The first Grantham Business Club (GBC) Expo has been hailed a huge success by both the club and business community.

In total, 46 stands were set up at the event, held in The Pavilion at Arena UK in Allington.

And they were a real mix, from care for the elderly and training solutions to floristry and the area’s largest superstore, Downtown.

Andy Hodgson, GBC chairman, told the Journal: “It’s been fantastic and I’m so pleased that so many people came to support us. Hopefully, it’s something that will run every year.

“Now, we’re looking to get positive and negative feedback so we can grow it.”

Victoria Webber, a director of Bluebird Care, a business new to Grantham, said her team had attended because it was a great networking opportunity.

She was full of praise for the expo, adding: “For us, we probably won’t get any customers from it but it’s about meeting people because we are new to the area.”

Sue Hodgson runs Flowers from Holland, in St Catherine’s Road. She said: “I’m here to network with fellow businesses in Grantham and promote what we do in a time when Brexit is beating hard on importers. I import most of my flowers through the Dutch markets.”

Sue went on to praise GBC as a “fantastic opportunity” to promote business.

There was a real buzz on social media during and following the expo. Leader of South Kesteven District Council Matthew Lee paid a visit, later tweeting: “Excellent turn out of #Grantham businesses at @GranthamBC Expo this evening. Delighted to be here.”

Reflect Recruitment tweeted: “How fantastic is @GranthamBC expo @arena_uk this evening??!!”

It was not only businesses that took up the chance to take a stall at the expo – education was included with Grantham College and the University of Lincoln taking part, while volunteer-led Grantham Museum took up the opportunity to outline its plans for the next five years.

A museum spokesman said: “From refurbishing our Margaret Thatcher exhibition to delivering our winter exhibition, Grantham Goes Shopping, we have exciting plans for the rest of 2017 and beyond.

“Grantham Museum also relaunched its corporate sponsorship programme, offering the businesses of Grantham the opportunity to partner with the museum in delivering some compelling and enlightening exhibitions of the future.”

The expo was followed by the usual GBC meeting, which included speaker Noreen Read, who is team leader and advisor for the Business Lincolnshire Growth Hub. She talked to the audience about applying for grants and explained what help is available through the hub.

After dinner, European and World Para Dressage gold medallist Emma Sheardown gave an inspirational and moving talk entitled ‘No Such Word As ‘Can’t’’. Emma, who has cerebral palsy but has refused to let this stop her achieving her goals, told her story and touched on her dream of competing in the Tokyo Paralympic Games in 2020. Her closing lines were met with a standing ovation.

** The next GBC meeting will be held in the Guildhall Arts Centre ballroom on September 7, from 6pm, when the focus will be on skills and apprentices.

Duncan & Toplis have now announced that they have renewed their sponsorship with Grantham Town FC for the forthcoming season.

The firm has been supporters of the club for many years and the Grantham Town board are delighted that they have continued with their support.

As the region’s foremost firm of Chartered Accountants and business advisers, Duncan & Toplis are committed to the local community.

Deputy managing director and lifelong Gingerbreads fan Ian Phillips commented: “We are very aware that we have a local business with local connections, and we are an important part of the local economy. Whilst I am sure everyone is aware of the first team, there is also an extensive youth element to the club’s activities which involves a substantial number of children from the area.

“We are proud to be able to contribute to the club and wish them every success in the coming season.”

Grantham Town director Sophie Cope was in no doubt that the continuing support from Duncan & Toplis is vital to the development of the club. She said: “We are an ambitious club and an important part of our future development lies in our growing Academy and new youth structure, alongside our ability to attract and sustain long term relationships with key partners like Duncan & Toplis.”

Belvoir Vale Tennis Club men’s team finished second out of 10 teams in the 2017 Leicestershire County Doubles League (6B) this season with 73 points.

They won 73-26 in rubbers and 57-24 in sets. Four of their players featured in the top 15 of the players’ league.

