Science exploded into the classrooms at Belmont Primary School in Grantham on Monday.

The school’s “Mad Science Day” gave children the opportunity to ride a hoover craft as well as see all manner of experiments which help explain the way the world works, from the impact of gravity to electromagnets.

The day was led by “Nuclear Nat” and “Mr Physics”. Children throughout the school were involved from reception class upwards.

A special event was held at the Prince William of Gloucester Barracks for people to say their goodbyes to the out-going Commanding Officer Colonel David Kelly OBE.

Col Kelly has served as the Commanding Officer at PWG for the past three years but is leaving to serve as the new Commandinf Officer at Normandy Barracks in Paderborn, Germany.

Col Kelly said: “Christine and I have had a great time in Grantham. It is a super community and my time as Station Commander has allowed us an insight into what makes the town tick.

“We have enjoyed it so much that we are likely to settle in Lincolnshire which is not a bad coup given that I am Irish and my wife Christine is a Yorkshire lass.

“We have made many good friends in this town, district and indeed the wider community and we will take many fond memories with us to our next posting in Germany.”

Former Grantham Mayors Graham Wheat, Margery Radley, Ray Wootten and Mike Taylor attended the send-off along with former Chairman of SKDC Mike Cook and Coun Jean Taylor.

Former councillor Graham Wheat said: “The relationship between the barracks and the people of Grantham goes from strength to strength.

“We shall all miss Col Kelly and his wife Christine and wish them all the best in their new posting to Germany.”

Two cars have collided in Manthorpe Road, Grantham, causing traffic congestion.

Emergency services were called to the scene, near to the junction with Grantham Hospital, just before 3.30pm today.

The collision was between a Ford Mondeo and a Volkswagen Polo. There are not thought to be any serious injuries.

Tailbacks are ongoing while the vehicles are recovered.

A district councillor has hit back at developer Larkfleet Homes after the company criticised the district council’s response to its plans to build more than 1,000 home at Manthorpe.

Coun Ray Wootten is the district councillor who represents the Manthorpe area, as well as being a county councillor representing Grantham North.

In a letter to the Journal Coun Wootten has described Larkfleet’s Manthorpe plans as “flawed from the beginning”, taking particular issue with the impact the development would have on Grantham’s traffic system.

He also vows to “fight them tooth and nail” should Larkfleet seek to resubmit their plans for a major development at Manthorpe.

Here is the councillor’s letter in full:

Dear Sir,

I was surprised to read comments from Karl Hick, managing director of Larkfleet Homes, regarding Lincolnshire County Council’s forward funding the relief road for the Southern Quadrant housing development. This was right and proper to enable the scheme to move forward which ultimately would benefit the traffic flow in the town centre. Funding would then be repaid by the developer.

Larkfleet’s plan to build 1,000 homes on the edge of the Manthorpe Estate was not in SKDC’s Core Strategy and if granted would have added greatly to the congestion and delays on Longcliffe, Sandcliffe and Manthorpe Road in the morning and evening. Traffic flow figures quoted in Larkfleet’s own Transport Assessment Report stated that traffic movements out of the new build would add 568 extra vehicle journeys in the morning between 8am and 9am and 617 in the evening between 5pm and 6pm. Further to this they admitted that traffic delays at these locations were above average. When the new Priory Ruskin Academy is completed 1,300 children could be attending the school yet again adding to the traffic in Sandcliffe Road and surrounding areas making residents prisoners in their own homes twice a day. Larkfleet’s solution was to install traffic signals at these junctures; can you imagine what this would do to traffic flow?

This development was flawed from the beginning. Larkfleet failed to listen to the objections of residents from the Manthorpe Estate, Manthorpe Village, surrounding villages, local Parish Councils and local councillors.

Other developers have learned to their cost to ignore public opinion and should further applications be submitted, and if the community objects, I as their Councillor, will not roll over, but fight them tooth and nail.

Cllr Ray Wootten,

County Councillor,

Grantham North

Lincolnshire Police’s new Police and Crime Commissioner Alan Hardwick says the message is out - Lincolnshire is no longer a soft touch for organised criminals.

Mr Hardwick, speaking to the Journal on a visit to Grantham Police Station on Friday, said criminals have travelled to the county in the past in the belief it was easier to commit crime than elsewhere.

However, Mr Hardwick says that recent successes will help keep these criminals away.

He said: “Increasingly we are being targetted by gangs of well-organised criminals coming here from other parts of the country with the mistaken perception that Lincolnshire is a soft touch and I can tell you that Lincolnshire is reacting in a way that will convince these people that it is no longer a soft touch.

“We have had targetted operations that have already had tremendous success with, for instance, hare-coursing.

