Spalding Guardian - 19th January 2012

You Can Have Cash If You Hold A Party!

VILLAGERS received much-needed cash for improvements to their community centre - but only on condition they celebrated.

Moulton Community Centre was given £6,312 from Lincolnshire Council Council and £2,103 from South Holland District Council towards the refurbishment.

The county council has a programme for giving out grants and will only do so if certain criteria are met.  In this case, part of the criteria was to throw a celebration afterwards as a way of commemorating it.

This took the form of a reception and coffee morning with MP for South Holland and the Deepings John Hayes and the deputy leader of the county council Eddy Poll both attending.

The community centre is now benefiting from new boilers and wooden windows that were replaced or repaired with the money received.

Coun Poll presented a traditional plaque to the Community Association's chairman Roger Seal to commemorate their support for the project.

Mr Seal was delighted with the grant, said: "It's good to have our facilities ungraded in this way, and all based on the requirement that there would be some way of celebrating.

"These projects are just two of a number of planned improvements we have for the building. Hopefully, this time next year I'll be able to say that we have a refurbished kitchen and more double glazing, as well as maybe some others."

"We appreciate very much that the county council is committed to a programme of funding like this, especially when money is strapped like it is at the moment.

"It's very encouraging to have their support and the support of the community.

"The celebration was a good opportunity for everyone to meet."

Mr Seal believes the Government needs to pay more attention to rural areas.

He said: "John Hayes needs to be back to Westminster and tell them what's happening here."

Also in attendance was a representative from Community Lincs, whose sole purpose is to support, promote and encourage local societies like this.  Mr Seal also thanked them very much for their support.

Lincolnshire Free Press - 29th November 2011

The Hedgehogs have it .... £500 cash

DISTRICT councillor Rodney Grocock has donated £500 of council taxpayers' cash to care for sick and injured hedgehogs.

News of the planned donation from his £4,000 Designated Councillors Budget sparked anger at Moulton Parish Council with members calling for the money to go to something more appropriate.

But - after appealing in The Spalding Guardian for public comments - the member for Cowbit, Moulton and Weston has now gone ahead with his plan.

He said: "The public opinion is in favour of me donating £500.  I received a total of 25 comments - 16 are in favour and nine are against."

"I would like to thank everyone who took part in the debate.  In my opinion there are two winners, of course the hedgehogs but also democracy."

The cash will be held by Spalding's Alder Veterinary Surgery to pay for sick and injured hedgehogs taken there.

Parish Magazine - October 2011

Help For Sick & Injured Hedgehogs

As the community within the Moulton, Weston & Cowbit ward may be aware, each District Councillor, at his or her discretion, has a ward budget to be used to look after small projects.

To date, Cllr Grocock has given money to church repairs, furniture items and kit for clubs and money has also been given to Lincs FM in respect of a road safety campaign.

A lady in Low Fulney has been looking after injured and sick hedgehogs for many years.  She has been supported in the past by a Skegness based charity.   This particular Charity has run out of money and she will no longer receive any support. 

Cllr Grocock says: "I remember last year she had over 60 hedgehogs at her home.  They were either too small to survive the winter or were injured or sick.  My wife and I left a hedgehog with her that would never have survived the winter because he was under-weight.  He was looked after and fattened up over the winter months and my wife and I collected him in the Spring and released him back into our garden."

Cllr Grocock also says: "I feel that this project needs support.   I have, therefore, decided to give £500 of my ward budget to this cause."

The £500 will be held by Alders Vets, Bourne Road, Spalding in a separate account and it will be spent on medical examinations and treatment for injured and sick hedgehogs.

Gardeners will be rewarded by Cllr Grocock's donation because healthy hedgehogs will keep garden pests under control.

South Holland now - Autumn 2011

Seeds of change - Councillors' £5,000 kitty for their own wards

CASH help is to be handed out to South Holland District Council wards to support grassroots community projects.

Each district councillor has been allocated an annual budget of £5,000 to spend on schemes that will directly benefit all residents.

