This week’s batch of reader letters cover topics ranging from ‘levelling up’ to animal welfare, a successful Santa’s sleigh and fuel prices…
We need to be stronger
While I note South Holland District Council has applied to the Government for £20 million to improve the ageing Castle Sports Complex, as reported, there is a delay in the decision.
This increases my fears that Lincolnshire is going to be left behind again. Yes, I agree that a total refurbishment or rebuild would house many facilities under the same umbrella, if the funding were to come from the so-called levelling up fund.
But we cannot even get a decent bus service or maintain our crumbling rural roads, which points towards the county council’s lack of funding from the Central Government. We cannot let 2023/24 go by and continue to be the poor county.
In September, I started my campaign to keep the Stagecoach No 37 Spalding to Peterborough Bus Service in its entirety, but having just received another update via my MP Sir John Hayes, my concerns increase for our county and our services.
Regarding the proposed Rural Connectivity Summit that will be taking place early in the New Year.
I have confirmation that Stagecoach and their Business Development Director, David Boden have been in correspondence with Lincolnshire County Council with their intentions.
The Rural Bus Summit, at the moment, will be focused on areas of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, the idea is to develop a principle that can be rolled out to other areas.
This is where I feel, yet again, there is a lack of engagement with the public and local authorities that cover Lincolnshire. Surely full prior engagement would be beneficial to ensure Lincolnshire has its rightful place around the table for such an important service.
With the South Holland District Council elections taking place in May 2023, we cannot afford to have weak representatives making decisions or not putting forward a strong case for our area.
Our local community deserves better.
Rodney Sadd
Crowland
Horse suffered horrifying treatment
A saddening report in the local press in November of an injured and abandoned Shetland pony named Bert found wandering loose in Luton Marsh was horrifying to me, to think this could happen to a lovable pet.
Bert was rescued by Bransby Horses in collaboration with the RSPCA and taken to Bransby’s horse refuge in North Lincolnshire. Bert’s injuries and neglect was some of the worst seen at Bransby Horses for some time.
Bert has spent the last few months at Bransby Horses and thankfully is recovering well from his injuries and other health issues. His condition when rescued included ripped skin, sores, strangles(respiratory issues) but worst of all the length of his mane had areas of serious maggot infestation – he was literally being eaten alive. The urgent treatment and aftercare by Bransby Horses most certainly saved Bert’s life.
I’m not a horsey person but have pets myself and wish no harm whatsoever to animals. On seeing this in the press ‘riled ‘me to get involved with Bert’s survival in life, to think people were responsible for Bert’s life threatening condition beggars belief.
I recently visited Bert at Bransby Horses, what a wonderful horse refuge it is. I was introduced to Bert (who is still in isolation), what a great little chap he is, standing no higher than a kitchen table, with a welcoming neigh and a friendly attitude to people. One immediately had affection for the little guy.
I cannot stress enough the skill and dedication of the staff at Bransby Horses in helping Bert to survive this awful experience in his life, so much so I will be contributing to the cost of Bert’s treatment at Bransby Horses until he can be re homed.
Bransby Horses operate on donations and I would urge anyone with a few pounds left over from Christmas to send that cash to help towards the upkeep of Bert.
I ask also if the people in Lutton Marsh who found and looked after Bert for a short time to contact me please so I can thank them for their concern and care that surely helped towards Bert’s survival.
Coun Peter Coupland
Fleet Hargate
Thanks for support with Santa’s sleigh
On behalf of Spalding Lions I would like to say a big thank you to all the residents of the villages we visited with Santa and his sleigh, we would also like to thank Morrisons and Sainsbury’s supermarkets for supporting us.
We have had a good year raising money due to your kind donations which will go to help our community in the Spalding area. We also need to thank those businesses that give support helping the sleigh to run smoothly.
Santa has been warmly welcomed by all and likes to make sure he speaks to all those that come out to see him. We would also like to thank our volunteers from various groups who help with the collecting as we have such a wide area to cover, all the organisations will receive a donation from Spalding Lions.
Here’s wishing everyone all the very best for the New Year.
Lion Stuart East
Spalding Lions Club
Why are we ripped off for petrol?
I liked your article re petrol prices.
The price of fuel has at LONG last dropped here but my son in Hemel Hempstead has been paying £153.9 for months until 4 weeks ago.
The price of his petrol fell to £148.9 three weeks ago and is now £138.9! WHY do we always pay more for our fuel in Spalding, Peterborough and elsewhere is always cheaper?
We live in an area pre and post Brexit that is given as the 5th most impoverished in EUROPE, with poor or non existent public transport at an impossible price for some. So can someone explain to me why we are fuel squeezed until the pips pop?
Mandy Smith
via email
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