“These people now know Lincolnshire is a place to avoid.”

Mr Hardwick campaigned on his pledge to secure increased funding for rural forces like Lincolnshire.

The Gingerbreads have put fans’ favourites Gio Carchedi and Sam Purcicoe out on loan to two Northern Premier League Division One South sides.

Carchedi has gone to Lincoln United and Purcicoe will be playing at Rainworth Miners Welfare.

Grantham joint manager Gary Sucharewycz said both players needed some games to restore match fitness. He said: “We had everything set up a few weeks ago, but there was no point in making it happen until the bad weather had cleared.”

SATURDAY (February 2)

Football

Evo-Stik Northern Premier League

Premier Division – North Ferriby United v Grantham Town (3pm).

ChromaSport United Counties League

Division One – Eynesbury Rovers v Harrowby United (3pm).

Grantham & District Saturday League

Premier Division - Ancaster v Greyhounders, Bottesford v Buckminster United, White Swan Barrowby v Heckington Millers.

Division One - AFC Three Gables v Croxton AFC, CK Dons v AFC Skillington.

Rugby

Midlands League 3

East (North) - Amber Valley v Kesteven.

Hockey

Ely 3rd v Grantham, Spilsby Ladies v Grantham Ladies.

SUNDAY

Football

Lincolnshire FA County Sunday Cup

Semi-final - Cleethorpes Town Sunday FC v Ropsley Fox.

Grantham & District Sunday League

Premier Division - Ancaster Rams v Witham Wanderers, Helpringham Rovers v FC Osbournby Rangers, Lions v Thurlby United, Ruskington v Three Gables Sunday.

Division One - Aslockton Cranmers FC v Nobody Athletic, Long Bennington v Grantham United TRE, Ropsley v Caythorpe, Totemic v Colsterworth United.

TUESDAY

Football

ChromaSport United Counties League

Division One – Harrowby United v Burton Park Wanderers (7.45pm).

A £272,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund has been awarded to St Wulfram’s Church in Grantham to boost its Spire Appeal.

With news of the grant, the appeal has now raised half of the £600,000 it needs to repair the crumbling spire.

Canon Christopher Andrews, rector of St Wulfram’s, said: “It’s great news. We felt we had done the best possible job with the application and I am glad to have this confirmed. It would have been surprising if we had not got much money or none at all because of the importance of this magnificent building and this gives us great encouragement.

“We have still got a hefty amount of money to find and would like the people of Grantham to keep supporting us. They have been very generous so far.”

Canon Andrews said the grant would be awarded in two parts. The first smaller grant would enable preparatory work to be done and then the rest of the grant would be made available, but there is a two-year limit meaning the fundraising committee has to work to a deadline. But the grant, administered by English Heritage, will allow the fundraisers to apply to other bodies for money with greater confidence.

St Wulfram’s is a Grade I listed building and its steeple rises to 86m. The original Norman church was the subject of an ambitious building project in the 13th century following a fire and the tower and spire were built during the 14th century. This grant will enable urgent repairs to the spire, as its iron cramps have rusted and expanded, causing the top of the spire to become displaced. The top 16ft, which was repaired in 1947 and is in good condition, will be removed and set aside for re-use, then the next 24ft which displays the recent problems will be dismantled and rebuilt.

As part of the fundraising, two concerts will be staged in the church on June 26 and 27, featuring talented pupils from 19 primary schools and four secondary schools. The event will be called Inspiring Grantham - a celebration of Grantham’s Young Talent.

For more information go to www.savegranthamspire.org

In this column, I wrote back in December both welcoming and raising a few concerns about the new parking enforcement officers arriving in Lincolnshire.

I expressed my joy at the time at no longer having to sit in traffic on the High Street caused purely through inconsiderate drivers parking outside shops.

Since their introduction, I have not been aware of the officers struggling with one of my points of concern which was the worry that residents parked on their own streets would suddenly find themselves flooded with fines.

It appears, however, that not only are these residents free from fines but everyone still is.

I have not noticed a slight difference in the actions of impolite drivers and this is due to the other area of concern I brought up. The whole of Lincolnshire was to be covered by only 20 officers. My hope was that this did not mean they were spread too thinly to be of help in Grantham which has surely proven to be the case.

I’m not about to claim to know the monetary figures behind the scheme in terms of how much it is costing the county for these 20 officers, never mind how much it would cost to bring in more to raise efficiency. My concern now switches to the way the scheme was introduced.

It was stressed that the focus was to reduce congestion and increase traffic safety. Can we truly say this has been achieved if most days the High Street looks the same as before?

