Latest news with #SouthHollandDistrictCouncil
Telegraph
02-06-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
‘Bridge to nowhere' costs council £50m
A council has spent £50 million on a 'bridge to nowhere' after running out of money to make the connecting road. Lincolnshire county council has confirmed its latest budget falls short of the estimated cost to complete the planned Spalding Western Relief Road. The bridge, completed last year and crossing over the East Coast Mainline, was built as part of the £110 million project to ease traffic on the A16. But aerial pictures show the route comes to an abrupt stop, and the project will not be finished until at least 2030 because the council cannot afford to complete it sooner. In its 2025-26 budget, the authority has earmarked £27.7 million towards building the southern section of the road, but this falls short of the estimated cost of £50-£60 million. A spokesman for the council said: 'Construction of the north section of the Spalding Western Relief Road was completed in October 2024. 'In the approved 2025-26 council budget, there is currently £27.7 million earmarked towards building the southern section of the road in the future. 'However, the current estimated cost of building this section is between £50-60 million, which means external funding will be needed. 'That is why we are continuing to work closely with South Holland district council to identify funding opportunities, including remaining in touch with Homes England. 'In addition, no funding has yet been allocated or secured for the middle sections of the relief road as these are intended to be built in the long-term.' The council also said the northern section of the relief road had opened up land allocated for housing in the South East Lincolnshire Local Plan, an initial 1,100 homes. It also said a new roundabout had already unlocked land for housing on either side of the railway and a significant start had been made on-site, with these homes soon to be added to the available housing stock.
Daily Mirror
17-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Neighbours in bitter war of words over 'loud and smelly' pet pig
Michelle and Carl Repper adopted pet pig Jack six years ago and have raised the boar in their garden. But they were shocked to receive a complaint from their neighbour over the noise and smell Neighbours are locked in a bitter row over a 'loud and smelly' pet pig that saw the owner hit with a nuisance complaint - but she insists it's a load of hogwash. Michelle and Carl Repper were shocked to receive a complaint from their neighbour over the noise and odour of their six-year-old Juliana pot-bellied pig Jack. The couple adopted Jack six years ago after their friends mistook him for a micro pig, and have raised the boar in their garden ever since. Michelle, 44, says everyone in the neighbourhood loves little Jack and was shocked when one neighbour allegedly shouted through the fence to say the pig was 'disgusting'. The mum-of-three then received a letter from South Holland District Council in Lincolnshire outlining an odour and nuisance complaint over their much-loved piggy. But Michelle claims Jack is the 'cleanest animal' and sleeps quietly for up to six hours a day in the garden - and says all he does is 'snore'. Michelle, a teaching assistant, said the family would be 'devastated' if they were forced to rehome Jack, insisting that they would 'put up a fight' if the complaint escalated. The council confirmed they had visited the pig twice and observed no issues however said the owner had 'taken steps to reduce the noise levels'. Michelle, who lives in Spalding, Lincolnshire, said: "He is like our dog, he's our pet. The neighbours have always known we've had Jack. "Everybody loves Jack. The neighbours bring their leftover food from Sunday dinner over for him. Dog-walkers all ask about him. He's so gentle." After going away for a few days last month, Michelle claims a neighbour began 'shouting at her' through the fence, branding Jack 'noisy and smelly'. But Michelle insists that her pet porker is quiet and clean, snoozing in his pen for the majority of the day. Michelle said: "We left his wheelie bin in there and he does throw it around. When we got back, we apologised for it. When we got back, all of a sudden we could hear this lady shouting through a hole in the fence saying he was disgusting and she can't believe there's a pig in the garden. "But we've had him for six years, not a couple weeks. She's always known we've had him. That's the first time anyone has ever said anything in six years. No one's said anything about the noise or smell before. Pigs are the cleanest animals. "We've never had any issues with him. They said he's really noisy during the day but he actually sleeps for five to six hours during the day. He just sunbathes the whole day. "All he does is snore. He's so quiet. My husband said 'rather than shouting from the fence, come around and have a decent conversation with us' but she just carried on shouting, so I went indoors." Michelle, who says they have a licence to own and walk Jack, then received a letter from her local council over an alleged complaint concerning Jack's smell and noise levels. Neighbours then voiced their concerns to the town's newspaper, saying the pig 'makes [their] life unbearable' and went on to describe their living situation as a 'tragedy'. Michelle said: "Tragedy? I don't really know what to say about that. He's been here for six years. It's more gutting that it's come to this. I'm just baffled. She could've just come round to us and said he's really smelly and making loads of noise rather than making a complaint. "There's got to be evidence of smell and my husband cleans that every other day. He always does it in the same spot. He's not defecating all around the garden. If we had to rehome him, it would be like someone giving away their dog. "My husband and my girls would be devastated. He's just part of the furniture. We'd put up a fight [if they wanted to rehome him]. "I just wish they'd come and spoken to us. I've emailed the council to say you're welcome to come round and have a look at him. We've got nothing to hide." A South Holland District Council spokesperson said: "We are aware of this case and have been in contact with APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency), who have confirmed that all the appropriate licences are in place. "Our officers have visited the site on two occasions, during which no issues have been observed. The owner has taken steps to reduce the noise levels, and advice has been provided on how to correctly monitor and record concerns, to allow us to continue to investigate as required."
