamjournal.co.uk

Run-down Stonebridge House is to be given a new lease of life as Grantham College has bought it along with nine associated houses.

It is a long-term investment for Grantham College, as the work to refurbish the former police station will take time. And as it is a Grade II listed building, the work that can be carried out is limited.

Principal Linda Houtby said: “It’s exciting, it’s an opportunity to restore one of Grantham’s listed buildings. Ok, that presents challenges, but it’s in our custody now and we have got an obligation to the community to give it back its original character and a bit of dignity.”

Mrs Houtby said there are no plans to expand the college as such. Instead, by having the use of Stonebridge House there is the option of cancelling leases on other buildings across town and bringing everything together in one area.

Five architectural firms have bid for the contract to carry out the work, and it is now the job of the college’s governors to select the preferred one. The chosen architects are then expected to spend three months putting together a model of various options and consult with both the college community and the wider Grantham community.

Mrs Houtby said: “I think for the college this is a 10-year plan. We don’t want to rush it.”

The college has so far spent around £1.5 million on the project, including an investment into CCTV cameras to make the house and surrounding buildings secure.

The restoration will cost several millions to complete.

A NUMBER of Grantham athletes competed in the Louth Cross Country Open last Sunday.

The always challenging hilly Wolds countryside course lived up to expectations.

William Tucker started the Grantham success, having moved up to under-13 competition for the first time, he came home to take third place over the 3.3km course.

Next to represent Grantham was Jake Hornby in the under-17 men’s race. After a great season on the track, Jake was hoping to continue this into the cross country season. He led the race from the start to finish well clear of the rest of the field.

Mark Tucker and Mark Gray took on the gruelling 9.7km course in the veterman men category. Mark Gray finished 21st, with Mark Tucker two places further back.

Naomi Collier and Sophia Tucker took part in the 6.1km junior ladies’ race. Naomi pushed out from the start to take on the lead whilst Sophia battled with three other athletes for third position. Naomi continued to set the pace and went on to win, whilst in the last kilometre, Sophia broke away to secure a deserved third place, ending a successful day for Grantham Athletic Club.

Results: U13 Boys - 3 William Tucker 12.33; U17 Men - 1 Jake Hornby 19.59; Junior Ladies - 1 Naomi Collier 31.56, 3 Sophia Tucker 33.21; Vet Men - 21 Mark Gray 45.05, 23 Mark Tucker 45.42.

I was interested to read Jacob Stuart’s guest column (Journal, September 28) regarding the proliferation of wind farms in the area.

I applaud his enthusiasm for having them in Grantham itself, though once they have moved in and tower over his home, spoiling his concentration by day and keeping him awake at night, this enthusiasm may wane.

Mr Stuart quotes an American report “that it is viable that at least half the world’s energy needs could be provided by wind turbines”.

If it is viable now, why is it not happening? Perhaps because it does not work! Simply put, when the wind doesn’t blow and Mr Stuart wants to make a cup of tea, a conventional power station has to provide the electricity to boil his kettle.

That power station cannot be fired up instantly and so it has to be run constantly, producing more harmful emissions than if it were running at maximum efficiency.

As Mr Stuart dismisses our beautiful, historic landscape as “muddy fields” I fear he has little or no understanding of the rural environment and our duty to protect it from plans to despoil it.

This area is not particularly windy but we are apparently seen as a ‘soft touch’ by foreign power companies, seeking to exploit our Government’s hugely generous subsidies for inefficient wind power, paid for via our inflated energy bills.

Even the pro-wind Professor Jacobson, quoted by Jacob, does not identify the Vales of Belvoir and Trent as a suitable area, favouring the Gobi and Sahara Deserts instead!

I applaud the county council’s stance on wind turbines and the “questionable science behind them” but also welcome the research being carried out into practical low carbon energy.

Why are we doing this research? Because the scientists accept that wind power isn’t the answer.

I do agree with Jacob that we must “follow in Isaac Newton’s footsteps” and “explore new ways of thinking”, but the great scientist would turn in his grave if he thought his name was being used to promote a concept that science itself has proven to be a fallacy. New ways of thinking should, as Jacob says, benefit society and not

line the pockets of rich landowners and greedy companies.

I wish Jacob well and I hope he enjoys his cups of tea in the future, even when the wind isn’t blowing. On a brighter note, when he cannot sleep due to the incessant noise from the 400ft high turbine next door, I’m sure a ‘cuppa’ will hit the spot.