As highlighted through a letter to the Journal last week, where we were informed of a staggering 16 cars parked on double yellow lines, perhaps we need to consider our own driving habits while hoping for a recovery for this limping scheme.

The Rotary International Britain and Ireland President John Minhinick was the special guest at an event organised by Grantham’s two Rotary clubs - the Rotary Club of Grantham and the Rotary Club of Grantham Kesteven.

Mr Minhinick spoke to Grantham Rotarians at the Ramada Hotel in Grantham and was informed of some of the excellent charitable work undertaken by both clubs including the Swimarathon - which begins on Friday - and has raised more than half a million pounds for local good causes over the past 24 years.

Mr Minhinick was also impressed by the excellent work of the charity Trade Aid, founded by John Asher of Fulbeck with the aim of helping communities get back on their feet, often in the aftermath of disaster.

Now in its fifth year, how is Walton Sixth Form meeting the needs of young adults in Grantham?

In terms of Government performance tables, figures published last week show Walton to be in the top five comprehensive schools in Lincolnshire in terms of retention and success. But what do these figures mean?

Retention – 100 per cent at Walton - means putting the right students on the right course, It sounds simple but the reality is a combination of good guidance through Years 10 and 11, a broad range of courses to meet student needs and then dedicated staff to ensure each student achieves their full potential.

Jane Etherington, director of sixth form at Walton, said: “We are delighted with these figures. We pride ourselves that we provide an individual curriculum suited to each student’s aspirations. Our track record shows that Walton students progress into the adult world with the confidence and maturity that employers and universities value so highly. Every student who has applied for university has gained their place. We also have a number of students who have taken apprenticeships locally, one of whom we now employ at Walton as an administration assistant, a real case of grow-your-own!”

Perfectly situated in the heart of the East Midlands, the four-star Ramada Grantham Hotel is surrounded by beautiful, tranquil countryside, making it the ideal venue to celebrate your special day.

From intimate ceremonies through to larger celebrations, hotel staff strive to deliver the upmost quality and service because they understand that your wedding should be one of your most unforgettable experiences – for all of the right reasons.

From the very beginning of the planning process, a dedicated wedding co-ordinator will work with you every step of the way to ensure that your wedding day is exactly as you always imagined it would be.

No two weddings should be the same; that’s why the Ramada endeavours to make every wedding as unique as possible by adapting our packages to suit your specific requirements.

Accommodation consists of 89 en-suite bedrooms, which include a variety of kings, doubles, twins and superior kings. The leisure club offers everything you and your guests need to fully relax and unwind during your stay, including a heated indoor swimming pool, jacuzzi, steam room and sauna.

Anyone is welcome to take a tour of the facilities. Simply call the Ramada to arrange an appointment. Brochures and package details are also available on request. Call 01476 593000.

Youngsters at Marston Thorold Charity School had a special educational visitor this week.

Class 1 pupils were not only able to learn a little about the Indian culture, but also view several special items up close. The workshop was led by Sunita Patel, who also shared with the children Indian dress, dance, rangoli patterns and the story of Rama and Sita.

Sunita is pictured with the classmates. Photo: 914C

People getting to work in the snow ... children rushing off to school, wrapped up warmly ... bins being emptied by our dedicated hardworking council staff. What is the odd one out in this picture?

Yes, despite most of us getting on with life and struggling through the white stuff, it’s the bins that aren’t being emptied, despite the fact that by Tuesday, most of the borough’s roads were pretty much passable. Delays would be understandable, but saying “no recycling collection” for two weeks, rather than catching up through the week, is shameful and further proof (if it were needed) that we have a council that is really not fit for purpose and the sooner it is taken over by a team with a proper attitude to customer service, the better.

I spoke to Linda Neal, leader of South Kesteven District Council, who didn’t know, but thought it was “operational reasons”. This lame excuse really isn’t good enough, particularly for those of us who live on or near main roads in flat places (this is Lincolnshire, not the north Pennines after all).

Stephen Pearson

Long Bennington

I have heard that after the last advertised Jane Mackay Lunchtime Lecture at the Guildhall in April, the event will end because not enough people make a point of attending regularly.

Although 82 people attended the January lecture on Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath, this was for us an unusually high number. (Stamford had 152 for Jane Eyre recently).

If it is not too late, I would like to make a plea for a rethink on the matter as far as Grantham is concerned. We have been so lucky to get a world-famous speaker like Jane Mackay, and it would be a great shame to lose her because we can’t make an effort to attend once a month.

Mary M. Hubble

Jubilee Avenue, Grantham

I was just thinking how the snow and ice has stopped bin lorries collecting the bins yet again and wondered if one of the houses caught fire, would the fire brigade use the same excuse and refuse to drive down the ungritted road?

