A Grantham school will see an influx of pupils if a proposal to close a rural secondary school gets the green light.

The West Grantham Academies Trust has announced its intention to close the Charles Read Academy in Corby Glen and move staff and pupils to its sister school St Hugh’s, in Grantham. Pupils would transfer by September 2014, following a consultation.

Academies trust CEO Trudy Brothwell (pictured, left) said she believes the move will “increase opportunities for the Charles Read Academy students”. They will be able to enroll on courses such as drama, dance, media, engineering, Spanish and hairdressing currently offered at St Hugh’s.

Mrs Brothwell added: “The education standards are very different in the two schools. Educational standards in St Hugh’s are outstanding. Pupils’ attainment on entry is low but standards achieved when they leave are outstanding.

“A lot of work has taken place at Charles Read to raise it up to the same standards. This has not happened so obviously we want to make sure that youngsters have access to the best possible provision they can.”

As reported last week, Charles Read Academy is among the worst 200 schools in the country in the latest school league tables, with just 38 per cent achieving five A*-C grades at GCSE level. Meanwhile, St Hugh’s came in at 39 per cent.

Mrs Brothwell said there is no link between poor attainment and the proposal to close the school. She said the decision was, in part, a result of Government funding changes which allocate money per pupil. According to local authority figures, there will be fewer children starting secondary schools in the coming years, resulting in less funding for all Grantham area schools.

Lincolnshire County Council has slammed the move to close Charles Read.

Leader Councillor Martin Hill said: “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.”

Executive councillor for children’s services Patricia Bradwell added: “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.”

Mrs Brothwell said there would be no job losses as a result of the school’s closure.

Additional classroom space is already available to cope with the addition of 230 Charles Read pupils, as the two primary schools under the trust have merged. Pupils of Earl of Dysart Primary School are now educated at Spitalgate, allowing school bosses to use the Earl of Dysart site for practical lessons.

I see from Coun M. D. Taylor’s letter last week, that the so-called ‘Nasty Party’ is alive and well here in Grantham!

If Coun Taylor really wants to focus on the record of past governments, let’s not forget the Tories in the Thatcher years squandering billions of pounds in North Sea oil revenues to pay for the massively increased benefits bill which her policies led to; nor mortgage interest rates of 15 per cent under John Major, when I remember my £50K mortgage was costing me nearly £600 per month!

The Labour government tried, too quickly perhaps, to improve the crumbling schools and hospitals decades of under-funding had left and were hit by an international banking crisis.

America has begun to shrug off some of the effects of that, which hit them just as hard, thanks to Obama’s policies - our government simply sticks its head in the sand!

I suggest we forget the past and look to the present and future. This Con-Dem government has been in power now for nearly three years; are things really getting better?

I note also in the Journal online that Tory-led SKDC is one of the few district councils proposing a council tax increase, just as everyone else is having to pull in their belts a little.

Is this what the electorate really wants, from either Government or district council? Where is OUR referendum on local council tax rises?

David Taylor

Cavendish Way,

Grantham

Grantham Squash Club’s Saturday night doubles competition resulted in a win for Del House and Myk North.

Results: 1 Del House and Myk North 7pt, 2 Ray Shrouder and Phil Shaw 6, 3 Alison Clare and Richard Pearson 6, 4 Phil Tordoff and Kevin Strutt 5, 5 Mel Smith and Vic Skier 4, 6 Phil Jones and Pete Berry 4.

Police were called to Sainsbury’s Petrol Station, London Road, Grantham at just after 10pm on Friday, February 1, following reports of a robbery.

Two men entered the premises and left the scene shortly afterwards with a quantity of cash. The offenders were dressed in dark clothing with scarves covering their faces. They left the scene on foot towards London Road.

Anyone with any information about the incident or who saw men fitting this description in the area should contact Sgt Todd in Grantham CID or DC Squires on 101, quoting incident 468 of February 1. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

In Letters (Journal, January 25), Coun Mike Taylor accuses me of not checking out facts when writing about the new Bedroom Tax being introduced by the Government from April.

Before Coun Taylor accuses me of failing to check my facts, he should be aware I checked them with SKDC’s housing officers prior to writing my article. I did round the figure slightly - downwards. I also checked a TUC report identifying the prejudice being fed by politicians about people claiming benefits, reports by Shelter and Defend Council Housing, which both concluded the Bedroom Tax could lead to more homelessness and insecurity if people do not continue to pay their rent.