Mark Blackburn (pictured) finished third, having won 20 of the 24 sets he played, with his game score being 202 to 84.

Fifth was Nigel Davies, with Simon Gant eighth and Steve Wainwright 11th.

To find out more about BVTC, visit their website or Facebook page.

Isaac Newton Primary School enjoyed a most successful year in its sporting endeavours.

In fact, it was their best ever and they won a total of six trophies in various schools competitions.

They reached the county finals of the hockey tournament and won the Year 4 cricket. The triumphed in the netball tournament and were runners-up in the league.

Isaac Newton were victorious at Year 2 gymnastics and won the football B League.

They received the Fair Play award at tennis and for the third year running the Sainsbury’s School Sports gold award.

Work has started on a new play area and public open space off Tissington Road in Grantham.

It’s the first play area to be built in the town since 2011 following successful negotiations between South Kesteven District Council, tenants and estate developers.

The council says there has been extensive consultation over the selection of play equipment and seating, litter, anti-social behaviour, dog fouling, fencing and maintenance.

New facilities will include a nest swing, timber and log features and a mini climbing web with natural play features such as a seasonal bulb spiral, grass mounds and boulders to encourage imaginative play, plus a timber bench and picnic table.

The whole site will be landscaped with a low fence along the road side. Once complete, it will be maintained by SKDC.

The council is overseeing the development off Springfield Road and anticipates that new facilities will be completed by the autumn on the 1,500 square metre site, which is surrounded on three sides by houses and flats.

SKDC Cabinet Member for Finance and ward member Coun Adam Stokes, who has championed the scheme throughout, said: “I am delighted that work has begun on the new play area, which I know will be very much welcomed by residents.

“This is now a mature estate, but it demonstrates the growing demand for housing from people that wish to live and work in our district. It is important that we grow in the right way, and that means ensuring we work with developers to provide excellent facilities such as this for families and communities to enjoy.”

The owner of a rare motorbike stolen in Folkingham last Sunday is appealing for its safe return.

The bike, a KTM XCF 450 with a 04 plate, of which there are only four of that year in the UK, was taken in West Street in the early hours.

A neighbour reported seeing four males near the bike between 1am and 3am.

There is a £1,000 reward for its return.

Its owner said: “There is a possibility the bike is now just plain orange plastic as the patterns, numbers, coloring are all an easily removable sticker kit.”

An extra Saturday date has been added to the Local Plan public drop-in events in Grantham to ensure that local people and businesses have ample opportunity to have their say on the future of the district.

Displays and information will now be on show in ASDA supermarket on Saturday (July 22) between 10.30am and 1.30pm, with South Kesteven District Council staff on hand to take comments and answer questions.

The new event is one of 11 consultation events during July and August to see the latest version of a Local Plan, which aims to pave the way for high-quality, sustainable growth in the district up to 2036.

The first, held earlier this month in the Isaac Newton Centre, attracted 140 people interested in how Grantham is set to develop. Another is planned in the centre for Friday, August 4.

Coun Mike King, Cabinet Member for Economy and Development, said: “We had an excellent response to our first public consultation event and were keen to get an extra Saturday date into our schedule to ensure we speak to as many people as possible.

“It’s exciting to have an opportunity to shape how the district will grow and evolve and I hope that as many residents and businesses as possible will take the opportunity.

“Grantham particularly has a lot coming up, with plans for a new Garden Village and a 96-hectare employment development centred on the KING31 site on the A1.

“Half of all new housing in the district will be built in Grantham to give the town the required critical mass to attract employment and higher ranking services.”

The plan is on SKDC’s web site at www.southkesteven.gov.uk/newlocalplan and the consultation period runs until Friday, August 11 with comments invited until 4pm that day.

Paper copies of the plan and questionnaires are available free of charge from the council offices at St Peter’s Hill.

Motor racing’s pioneering past will return to life at Cadwell Park at the Vintage Festival on Sunday, a celebration of the automotive industry’s golden past, which will highlight the ingenuity and innovation of the sport’s formative early years.