Using their in-depth knowledge of the area, councillors will approach local groups which they feel are having a positive impact on the community and encourage them to apply for funding from their allocated budget.

The grants will vary in size according to need and decisions will be made directly by the councillor who will work within guidelines set out by the council.

South Holland District Council Deputy Leader, Nick Worth, said: "Councillors are at the heart of their communities and can direct this money toward the grassroots level - to exactly where it is needed.

"The money must go toward local initiatives and projects within the councillor's ward.

"However, councillors can choose to work together within their wards, or partnering wards."

The budget can be spent on a single project or a number of different initiatives. Councillors will approach groups to encourage them to apply for funding.

Councillor Worth added: "This is an open and transparent process and councillors are accountable for all the money spent."

A report outlining the Designated Councillors' Budgets proposal was considered by the council's cabinet when it met in June.

"This is an important initiative which will see money fed into projects that can really make a difference to local people," said Councillor Worth.

Information on how the money has been spent will be made public on the council's website and, where possible, through the local media.

Spalding Guardian, 4th August 2011

'Use it or lose it' warning after village bus victory

MP John Hayes is pleading with Moulton residents to use the buses now Norfolk Green has agreed to route more services into the village centre.

Following April's cut in Lincolnshire County Council subsidy, the King's Lynn company axed all but three of its daily "dog leg" detours into the village

But villagers fought to have them reinstated and Mr Hayes, MP for South Holland and the Deepings and bus company boss Ben Colson hammered out a deal that will see extra services from Monday, September 5th.

Moulton resident, Mr Hayes described the deal as a victory for common sense - but warned: "We now need to make sure we use the service.  As with all public services it's a question of use it or lose it."

Buses have continued to serve Moulton's A151 bus stops but the previous half-hourly village centre services reduced to an 8am pick-up for Holbeach George Farmer students, the 9.58am to Spalding and the 12.40pm from Spalding.

Mr Hayes said the cuts meant Moulton people weren't able to ride from the village centre to and from Holbeach, Long Sutton and King's Lynn in a day but they can with the additional services.

He said: "These buses are going to go to a wider range of places so it is a significant victory for those of us who campaigned on that basis.

"People can travel for the day in either direction and get back at a proper time.

"I think Mr Colson has moved a considerable way in our direction.  This represents a victory for local people and for common sense."

Car driver Mr Hayes has pledged to use the service and is planning a day out in King's Lynn with his wife, Susan and their two boys.

Mr Colson said his company listened to residents' views and had been able to offer more flexibility in scheduling extra vehicles after buying another bus company.

The new Moulton village Monday-Saturday timetable will be:

• Moulton to Spalding: 9.34am, 12.18pm & 4.18pm
• Spalding to Moulton: 9.15am, 12.20pm, 2.40pm & 5.15pm
• Moulton to Holbeach and King's Lynn: 8.08am (school days) 9.34am, 12.39pm & 2.59pm
• Kings Lynn to Moulton: 11.10am & 3.10pm
• Holbeach to Moulton: 9.22am, 12.05pm & 4.05pm

Gearing up for a bus service fight

Spalding Guardian, 24th June 2011

Concerned residents in Moulton face a nervous wait to find out how many buses will pass through the village - and are gearing up for a fight to save their services.

Norfolk Green is due to cut the amount of its 505 Spalding-King's Lynn buses that stop off at Moulton after a big drop in the subsidy it receives from Lincolnshire County Council.

The village has enjoyed ten buses in each direction but Norfolk Green has proposed that is reduced to two - for college students in the mornng and a  mid-morning bus for shoppers - with all other services stopping at Moulton on the A151.

Campaigners accept that budget cuts and spiralling fuel costs mean their buses will have to be cut - but are calling on Norfolk Green bosses to compromise and halve the service.

Villager Stephanie Liquorish ran a petition to drum up opposition to the cuts and won the support of district and parish councillors as well as MP John Hayes, who lives in the village.

She arranged a meeting at the village hall last Thursday that attracted up to 80 people.