I also considered a report produced earlier last year by Lincolnshire County Council which highlighted Grantham as having two of the largest pockets of child poverty in the county.

Rather than burying their heads in the sand, it would be better if some politicians take a hard look at the effect their decisions are having on our most vulnerable people, many of them hard working or unable to work through no fault of their own, and thought twice about a path of continued austerity.

Coun Charmaine Morgan

Labour Group Leader

Mid Lincs League

Under-12A

County Cup, quarter-finals

Grantham Flames 2

Grantham Town 5

Strong wind and a heavy playing surface contributed to a scrappy start for both teams. Following early periods of pressure for both sides Grantham Town took the opportunity to break the deadlock when Jacob Thompson played a super ball through to Lewis Brady whose clean finish put the visitors in front.

Both sides created opportunities from corners which were well defended. Grantham’s captain Liam Clamp cleared the lines in strong and commanding fashion.

Flames came back at Grantham Town and scored an equaliser. The rest of the first half saw Grantham Town dominate the play and the possession.

Lewis Daff set Brady up who struck the ball superbly to bring an excellent save from the Flames keeper. Nathan Lane worked tirelessly on the left in both defensive and creative roles.

Grantham Town continued their domination of the play after the break with Brady going on an early run and hitting the post. Alfie Morley delivered a corner into the box which Tom Andersen headed just wide.

Andersen was soon to have another opportunity when Daff played a ball through to feet which Tom struck well, forcing the Flames keeper to save with some style.

Campbell Williams was tested in the Grantham Town goal on a couple of occasions and met the challenges well. Defensively, Grantham Town looked strong with great work from Josh Carey, Clamp, Max Carrington-Hayward and Owen.

Town continued to create opportunities with Praise Ollalere, Lewis Brady, Alfie Morley, Jacob Thompson and Alex Geeson all linking up well. Daff put in a great tackle and played the ball to Brady who kept his head to score his and Town’s second. Their third followed shortly after with a cool finish in the box by Praise Ollalere.

Both Jacob Thompson and Lewis Brady had shots saved. Flames had a couple of further chances but great defensive work and tackling from Archie Ablewhite and Carrington-Hayward and good work in goal from Williams saw the score held at 3-1.

Brady extended Town’s lead and Jacob Thompson made it 5-1 with a super strike. Flames narrowed the gap late on and Alex Geeson went close in the last few minutes.

A very well deserved man of the match went to Town captain Liam Clamp.

I note with interest that South Kesteven District Council intend increasing the Council Tax to help them make ends meet.

They may like to consider saving some money by not floodlighting the Guildhall and council offices all night and every night.

At least I assume they are on all night and not just switched on for my personal enjoyment when I drive past at 6am.

I cannot see what possible reason there can be to throw money into the wind by lighting these buildings into the wee small hours.

I assume they will plead security, but I wonder how many unlit, adjacent buildings are the subject of criminal activity on a regular basis? Not many I would suggest!

I, for one, would rather see the money for all this illumination put in the coffers for local services rather than providing a light show that few people will actually see.

Angie Hibbitt

Main Street,

Carlton Scroop

Taxi driver Keith Hayward has to watch out for Grantham’s potholes every working day.

But even when he finishes his shift and returns to his home in Castlegate, he still can’t escape them!

Keith explained: “I’m a taxi driver in Grantham so I have plenty of experience with potholes.

“There’s one outside my house and it’s that big that when it’s filled up with water and any trucks go past I’ve got to go out and clean my windows and front door because the water splashes onto my house. I lie in bed and can hear the vehicles thumping over the potholes because basically they can’t avoid it.

“I first reported it to highways on January 8 but it’s got worse every day since.”

SEEN ANY HORRENDOUS POTHOLES? E-MAIL: COMMENT@GRANTHAMJOURNAL.CO.UK

When are those responsible for setting the traffic lights in town going to synchronise them with each other?

I drove down Watergate to the lights near Lidl. When they changed to green I couldn’t go because the set of lights on North Parade were still red, with queuing cars.

By the time they moved off only two or three cars got through the lights I waited at.

What a nightmare. Something needs doing about this problem now.

Alan Hayes

By e-mail

Over the past decade Lady Ursula Cholmeley has dedicated herself to restoring Easton Walled Gardens to somewhere approaching its former glory.

The ancestral home to the Cholmeley family for generations fell to rack and ruin in the decades following the end of the Second World War, but now Lady Cholmeley is rolling back the years.