This nostalgic event will be headlined by the Vintage Sports Car Club’s Formula Vintage classes, which will recreate an era in which motor racing was a very different animal to that which we’re used to today. The cars on show will range from machines first built and raced in the Edwardian years, through to machines which first appeared on track during the inter-war period.

Many of them possess huge front-mounted engines, mounted on distinct chassis with thin wheels, whilst modern safety features such as seatbelts and roll cages are notable by their absence – you still have to be very brave to tame these beasts!

The cars are the main stars of the show in the event’s headline Shuttleworth and Nuffield Trophy races, with prestigious awards and truly special cars, many of which would have raced at the Le Mans 24 Hours or Mille Miglia in their heyday. These will vary from classic British MGs and Austins to cars from Bugatti and Alfa Romeo – the exotic European manufacturers of the age.

Regarded as one of Britain’s great old school driving challenges, the Cadwell Park circuit is an undulating ribbon of tarmac like no other, with a distinct aesthetic which will provide the perfect backdrop to the racing antiques.

Festivities will extend beyond the circuit itself to the off-track areas too, with vintage and classic car displays, with an extensive selection of exquisite cars located throughout the venue. This will include a special display of Frazer Nash cars to celebrate the British former manufacturer’s 90th anniversary, whilst the Ferrari Owners’ Club will commemorate seven decades of the Italian marque.

Pre-war car owners are expected to attend in large numbers too, with all owners invited to park in a special area where they will be entered into a concours competition.

Other attractions will include period live music, with three acts on the Airstream stage.

Tickets for the Vintage Festival at Cadwell Park are available for just £16 when booked in advance before midday on Wednesday, and £20 on the gate thereafter. Under-13s admitted free. Visit www.cadwellpark.co.uk or call 0843 453 9000 for more information.

South Notts League

Division A

Balderton 136

Belvoir 140-1

After a cautious start, Balderton lost three wickets in two overs to Belvoir’s strike pair of Danny Gibson and Fraser Fentem – one a fine diving catch by Sam Penford to a low and fast chance at square leg.

Battling Joe Bottomley (4-36) soon added a fourth as captain Chris Dobbie (47) tried to mount a Balderton counter-attack. But despite some gritty help from his partners, Bottomley, the crafty Darren Bicknell (2-21) and novice Jamie Gilbertson took wickets at regular intervals.

Dobbie’s knock was a typically craggy effort that only ended when he lost patience and mishit Bottomley to Fentem at mid-off.

In reply, opener Danny Wilson hit four boundaries in his 20 before being well caught by Dobbie low at extra-cover.

At the other end, Bicknell (61no) had commenced an innings of true class. Throughout, it was paced to perfection.

Excellent bowling from Raz Khan and Scott Barnsdale meant that there were long strings of dots, but Bicknell was never actually tied down. He played with the confidence of a batsman who knew the win was inevitable and that he just had to be there at the end for it to happen.

He and Bottomley (41no) added an unbroken 99 for the second wicket at an increasing rate, as the latter smacked seven fours in his normal run-a-ball style.

Even then, they were made to dig in a bit by a good spell from Balderton tyro Matthew Smart – but a Belvoir victory was inevitable!

Efforts to protect the UK’s only native species of crayfish have seen almost 600 specimens moved to protected new homes in the area.

The endangered white-clawed crayfish have been transferred to two secluded locations, chosen for their potential as safe havens.

Known as ‘Ark Sites’, the refuges have all the characteristics needed for the crayfish to establish a thriving colony, including good-quality water, suitable habitat, and an isolated location. Most importantly, they will be safe from the threat of their non-native counterparts, the North American Signal crayfish. This invasive species out-competes for food and habitat, and carries a fungal disease that devastates native populations.

