Grantham, Spalding, Stamford and Rutland letter writers share their views with LincsOnline
Readers have once again had plenty to say on what’s in the news.
Here we share some of the letters, emails and comments that have come in over the week, including this cartoon from John Elson.
Send letters to: news@lincsonline.co.uk
Thank you for survey response
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those Housing Association Customers who responded to the Rutland County Council Housing Association Evidence Panel Survey earlier this year. As was reported last week the draft report of the results of this survey are now available and the data that has resulted from this work will be of interest to customers, H A managers, council officers and last but not least councillors, for some time to come.
I will not go into any details today, but suffice to say that the survey showed a great deal of dissatisfaction with the general levels of service and operating standards currently on offer from most of the Housing Associations that own property in Rutland.
I will make three positive comments however; firstly we now have definite, accurate and up to date information regarding the problems that face some of H A customers, this gives all concerned a clear picture of what needs to be done, and some idea of how to at least begin the process. Secondly I must commend all the Housing Associations who responded so positively to the panel’s request for information and who voluntarily put themselves at the panel’s disposal for some very frank and honest interviews. Thirdly both RCC councillors and officers now have a much better understanding of the problems facing both customers and Housing Associations alike and can build on the good relationships that exist, all to everyone involved mutual benefit.
There are no simple answers or easy fixes to these problems, if there were they would have almost certainly been done by now! However with continued good will on all sides I sincerely believe that we can successfully build on the work of the H A E P and make life better for all concerned. Thank you for your participation in the survey.
Raymond Payne
Chair HAEP
Our village is not being treated fairly
I am writing as a concerned resident of Ryhall to express my disappointment with the treatment and underinvestment our village has received from Rutland County Council (RCC). Our community is close-knit, and we take great pride in our beloved village shop, village school, village hall, two excellent pubs, churches, playing fields and a library that has served as a cornerstone of community life since the 1970s.
In 2023, we lost our much-loved pre-school - a safe space where young children delighted in nursery rhymes, arts, singing, and creative play—when its portacabin accommodation was deemed unsuitable. This loss was deeply felt throughout the village.
More recently, in January 2025, a reporter revealed plans to close our cherished library. The library is a vital community hub, hosting activities like R & B Warm Spaces and the Ryhall Wriggly Readers. The recurring threat of closure is distressing, especially as our library has been repeatedly neglected and allowed to fall into disrepair due to a lack of proper investment.
Furthermore, it is disheartening that the councillor responsible for proposing the closure did not engage with local residents until after our repeated demonstrations to save this invaluable resource. Her apparent disconnect from the library’s significance to the community is alarming, particularly when her team incorrectly reported her being ‘mistreated’ during a visit. Additionally, before the Covid pandemic, library staff and volunteers were instructed to clear the kitchen cupboards for an anticipated new installation—a project that was never completed or even discussed again.
RCC has failed to meet with the Ryhall Action Group (RLAG), and critical information that should have been shared with Ryhall Parish Council (RPC) and the RLAG has instead reached us through the press. There is talk that RCC might use the Village Hall to house the library service. However, we have repeatedly stressed that the hall is a well-run charity, managed by a board of trustees, and it cannot simply be commandeered, as neither RCC nor RPC own the village hall and dictate its use as a library for which it is entirely unsuited.
Residents of Ryhall have also learned that the Council plans to approve an additional 60 homes off Meadow Lane. These new homes will necessitate further infrastructure and facilities—resources that our beautiful village is not and will not be equipped to provide, and access through a single narrow lane will cause undeniable nuisance to existing residence.
I urge RCC to reconsider these decisions and recognize the importance of investing in the facilities that make Ryhall such a special place to live. Our community deserves better support and a secure future for its treasured amenities. We fear further isolation when we become and even smaller and remote part of new unitary authority and wonder why Rutland’s well-endowed reserves can’t be spent now to upgrade infrastructure, such as our library, before they are siphoned off to be used by our likely new authority.
Michelle Nebel
Ryhall
We have a right to vote
On May 8, we remembered the 80th anniversary of the end of the war in Europe, VE Day.
I am one of the lucky ones who has never had to lift a rifle in anger thanks to those brave souls who fought and died for our democracy all those years ago.
The turnout at the local elections on May 1 was a pitiful 29%. Our right to vote is something that we should all treasure and hold dear so isn’t it time we truly honoured those who made the ultimate sacrifice by introducing compulsory voting?
Duncan Lingard
Stamford
Thank you for voting
I would like to send my profound thank you to everyone who voted and supported me in Stamford East.