At the two-hour meeting, chaired by Coun Anthony Casson, points raised included:

• Many people only moved to Moulton because of the bus route.
• Villagers said it took 30 minutes to walk from Moon's Green to the main road and that many residents were elderly.  They feel it is too far and will leave people having to cross a dangerous, busy road.
• All the age groups feared they would find it difficult to go shopping or get to the doctors.

Coun Casson praised Mrs Liquorish for starting the campaign and together  with Coun Rodney Grocock, drew up a letter with signatures from all of those who attended to show the level of concern in the village.

Coun Casson said: "I think it was a very good meeting and I was pleased to see so many people there - now all we can do is wait and see."

The letter will go to Mr Hayes and said if Norfolk Green's decision, due in late July, goes against them they will hold a public meeting in the village to discuss what can be done.

Mrs Liquorish said: "I want to thank people for their support - it was phenomenal really. 

"I will continue to fight and see it through.  I do hope Norfolk Green thinks again - it is people's lives they are messing with."

Race Against Time to Save Village Bus Route

Spalding Guardian, Thursday, March 17th 2011

CAMPAIGNERS are calling for a surge of support to save their village bus service, which is set to be cut next month.

Norfolk Green will stop most of its 505 Spalding to King's Lynn buses from going into Moulton from April 9 as it faces up to a big drop in its subsidy from Lincolnshire County Council.

Stephanie Liquorish (63) started a petition to fight the cuts and has been joined in her battle by MP John Hayes, who lives in the village and South Holland District Councillors, Anthony Casson, Andrew Woolf and Rodney Grocock, who all represent the ward.

Mrs Liquorish handed over more than 500 signatures to Mr Hayes on Saturday and is continuing to collect names at the doctor's surgery, village store and hairdressers.

The changes would leave many villagers having to walk up to the A151 to catch the bus - with just a school service and mid-morning shopping bus still passing through the centre of Moulton.

Coun Casson said: "It would be a big blow if we were to lose it.  It's over a mile to the end of Bell Lane and people coming from Spalding will have a dangerous road to cross.

"And people expected to carry their shopping all that way?  It's ridiculous.

"I think Mrs Liquorish has done a great job.  We have got to continue to get the message out now.  Unless people speak up soon they will lose it."

The final petition is due to be presented to Norfolk Green by the end of the month.

Coun Casson says he hopes campaigners can agree a compromise with the bus firm and save at least some of the services that are currently on offer.

He says the proposed cuts effectively take ten services a day down to one or two and he hopes that a strong message from the village can secure two services in the morning and two in the afternoon.

Coun Casson added: "I can understand them cutting it down because their funding has been cut.

"It was nice to have ten services but it wasn't going to last - we can't stick out for something that we know isn't going to last."

Coun Casson believes that the fact that Lincolnshire County Council is currently carrying out roadworks to boost safety along the A151 is evidence that the road is a hazard and will be dangerous for people trying to cross to walk down into Moulton.

Last week we revealed that Norfolk Green decided to axe most of its Moulton services as a result of its funding cuts and the rocketing price of fuel.

Managing Director, Ben Colson, said that the county council had originally withdrawn its funding for Sunday services - but Norfolk Green took the decision to reduce its Moulton service instead because it said that affects 60 'passenger trips' compared to 800 for the whole route on Sunday.

Event Gives Boosts to Cancer Research

Spalding Guardian, Thursday, November 25, 2010

A tea and coffee afternoon organised by the family of a cancer sufferer in Moulton Chapel raised £600 - with the support of traders in Ipswich.

Ron Thomson is still going strong 18 months after he was told he had six months to live due to pancreatic cancer and he and his family did their bit to help research into the condition with an event at the village youth and community centre.

Grandchildren Aimee Brown and Fiona Sewell even managed to canvass traders in the Suffolk city of Ipswich for raffle prizes - and their generosity helped make the day a success.

MP John Hayes also went along to lend his support to the charity.

Ron's wife Gill said: "I really want to thank everybody for their support - particularly our family in Ipswich and the shops there for their support with prizes"

"£600 was brilliant and everybody's effort to support it was amazing."