The Journal dropped by to find out how work was progressing before they open again after the winter break.

Q) What is the history of Easton Walled Gardens?

A) Sir Henry Cholmeley bought the manor in 1592 and ever since it has been passed down from father to son. Our children are the 15th generation here. There has been some famous visitors over the years. President Roosevelt was a friend of the Cholmeley family and he spent part of his honeymoon here with Eleanor. She didn’t want to stay for the whole honeymoon because she noticed Franklin took a liking to one of the Cholmeley daughters! But he enjoyed his stay here and described it as a “Nirvana...almost too good to be true”. It served as a hospital during the First World War and the house was requisitioned at the start of the Second World War and used as a base for 2 Para who saw action at Arnham. They had quite a wild time here (eye-witness reports recall soldiers letting off rounds in the house and throwing grenades into the greenhouses) and as a result the house was demolished in 1951. From then on it was neglected and by 2001 it was basically a wilderness.

Q) You began restoring Easton in 2000. How did you decide where to start on such a big project?

A) That was the big issue but we decided to begin on the bridge. We have pictures where you can see yew trees growing out of the bridge so it had to be taken out and put back together again.

Q) But even 12 years later you are still working on it...

A) Certainly. It does look like a garden again but certainly there is still work going on. There is still a lot of work to do on the walls.

Q) Is the aim to restore Easton to what it once was?

A) Not particularly as there were eight full-time gardeners here then. We really enjoy seeing wildlife here in the garden so rather than mow everything we have a lot of meadows which would not have been here before.

Q) The gardens are currently closed for the winter. Does this allow you to do more restoration work?

A) We do the heavy stuff in the winter then keep on top of the garden in the summer. We’ve got snow here at the moment which is really beautiful and helps hide some of the sins!

Q) What has been the biggest challenge?

A) I think just starting the project. I spoke to some well-respected people before I began who said “just don’t touch it”, so the first couple of years were the hardest. It took a long time to get planning permission to have visitors here.

Q) It must occupy you all-year-round...

A) Yes it does. There is a lot of office work which is inevitable when you are running a tourist attraction but as soon as I get out and get into the garden I remember “this is why I do it”.

Q) Have you been able to secure any grants for the work?

A) No, which is why it has been such a long-term project. But slowly and surely it is evolving back into the national garden that it once was.

Q) Do you get a positive reaction from visitors?

A) Yes, definitely and when our visitors come back in February it’s such a boost. You are so close up you don’t always see the improvements being made here, so it’s nice when people come back year after year and say it’s lovely.

Anti-social behaviour is the new Police and Crime Commissioner’s biggest priority for South Kesteven.

Speaking on a visit to Grantham Police Station on Friday, the new PCC said he has listened to the public and believes tackling anti-social behaviour must be the priority in the Grantham area.

Alan Hardwick said: “The reason I am in Grantham is to discuss with Ch Insp Housley initiatives in North and South Kesteven which I think can be expanded to the advantage of everyone in the county - initiatives that address anti-social behaviour, street crime and other matters that blight the lives of too many people in Lincolnshire.

“Anti-social behaviour is a plague but in North and South Kesteven it is being addressed, and being addressed in a very robust way.”

Mr Hardwick says one way he will tackle anti-social behaviour is by making police officers more “visible” to the public.

He said: “Certainly in this part of the world every effort is being made to increase visibility. One of the ways I will do this is by maintaining police force numbers at 1,100 whereas the former police authority were going to cut those numbers to 1,068.

“Also, we are going to make sure all police vehicles, apart from those involving covert operations, have police livery. That will help with visibility.

“We are also hoping to recruit volunteers to become special constables and special PCSOs.”

Mr Hardwick has set a target of recruiting 1,000 volunteer PCSOs, a figure he himself describes as “ambitious”.

He said: “People have already criticised this ambition, saying the commissioner wants our police force run by volunteers but nothing could be further from the truth. Policing in Lincolnshire will not break down if we increase the number of volunteers. The volunteers will enhance the policing of the county.

“As far as volunteer PCSOs go, they will have the same powers as PCSOs, in the same way special constables have the same powers as regular officers.

“They will be properly trained and supported and will become part of what I think is the best police family in the country.”

However, it remains to be seen what opposition Mr Hardwick will face from the Police Federation.

Mr Hardwick said: “I will be meeting the unions. My plans have been public since January 14.

“There is a lot of consulting to do still and that obviously includes listening to any comments unions might have about the plan.”