Dr Chris Extence, Environment Agency team leader for analysis and reporting, said: “Bringing our native crayfish into the safety of an Ark Site is vital to protecting them from these threats, safeguarding their long-term survival and stability.”

White-clawed crayfish are the only native species of crayfish in Britain. Although protected by law, numbers have declined dramatically in recent years and established populations are becoming increasingly vulnerable.

In Lincolnshire, the Upper Witham has long been a stronghold for native crayfish, but they are increasingly under threat from Signals.

In total, 572 specimens were moved into two undisclosed locations in Lincolnshire two weeks ago: a limestone stream in the county’s south west and a chalk stream in the Wolds.

Bottesford and District Angling Association’s seventh Grantham Canal Friday night sweepstake match was held last week, with the Woolsthorpe Lock section stretch being used.

Nine club anglers participated and, despite the fishing being hard, all caught fish with the match being won by Alan Howe.

Results: 1 Alan Howe 6lb 9oz, 2 Rob Perkins 3:08, 3 John Brockway 3:02.

The final evening sweepstake will be held on Friday (July 21). All anglers are to meet at the Dirty Duck towpath gate at 5.45pm.

The latest club match was held on Sunday with the Woolsthorpe Lock section stretch again being utilised, with nine club anglers participating.

The fishing was difficult due to a very busy day on the towpath with people enjoying the good weather and the live entertainment at the Dirty Duck pub, including the Three Shires narrow boat moving through the upper section of the match length.

But all anglers caught fish and the match was won by association president Brian Cross.

Results: 1 Brian Cross 3:06, 2 John Brockway 3:04, 3 Bryan Baines 2:04.

The next club match will be held at Willow Lakes, Foston, next Sunday (July 30).

For entries, contact match secretary Bryan Baines on 01400 318345 or 07538 876131, or for membership information check out the Association website at www.bottesfordanddistrictanglingassociation.com

Buckminster Gliding Club is taking part in the Glide Britain project at Saltby Airfield on Monday.

The project aims to raise the general awareness and understanding of gliding among the public at large.

Glide Britain is supported financially by the British Gliding Association with 13 clubs also making a contribution in terms of both cash and time.

Gliding is an amazing, exciting, spectacular sport but has an ageing population.

Buckminster Gliding Club vice-chairman and secretary James Walker said: “Unfortunately over the years, our sport has seen a declining and ageing membership, and we fear that in future years, unless something is done to combat this, the trend of decline can only continue.”

Glide Britain aims to reverse this decline, and put gliding back on the map.

James added: “One of the key issues we’ve identified, is that people just don’t know about gliding, what it is, what we do or where you can do it – and how cheap it is.”

The Glide Britain project will see several pilots take a small two seat glider and fly it around the country, from gliding club to gliding club, using just the power of the wind and rising currents of air and fly a distance of more than 1,000km over the course of a couple of weeks. At each stop, various clubs will show off their club, introducing what they each have to offer.

As part of the project on Monday, Buckminster Gliding Club will be showing their new Polish-built state-of-the art Perkoz glider, performing advanced aerobatics displays and hoping to capture some images and video.

They will also have their fleet of vintage gliders, some more than 70 years old, including the rare LF-107 Lunak, a 1950s Czech-built aerobatic glider that can still performs all the manoeuvres to this day. There are only two of these aircraft still flying in the UK, and only seven worldwide.

To find out more about Buckminster Gliding Club, visit www.buckminstergc.co.uk

Families enjoyed a Dr Seuss themed day at the Guildhall Arts Centre’s annual family open day earlier this month.

Children were invited to take part in a range of free activities including arts and crafts with Creation Station, interactive show by Zest Theatre, Whoville hairdos, face painting, a Green Eggs and Ham Hunt, theatre tours and a storytelling show by ‘All that Marlarkey,’ followed by a screening of ‘The Cat in a Hat’.

There was also live music by young performers and song writing sessions on the green.

Audience development manager Jo Dobbs said: “I’d like to thank everyone who came for their support. Days like these are really important to us and we welcome people of all ages.”

