Spalding Guardian readers letters w/c November 11, 2019

I would like to give full credit to one of our young members, Mark Popple, for standing as our PPC for South Holland and The Deepings.

Of course Sir John Hayes will be expecting to retain his comfortable seat with a 24,897 majority. But this will be a great opportunity for our young candidate to gain the experience he needs to become an MP in future years to come.

We all have to start somewhere and my advice to Mark would be to stay positive, take no notice of all the negative comments, stand for what you believe in and enjoy meeting the many wonderful people that live in our area.

Mark supported me during the local elections in May and he certainly has my endorsement to fight this General Election campaign.

People are totally fed up with years of austerity and uncertainty, just look around us. Local authorities on their knees because of years of cuts from central government. County councils millions in shortfall year after year. Lincolnshire seems to be the forgotten county when it comes to fairer funding. Local councils are missing out on £116m of annual funding compared with the England average, or £239 per home.

With extra funding like this our local NHS could benefit, new roads could be built so we can get around better and safer. Also, our crumbling rural roads could be repaired on a regular basis instead of the old sticking plaster routine. Not forgetting our High Streets that have been left in demise for years. Local towns need more investment for local businesses and communities so our towns can offer more instead of people going elsewhere and losing the footfall in town centres.

Do we want much more of the same or a change for the better ? A fairer way, a better way, a better Britain. Mark Popple will get my support and Labour will be getting my vote for the many, not the few.

Mark, I wish you all the best in the forthcoming General Election.

Rodney Sadd

Spalding

RELIEF ROAD
This could be their last Christmas
As a neighbour of the condemned residents of Bourne Road, Spalding, I can understand why you might not be enjoying the run up to Christmas as you have in previous years. It must be awful for you, thinking that this could be your last Christmas in your homes and all to build a road for which there are other available, and non destructive options

I just hope the local councillors realise what they are doing by taking away your homes and memories and there is no cost you can put on this as memories are priceless.

All the residents have spent a considerable amount of money buying, renovating and adapting their homes. It is beyond belief that a few councillors who we elected can just vote to demolish these people's homes without any respect or compassion. I am sure if the boot was on the other foot then they would be fighting too.

We all know that for the future a road is needed to ease the traffic congestion in town, but when there are other routes available that don't destroy people's homes then surely it makes sense to use one of those and as no proper financial reason has been published then it stands that they need to go back to the drawing board and let Bourne Road residents stay in their homes.

Thanks goodness for Sir John Hayes as he is doing his utmost best to convince the council that they need to save these homes and go back to the original option as planned and well documented several years ago. I know all the residents are really grateful to Sir John for his support and also to local councillor Angela Newton who is fully supporting the residents.

Hopefully the Secretary of State will step in as he said the council can only demolish homes as a last resort so all I can say is I hope the councillors see sense and show some respect to these long term South Holland residents and let them enjoy the festive season knowing that they can stay forever in their treasured homes. They deserve this good news after the months of stress and worry through most of 2019.

Amanda Halifax

via email

ROADS

Are these rumours just in my head?

Can someone confirm rumours circulating (in my head) that Lincolnshire County Council Highways are considering making the C748 Lutton Bank road a 'one way' single carriageway system? This will then make it possible for this stretch of road between the turn off for Lutton Marsh (South Drove) C749 and the turn off for Lutton village C1222 to be re-classified as a 'country lane'. Thus making a cash saving (earmarked for the office Christmas party) and relieving its responsibility in maintaining this stretch of road as a 'two carriageway' safely maintained road!

'Luckily' we are in the middle of a General Election so whatever the party elected they can then quickly pass a bill to rectify this problem - 'The common sense hedge cutting bill' and hopefully fast track it through the Lords. If not, fully expect in the spring that signs will be hung on the offending hedges declaring 'Do not disturb nesting birds' with Chris Packham leading the pupils of Lutton Primary School in open revolt!

If this letter only results in the 'locals' having a good laugh it will at least brighten the leaden skies - from a relative 'newcomer' of 72 years living in Gedney Drove End and Gedney Marsh.

From an exasperated (damaged) caravan owner.

John Disdell

Gedney Marsh

EDITOR: There are no plans for a single carriageway, but councillors are backing residents in calling for the 60mph limit on Lutton Bank to be reduced to 40mph.

CHRISTINGLE

Please attend a service and donate

Last year, thousands of people came together to attend 199 local Christingle services across the Diocese of Lincoln. These special events raise money for The Children’s Society to help vulnerable children and young people. They enable us to provide direct support to those who may be experiencing abuse, neglect or mental health issues, children who may be living in poverty, as refugees, or missing from home or care.

Their Christmas may be broken, but together we can help these young people to rediscover hope for the future. That is why I am encouraging people from the local area to attend a service and donate to The Children’s Society - please join us and share the light of Christingle.

Mark Russell

CEO, The Children’s Society

Thought For The Week: At least Jesus will carry us home

Welcome to the latest ‘Thought for the Week’. I find myself with really very little to talk about without it all kicking off!

I can’t mention the B word (still not happened yet and far too controversial), I can’t mention the C word (far too early, although the decorations have been out for months) and I really don’t want to mention the E word (although we are well into the campaign already). So what does that leave? Climate change – too depressing. Trump – fascinating but toxic. The weather - terribly British but a bit dull for a newspaper piece.

The Rugby World Cup went well, at least until the final but the support and especially the singing were fantastic. Have you ever listened to the words of Swing Low Sweet Chariot? There are several different variants but one of the verses says:

'The prettiest day that ever I saw,

Coming for to carry me home,

When Jesus washed my sins away,

Coming for to carry me home.'

Although our rugby boys didn’t manage to carry the Webb Ellis Trophy home on their chariots we have the assurance that Jesus has paved the way for us to be carried home some day on His.

Miles Green

Harvest Church, Spalding

Previously...

Free Press readers letters w/c November 4, 2019

Free Press readers' letters w/c October 28, 2019

Your views on the cost of living and Brexit, a fundraising thank you and Thought for the Week