BBC News
12-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Work starts on Spalding war memorial restoration
Restoration work on a war memorial in Lincolnshire has by Sir Edwin Lutyens, the World War One memorial in Spalding was completed in 1922 and commemorates people connected with the town who lost their lives in the years of both world wars were later added to the memorial, which is in Ayscoughfee project, funded by South Holland District Council, is expected to be completed in time for Remembrance Day in November. The five-month project will include the restoration of memorial panels, flooring, the ceiling and roof tiles on the Grade I listed Bingham, the council's portfolio for assets, said work to restore the "hugely significant" monument had been a "long time in the making". He added: "This is a precise and expert process and, whilst the work will take several months to complete, we are confident it will secure the protection and prestige of the monument."Elizabeth Sneath, the portfolio holder for conservation and heritage, said: "We must do everything we can to protect it and the memories of those commemorated within it for many generations to come." Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
BBC News
23-03-2025
- BBC News
Increased police patrols for Spalding town centre
More police officers are to patrol Spalding town centre in the coming weeks as part of a trial to reduce anti-social and criminal activity, South Holland District Council has authority and the Spalding Town Board said they had committed £40,000 to support a new hotspot policing pilot scheme would initially run for a three-month period and was being funded through the government's Plan for Neighbourhoods initiative, the council that Spalding was a safe and a welcoming place for its residents was a "key priority", a spokesperson said. The initiative aimed to improve public confidence through a series of additional high-visibility police patrols in specific areas of the town centre, they would run from the bus station through Hall Place, Red Lion Street and the Market Place, as far as Ayscoughfee Hall and Gardens, targeting spots identified by residents and authorities as being more common for anti-social or criminal initiative would be delivered in partnership with Lincolnshire Police and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, the council Nick Worth, leader of South Holland District Council, said: "Ensuring that Spalding is a safe and welcoming places for its residents, businesses and visitors is a key priority for the council."We are delighted to support this pilot programme to help make that happen."Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
BBC News
13-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Ayscoughfee Hall in Spalding to recreate pleasure garden
A Lincolnshire visitor attraction is to recreate an 18th Century "pleasure garden".Spalding's Ayscoughfee Hall and Gardens will undergo the transformation on the evenings of 21 and 22 of the Ayscoughfee Enlightenment event said visitors would experience the "elegance and excitement of the Georgian era" through theatrical performances, lantern-lit pathways, period music and artistic Elizabeth Sneath said it would be unlike anything seen before in South Holland, while "pushing the boundaries of storytelling to create Ayscoughfee's own little world to bring our fascinating local heritage to life." Organisers said the event was inspired by pleasure gardens like Vauxhall and Ranelagh in to London Museum, they were the "height of fashion and culture" in the 1700s and 1800s, before earning a "shady" reputation. All had closed by the late 19th Ayscoughfee Hall and Gardens, there will be activities and attractions for the whole family to enjoy, with performances from opera singers and a quartet, as well as a dance troupe giving the chance to try Georgian court dances. In addition, there will be fire displays, art installations and illuminated nightscapes including glowing pathways and a grotto. Families will be invited to take part in a storytelling trail and character-based scavenger hunt based around Spalding's Georgian history, organisers said. Visitors are encouraged to dress in Georgian-inspired outfits, with a prize for the Enlightenment will run from 18:00 to 21:00 GMT on both days, with visitors able to book a one-hour slot. Pre-booking is required. More details can be found on South Holland District Council's website. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