Belton Lane Primary School continue to be something of a force to be reckoned within the sport of basketball.

Topping the achievements of the school’s team last year – who lost only one of their 45 games, and that by just one point – this Greyhounds team won every single one of the games they played this season.

Belton Lane head teacher Jonathon Mason said: “It is extremely unusual for a school to have a team that goes undefeated in any sport. So it’s really special to have two incredibly successful teams in consecutive years. It is extraordinary to have such successful teams running back to back.

“Some players have improved beyond expectation during the year, others were members of our successful team last year.”

Some Belton Lane Greyhounds players have also been playing at county level and as part of the East Midlands squad.

Mr Mason said: “It is wonderful for the whole school to have such a successful team as it encourages us all to challenge ourselves to improve everyday.”

A Claypole couple have embarked on a quirky venture after turning a horse box into a mobile Prosecco bar.

Lauren and Adam Gray recently finished converting the vintage horse box and have already attended a few events which have proved successful.

Since getting the box in March they have been busy converting it into a trendy and eye-catching bar. Lauren is a nurse, but currently on maternity leave, and Adam, a decorator. He was able to do much of the work on the box. The couple have two children aged six months and two-and-a-half years.

The business stocks local produce such as Belvoir Fruit Farms fruit juices, Tippled Pink spirits and Pipers crisps. Much of their supply comes from the Trickling Tap in Grantham.

Lauren said the idea came to her after discussing setting up her own business with a friend.

She said: “I have always wanted to have my own business. This is something completely different to what I do. There were times when I thought this is crazy. My husband brought the box back from Manchester. It was a rusty old thing with the straw still in it. I thought what on earth are we going to do with this?”

But the business is up and running with a number of events lined up. The couple are already thinking about the drinks they can serve over winter, but say they are unlikely to give up their day jobs. On August 6, they will take their Prosecco bar to Leadenham Teahouse artisan market.

For more details email Lauren at lauren@boxbubbles.co.uk or go to www.facebook.com/proseccoparty

Children at a Grantham school have written letters asking for their town’s A&E department to be reopened 24 hours a day.

The pupils of Belton Lane Primary School, aged eight and nine, presented their letters, together with their teacher Victoria Atter, to Charmaine Morgan, chair of hospital support group SOS Grantham Hospital.

SOSGH has collected 55,000 signatures for a petition calling for the full reinstatment of A&E at Grantham. The petition and letters are due to be presented to Downing Street in the autumn.

Coun Morgan said: “While we now have 55,000 signatures on our petition only over 18s can legally sign it. We believe our children should have a voice too. I was really pleased that Belton Lane accepted our suggestion that their project work be put to practical use and that the children write letters in support of the petition.

“Their letters are moving and hugely concerning as they reveal the importance of Grantham A&E to them and their families.One boy, for example, describes his harrowing experience as he was left struggling to breathe after suffering a severe asthma attack when Grantham A&E was closed. He had to travel to Lincoln and waited hours there to be seen.

“When I visited the children I explained why the NHS was formed and how important the core principles of our NHS are which are to provide medical care to everyone free and based on need. We looked at ulht’s decision to close Grantham A&E at night and if the trust is now meeting those principals.”

Grantham A&E has been closed overnight since August last year. The UNited Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust is due to make a decision on whether to continue that closure when its next board meeting is held on August 1 in Sleaford.

Victoria Atter said: “We are really pleased that we covered this with the children and it’s made them feel like they are doing something to help the town. As a parent myself, I want the hospital open so anything we can do to help we will.”

Coun Morgan said if any other schools wished to write letters in support of the petition they should contact SOSGH on 07398 156296 or email charmainemorgan50@gmail.com

Wharf House, in Wharf Road, Grantham, hosted an open evening on Friday to showcase the varied businesses it has and to celebrate the opening of its latest business venture.