I don’t say a lot about what I do for people in the community, and I just get on with the job and always give an effort that I am very proud of.
I'm disappointed that I came second, and I’m not now in a position to be able to voice your concerns and issues on the county council, in particular the urgent roads and uneven pavement issues that need attention.
I remain committed to serving our community and will continue working toward the values and goals we share. Thank you again for standing with me and I'll continue to work for you at the district council.
Harrish Bisnauthsing
Stamford
Display flag with pride
There is a bench at the rear of the Visitors Centre in Wyndham Park, Grantham, which is a celebration of the twinning of Grantham and Sankt Augustin.
The Union Flag is upside down on the bench, this is a disgrace to the country.
This is a direct insult to the monarchy which means whoever put this in place is committing treason. Does no one care anymore about this country? We should be proud of our flag and display it with pride but always the correct way round.
Brian Cunningham
Grantham
Nature and development aren’t exclusive
Nature and development are not mutually exclusive. It's possible to have good quality development that benefits people while protecting nature - it's even possible to have high quality development that actively benefits nature and lets us all live side by side. We can protect our amazing old trees, natural habitats and wildlife, and ALSO have affordable, energy efficient homes to live in.
Let's aim for that shall we? Rather than some man-made Blade Runner-esque hellscape where the only food we can produce (because the water is too polluted, the soil is barren and the pollinators are all gone) comes in little green wafers grown in tanks from recycled... material.
Liz McLelland
Grantham
Play was unexpected
My wife Charmaine has been the Grantham Civic Ambassador for the last year. (Like a Mayor, but for constitutional reasons we cannot call her that.) As such, she was given tickets to The Thrill of Love, put on by the St Peter's Hill Players, at the Guildhall. Charmaine was not well, so I went in her place as her consort.
Can I, through your letters page, first of all thank the St Peter's Hill Players for the tickets, and, secondly congratulate them on the performance. I probably would not have gone otherwise (as I already knew that Ruth Ellis was hung), but I am glad that I did go. A good script, a good stage set-up and an all round good performance.
John Morgan
Grantham Town Councillor
Lost photos
Four months ago, my dear brother Danny died of cancer. My youngest brother sent family photos to my home address on January 17. They never arrived.
Despite constant requests for something to be done, nothing is forthcoming. I rang and talked to the Royal Mail and was told that nothing can be done without a tracking number. So I am left in limbo.
These photos are irreplaceable, I did not even get a ‘sorry’ from the management of Royal Mail or anything.
In my opinion Royal Mail is not capable of a decent service. Look at the way they have treated sub postmasters. They are not fit for purpose and should be shut down.
For future reference to readers who send their mail through Royal Mail that it is come to the point where we are not getting a first class service.
Bert Collins
Spalding
Due a re-think
The government has a golden opportunity to re-think their devastating cuts to the universal Winter Fuel Payments following the recent local elections.
Media reports suggest ministers may re-consider, if not actually reverse the decision to axe energy bill help for ten million older people after their party’s performance in the recent polls in England.
While no formal review has been confirmed, the NPC says the government does need to take action if they are to earn back the trust of the nation’s disillusioned older generation.
Jan Shortt, NPC General Secretary, said: “It is never too late to put right a wrong decision. In fact, the government has much to gain in terms of trust if they acknowledge they took a wrong turn in cutting universal winter fuel payments. There is no doubt they lost the respect of many older voters after the cuts left millions having to choose between paying to heat their homes or eating during winter.”
Health Secretary Wes Streeting told the BBC recently that many voters “aren’t happy” with the cuts, and admitted it had “come up on the doorstep” during campaigning for the recent local elections.
Financial commentator Martin Lewis has posted that the government may choose to re-think the cuts by raising the eligibility threshold for Pension Credit from £11,500, which would be welcome. But as he pointed out, it still doesn't fix the worst underlying problem of the means testing mechanism [ i.e. to get it you must claim Pension Credit ].
We agree with Martin Lewis. Around 700,000 of the most vulnerable pensioners, already earning under £11,500, don’t get Winter Fuel Payments because they are unable to, or don’t want to go through the overly complex process of claiming Pension Credit. This means they miss out on important support like WFP.
The government must stop looking at how they can make savings by cutting support for other vital benefits or projects and concentrate on how they can tax wealth to invest in the economy and make a real difference to people who are struggling.
Rodney Sadd
Crowland. Supporter of the National Pensioner’s Convention
Send letters to: news@lincsonline.co.uk