The logical decision is for the council to send a gritter down the road ahead of the lorry.

Steve Cattell

Main Street, Hougham

The recycling bins in Grantham were not emptied last week because of the “adverse conditions”. Why?

The excuse was, the bin lorries couldn’t get around the roads! Buses were running, other people were going about their normal business. I drove nine miles to work on Monday morning in the “adverse conditions”.

They were allegedly sent to grit the footpaths. I don’t know where, because the footpaths I have seen are still packed with snow and ice and why was the High Street footpaths still icy?

Come on council, get your act together.

Annoyed Council Tax payer

By e-mail

Neighbours living in the Harrowby area of Grantham can expect a Tesco Express store to open in the spring-time.

Extensive refurbishment work has taken place in the soon-to-be store in Harrowby Lane, which was formerly the Cherry Tree pub.

However, some work cannot begin until permission is granted by South Kesteven District Council.

The planning authority is to consider five planning applications submitted by Tesco. They are:

* Installation of ATM and associated service door

* Siting of 1 x condenser unit and 3 x AC units

* Demolition of existing lean-to extension and canopy with replacement extension

* External alterations including shopfront

* Signage, to include an illuminated sign and logos

SKDC’s development control committee is to make a decisions on these applications on February 5.

Twenty jobs will be created. A Tesco spokesman said: “What we are trying to do is bring back into use a building that would otherwise remain derelict, so it serves a purpose and employs people in the community.”

Lincolnshire County Council has said the proposed closure of Charles Read Academy will be “detrimental to education in the Grantham and Corby Glen area”.

The local authority has reacted strongly against West Grantham Academies Trust’s decision to consult on the closure of the Corby Glen school.

Trust CEO Trudy Brothwell told the Journal that by moving Chrles Read pupils, of which there are curently 230, to St Hugh’s they will have access to a better eductioan and increased learning opportunities.

However, LCC sais the trust has chosen to go ahead with the move despite its concerns raised, which is responsible for ensuring that there are enough places available for children and young people to attend school both now and in the future.

Councillor Patricia Bradwell, executive councillor for children’s services, said: “This is a decision that has been taken by the academy in consultation with the DfE. It is not a county council decision and we are disappointed that the academy trust is taking this action.

“To place Charles Read pupils at St Hugh’s would result in young people travelling vast distances to school and we do not think that parents would want this. The proposals would also significantly increase transport costs which would have to be met by the county council.”

Parents have been told in a letter from the trust that reasons for the decision include the falling number of children eligible for secondary education in the area in the next five years and the impact of changes to funding leading to reduced income for schools. The county council said it is clear that the proposal to close the school will be detrimental to education in the Grantham and Corby Glen area.

Leader of LCC Coun Martin Hill, said: “As the local county council member for this area, I am extremely disappointed that a decision of this note has been taken without any consultation or input from us.

“It’s important to note that Grantham has ‘growth point’ status and is expected to see a considerable increase in pupil numbers from September 2014 for primary intakes, so closing the school makes little sense and reduces the ability to plan for the future.

“The chief executive of the academy has written to parents saying one of the reasons for the decision is that funding changes from Government will see a reduction in income for schools. What she doesn’t say is that schools will be protected from significant loss of funding for at least two years.”

A motorist was jailed yesterday (Wednesday) for three months after trying to dodge getting penalty points on his driving licence when he was caught speeding.

Paul Lilley claimed his Jaguar car was being driven by another man when it was clocked by a speed camera travelling at 88 mph in a 70 limit on the A1 at Great Ponton near Grantham.

Georgina Gibbs, prosecuting, told Lincoln Crown Court that when Lilley was asked by police to name the driver he claimed a man called Phil Stephens, who lived in Leeds, was behind the wheel. He said Mr Stephens was test driving the car with a view to buying it. But when police checked out the address given for Mr Stephens they discovered it was a boarded up building.

Lilley continued to deny that he was driving and was eventually charged with perverting the course of justice between December 2011 and March 2012.

Lilley, 55, of Pool Bank Close, Pool-in-Wharfedale, admitted the charge when he appeared in court today and also admitted speeding on 12 December 2011.

The court heard he had a clean driving licence at the time he was caught by the camera and would have only received a small fine and three penalty points on his licence.

His barrister Georgina Coade urged that Lilley be given a suspended jail sentence rather than immediate custody.

But Judge Sean Morris told Lilley: “This smacks of arrogance. You thought you were above the law and that people like you did not need to follow the laws everybody else has to follow.

“You set about a long and determined course of conduct to pervert the course of justice. It has to be an immediate prison sentence.”

The judge imposed three penalty points on Lilley’s licence.