Belles Boutique owner Claire Frankish has become the newest addition to Wharf House, which is also home to eight other businesses, including a craft store, hair salon, beauty parlour, childrens clothes boutique and an aquatics centre.

Belles Boutique opened on Friday and will specialise in women’s and men’s fashion. Claire said: “I’ve had a clothing rack next door in my sister’s shop, Tiny Royal, for a year now which has always been popular, so when this space became available, I thought it was a great opportunity to expand. There are not a lot of places in town that specialise in women’s fashion.”

Opening times may vary slightly but they will mainly be 10am-4pm on weekdays and 10am-3pm on Saturday.

Sharon Rayner, who owns RestoreandRelove Craft Emporium (R&R), helped to organise the open evening. She said: “We wanted to celebrate all of our small businesses and to give the public a chance to visit each one of them.”

Visitors tucked in to nibbles and wine while they browsed. A raffle raised £60 for British Heart Foundation.

Sharon added: “Everyone was really positive and enjoyed the evening.”

Lincolnshire Police are appealing for witnesses to help with a series of thefts from vehicles which occurred in Grantham overnight (19 July).

Four vehicles were targeted on Princess Drive, Teesdale Road, Kingscliffe Road and Sunningdale in the early hours of the morning.

Several items were taken, including a battery drill, Makita radio, chargers, wallet, Sat Nav, STIHL Chainsaw, Dewalt battery drill with drill parts and battery powered heavy duty screwdriver.

Anyone with any information regarding this incident or the items taken is asked to call 101, quoting any of the following – 26, 70, 80, 84 of 19 July. Alternatively they can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, or report it online at Crimestoppers-uk.org.

Reference: Incidents 26, 70, 80, 84 of 19 July

A former McDonald’s worker who strangled his pal’s 16-year-old girlfriend to death just hours after they met has been found guilty of her manslaughter.

Pervert James Morton, who was obsessed with choking women during sex, plied ‘beautiful’ Marston teenager Hannah Pearson with booze before killing her in a bedroom at his home in Newark.

The naked and unconscious schoolgirl, who also worked part-time as a waitress, was rushed to hospital when Morton called 999 – but doctors pronounced her dead shortly after arrival.

Morton, 24, admitted putting Hannah, who had drunk so much she was struggling to stand, in bed and climbing in next to her – then squeezing her throat until she was dead.

He denied murder, claiming her death took place accidentally as part of a sex game gone wrong after she kissed him first.

But jurors found him guilty of Hannah’s manslaughter following a two-week trial at Nottingham Crown Court.

He will be sentenced in the morning (Thursday).

The court heard how Hannah may have even been unconscious through drink when Morton – who was a foot taller than his 5’3” victim and six stones heavier – struck.

Judge Mrs Justice Carr congratulated Hannah’s relatives who attended the trial for the “enormous dignity” they had shown during the proceedings.

The court heard that on the day she died, farmer’s daughter Hannah met up with her boyfriend, Jed Hope, in a pub in Lincoln to celebrate Mr Hope’s 19th birthday on July 23 last year.

Morton, a ‘close’ friend of Mr Hope’s, was already at the pub when Hannah arrived. It was the first time she had met her killer.

The trio drank in the pub and bought more alcohol at a convenience store before Morton, whose parents were away, invited the young couple to his house.

Mr Hope couldn’t afford the train fare and wasn’t allowed overnight visitors at his home so Hannah, who had told her parents she would be staying over at a friend’s house, made the fateful decision to go alone – with the intention her boyfriend would join them there early the next morning.

Mr Hope told the court how he asked Morton to ‘keep’ Hannah, who worked for restaurant chain Pizza Express, safe as he kissed her goodbye at the station.

However, once they were back at his, Morton supplied her with wine then, according to his account in he witness box, put her into bed fully-clothed before stripping down to his boxer shorts and getting in alongside her.