On Saturday, January 19, we held a food collection at Sainsbury’s in Grantham. In spite of the dreadful weather, almost a ton of food was donated!

We would like to say thank you very much to the shoppers and to the management and staff of Sainsbury’s.

Without the support of the people of Grantham and without the co-operation of the management and staff of the store, we would not be able to meet the demand for food.

Liz Woods

Grantham Foodbank

The Woodwind and Brass Ensembles of the Band of the RAF Regiment, based at RAF College Cranwell, are to give a free recital at St Denys Church, Sleaford, at 7 p.m. on Friday 8 February.

The Woodwind ensemble, conducted by the Director of Music Flight Lieutenant Matt Little (pictured), will perform the first part of the concert after which Drum Major Chief Technician Steve Maher will conduct the Brass Ensemble.

BELTON PARK

Seniors’ section

Twenty-five seniors turned out for the Tuesday Stableford, with Peter Rollings emerging victorious with a score of 41.

Runner-up with 38 was Dave Martin, two ahead of Laurence Haselhurst who pipped Manny Barker for third on countback.

The back nine was won by Peter Brooks with 22 and Andrew Cookson (18) had the best front nine.

I’m so glad I’m a pensioner. I’ve just been to the “Pensioners’ Panto”, organised by Peter and Sue Sulston. What a show!

It had everything - Georgeous Alice, Handsome Dick, Sexy Cat, Drunken Crew and the Dame’s uplift was stupendous! With St Wulfram’s Handbells, piano, and songs from the audience. There was lots of “Oh no there isn’t” and “It’s behind you” too.

All of it done by pensioners. It makes you proud to be one - they deserve a medal.

All money raised was for the ChristChurch Community Project.

Thank you all.

Val Odell

Croft Drive, Grantham

Sisters Sandra Brown and and Heather Pearson have worked together since they left school and have run their tailoring, repairs and alterations business for 38 years.

The business, called Sandra’s, has been based in Wharf Road, Grantham, for 22 years and before that it was in London Road.

Sandra said: “I started the business when I left school. I started it on my own and when my younger sister left school she came to work with me.”

The sisters, both born in Grantham, have built up a loyal band of customers over the years. Sandra said: “As we get older we have customers who we used to see to do their school uniforms. Now we are seeing their children’s children to do their uniforms. It’s been a long time. Here’s to the next 20 years!”

Sandra’s is based at 24 Wharf Road. Call them on 01476 563924.

A loyal customer of the chocolate store Thornton’s in Grantham has made a plea to the company to keep the outlet open.

Brigadier Charles Smith wrote to the managing director of the company, Kevin Hart, after it was announced that the store in the Isaac Newton shopping centre will close in April.

In his letter Mr Smith, of Bottesford, said: “I fully understand the commercial imperatives facing you under the current trading climate, but I implore you to reconsider your decision to cease trading from this store - the profitability of which has always appeared from the ‘outside’ to be sound - especially notable with the change to ‘outlet’ status, giving the shop the added emphasis to trade well.

“This will be a sad day for Grantham and your many good customers here, if the shop does indeed close and we lose the services provided by Michelle O’Connor ans her remarkable team. I therefore ask you to reconsider your decision regarding the closure of the Grantham shop.”

A spokesman for the company said: “The Grantham store is due to close in late April or early May time, as part of our store closure programme. There are four staff members in Grantham, one full time and three part time employees. We are currently going through the consultation process with the staff and the aim is to redeploy them to other Thorntons stores in the region.”

Last Saturday morning around 8.30am, I was driving southbound along London Road when I couldn’t believe my eyes. At the undertaker’s just past Sainsbury’s, they were carrying a stretcher with a body on it, draped in a purple cover, through the front door of their office in full view of the passing public on foot and in vehicles.

I appreciate conditions probably stopped the undertakers from carrying out this task behind the closed gates of their premises, but to do it in the open like that, I think showed a total disregard to the passing public (especially those like myself with children present), and disrespect to the deceased.

If a screen couldn’t have been set up, surely they could have waited until conditions improved a little later? It was a very undignified way to go!

Name and address supplied

Croxton Kerrial CC are seeking another local cricket side which may be interested in sharing nets.

The idea is to keep the cost of net practice down as low as possible.

If interested, contact Leon Aylin on 07730 578944 or e-mail leonaylin@ntlworld.com

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 theManthorpe 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.

Coun Ray Wootten

County Coun, Grantham North