R. Thornton

Stubton

May I, as Leader of South Kesteven District Council use your columns to broadcast a massive thank you for all the support we had with the Gravity Fields Festival.

Yes, it was a success, and the many letters and e-mails of appreciation from individuals, schools - and performers - have made superb reading. But so much of that success is down to the incredible range of people and organisations who worked with us to make it such a triumph.

It is not possible to thank everyone by name, but my first thoughts go to all the procession participants (including parents) who beavered away making costumes and lanterns to entertain us all at our closing event.

The transformation of the town, which included a stunning aerial show by the theatre company involved in the opening of the sailing events at the Olympics, was attended by over 10,000 people, many saying they had never seen anything like it before. It was great to experience such a feeling of community pride and showed us what Grantham can achieve.

I am also grateful for the tremendous work of festival co-ordinator, Rosemary Richards and her team, the 100 SKDC staff who helped out and kept us safe, and the support shown by local businesses and those organisations who lent us premises, helped us promote events and hopefully felt a real part of this amazing event.

Our festival steering group had faith that SKDC could deliver and my thanks is also due to them, as well as to the Grantham Journal for such solid promotional backing.

But most of all I appreciate the action of all those local people who bought tickets, spread the word on what a great programme was available over those fabulous eight days of Gravity Fields, and whose comments I heard as I got to as many

events as I could during the week.

Thanks to one and all. It’s been fun, our aim of putting Grantham on the map has been well and truly achieved and Isaac Newton has taken on new significance for many, but we couldn’t have done it without you.

Coun Linda Neal

Leader, South Kesteven District Council

A new £4.1 million “Business Incubation Centre” has been given the go-ahead this week with councillors vowing it will help improve employment prospects in Grantham.

The new building is part of the Grantham Growth Point project and will be built in Wharf Road on the site currently occupied by Tanvic and Jewson to form a new-look Station Approach.

Paul Wheatley, head of regeneration at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “As it develops over the next few years Station Approach will become the economic crowning glory of Grantham Growth Point.

“If the Station Approach development is to be the crown of the Growth Point then I believe that the Business Incubation Centre should be seen as the jewel in the crown.”

The BIC will be operational by late 2014 and both the district and county council believe it will be a facility through which new businesses in Grantham are stimulated and supported over the next 20 years.

Coun Frances Cartwright, head of economic development at SKDC, said: “When this project is complete everyone will see how serious we are in our aspirations to improve employment prospects in Grantham.”

THE week started with a loss for a Grantham Tennis Club team.

The indoor first team, consisting of James Drennan, Richard Cragg, Mell Milner and Charlotte Palul, narrowly lost to West Bridgford 2nd.

A tight game played in fantastic conditions last Sunday morning saw Grantham edge away from Woodthorpe in the final rubber to secure a well-deserved victory in the opening fixture of the new winter league. Captain David Todd had to withdraw at the last moment due to injury so Grantham shored up the side with Dale Wright-French (who partnered Kane Goswell), recent winner of the club’s Veteran Doubles Tournament.

The new pairing of Paul Kennedy and Johnny Ng proved to be very effective and they were Grantham’s leading pair with two wins and a draw. The third pair were John Walker and Robert Start.

In the men’s veterans, Grantham 2nd hosted Grimsby 2nd. The team of new captain Mike Roys, Martin Garrett, Richard Edgley and Paul Carpenter lost six sets to two.

Plans for major developments which will see thousands of new homes built in Grantham moved a step closer this week.

On Monday, South Kesteven District Council’s cabinet met and sent their “Grantham Southern Quadrant Masterplan” out for a six-week consultation, allowing members of the public to have their say on the plans and influence how the final document will look.

The Southern Quadrant development is the largest proposed with around 3,500 houses to be built. The masterplan states that developments like the Southern Quadrant - on land between the A52 at Somerby Hill and the B1174 Spittlegate Level - will push Grantham’s population from around 44,000 to 60.000 over the next 14 years.

Coun Frances Cartwright, head of economic development, said: “I’m very excited about the was this is coming together. It is looking like the village we envisioned rather than just an add-on to Grantham.”

On Tuesday, councillors gave the green light to proposals for 99 homes to be built at Poplar Farm on land between Barrowby Road and Gonerby Hill Foot.

Concerns were raised about increased traffic and the effect on wildlife, but the proposal was passed by 14 votes to two.

Earlier this month, councillors accepted an application for 105 homes at Poplar Farm.