Giving evidence in his own defence, he insisted he had no intention of having sex with Hannah, who was more than twice over the legal drink-drive limit – but claimed she then put her hand on his cheek and kissed him on the mouth.

He told jurors he ‘responded’ to her advances, helping her undress before sitting across her and putting a hand around her’s neck, telling her that if she ‘didn’t like it she should ask him to stop’.

He claimed: “I didn’t want her to feel unsafe or pressurised. She said it was okay so I carried on.”

Morton said he then put his other hand around Hannah’s throat and applied slightly more pressure, but moments later heard her give a “sharp intake of breath”.

He loosened his grip, ‘massaging’ her neck instead, but soon became alarmed because he couldn’t hear Hannah breathing and turned on a bedroom light.

Asked by his barrister, Shaun Smith QC, what he saw in the lightened room, Morton replied: “Hannah was staring up at me. At that point I believed she was dead. Her eyes were glazed. Her lips had turned purple.”

Morton added he’d tried strangling a previous partner, and was ‘curious’ after ‘seeing it on a film’.

But he said Hannah’s death was an accident, claiming under cross-examination that he had got ‘carried away’ and was ‘disgusted with himself’.

However, in opening the case, Michael Evans QC told the court: “This was no accident. He was someone who increasingly enjoyed the sensation of strangling women. He knew it was dangerous, that is what turned him on.

“The defendant admitted to enjoying the sensation of strangling women during sex. He admitted enjoying the feeling of domination.

“It would have been obvious to him that he was causing really serious harm. We say that on this night, his increasing obsession with strangulation reached a different level.

“On his own account, he was sober, she was not. He was in control, she was not. And by his description, he knew exactly what he was doing.”

After Hannah’s death, her family released a statement in which they said: “Hannah was a beautiful daughter, granddaughter, sister, aunty, niece and friend.

“She was a bright and bubbly girl with a lively spirit who embraced life. She will be missed by everyone whose life she touched.”

Plans for one of the country’s first Garden Villages on the outskirts of Grantham took a major step forward this week.

The Spitalgate Heath site, on the southern edge of Grantham, is one of only 14 Garden Villages to be recently designated by the Government and will provide up to 3,700 new homes.

Members of South Kesteven District Council’s development management committee yesterday evening (Tuesday) accepted the principle of the application for the development site and will consider full details in the autumn.

Councillor Jacky Smith, cabinet member for major projects, said: “This is great news for Grantham, its residents and businesses. Garden Villages are all about creating new communities with green spaces, good transport links and aspirational homes.

“The new draft Local Plan which is out for consultation proposes some 8,600 new homes in Grantham for the period 2011 to 2036 and the Garden Village will be a big step towards meeting the housing needs of current and future residents and will help ensure that we attract vital facilities to the town including health services.

“There is no doubt that house building plays a vital role in stimulating growth in the area and has a positive impact on the local economy.”

The 224-hectare village, which was already earmarked for new housing, will also include 110,000 square metres of employment space, creating up to 3,000 new jobs, a primary and secondary school, a health centre, sports facilities and shops.

The Garden Village will have lots of natural landscaping with open spaces, woodlands, tree lined streets and ecological habitats.

A new riverside park, outdoor sports and play areas, community orchard and allotments will be connected by footpaths, cycleways and landscaped corridors.

Coun Mike King, cabinet member for economy and development, said that the application had evolved over a long period of time during which SKDC had worked closely with its partners – Lincolnshire County Council, the majority landowners Buckminster and the Homes and Communities Agency – to create the highest quality development.

He said: “The Spitalgate Heath site represents the lion’s share of the planned growth for Grantham and as far as I am concerned the benefits of the scheme far outweigh any disadvantages.

“We want to mirror the spirit of the original Garden City movement. We don’t want to simply provide homes and jobs; we want to create a special place that will complement our ambitions for Grantham.

“We want it to be an attractive environment with front gardens, tree-lined streets and homes for people of all ages which are attractively designed, energy efficient and sustainable.”