Interesting meetings at the Sleaford Town Council

The next week or so has two meetings: one is a public Town meeting tonight  2 November (not really a Council meeting but open to all citizens).

The other, behind closed doors, is next Tuesday. It relates to Boston Road according to the agenda.

Here are the links. Wednesday 2 November and Tuesday 8 November.

An edited YouTube recording of the Sleaford Town Meeting is here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JpFynhB1o8

Litter Picking: Holdingham (and Sleaford): Fast Food

How much should we rely on users and the producers?

Every so often I (like everyone else nearly) complain about unsightly litter. Mostly cartons containing the food. Whether on the Roadside or in the Park areas (wherever). The Holdingham Roundabout was cleared recently as, after cutting the grass, all the litter was visible. Not nice.

NKDC (environemntal Health?) were quick off the mark and went to clear it up. Meanwhile, at times, it starts to look messy down the Lincoln Road and in He Play Areas.

The Town Council cleaning services do a good job but there are some demarcations as to who does what, when  and where.

Wherever you get fast food takeaways it seems you get litter which is just thrown down by those eating it -- or just thrown out of car windowss which must be the explanation for o much rubbish at the side of the Roads - including Holdingham Rounabout. What is vexing is that litter is dumped only feet away from a bin.

Anyway I went along to see the Manager of McDonalds to check that they still do litter picks. They do, and it is part of (embedded in) their Company Corporate rules. 

They certainly di a liter pick over the weekend. Maybe there is a case to extend this policy from all Food take-away outlets. Some do already but it is amazing how far it travels.

Just a thought.

Problems with intensive Livestock Farms: Sleaford take note!

Interestingly a new study has appeared pouring cold water on the idea of locating Livestock Farms near populated areas - and in the UK generally for that matter. The study has been done by Dr Lidwien Smit an environmental epidemiologist at Utrecht University. 

This might have ramifications for Lincolnshire including Sleaford. This refers to livestock mind!

Here is the report featured in the Financial Times: it was also covered in Private Eye as an "The Agri Brigade " feature. The original research is from This article refers also to Poultry see below! 2The countryside is supposed to offer a healthy escape from the blight of city smog, but new research suggests this is not the case for people living near a lot of pig, cow or chicken farms. The air around farming “hotspots” can be as risky to breathe ...".

Considering applications for large farms within Lincolnshire (not just those officially Livestock) then such research needs to be taken very seriously. 

The Agri Brigade feature specificall says "The messaage may at last be getting through to UK Policy makers. Huge Pig and Poultry Farms and Super Dairies are completely inappropriate in a densley populated country like Britain". Touche!

Care Home Back on the Agenda: Holdingham Sleaford

I was surprised to see this back on the Planning Agenda at Sleaford Town Council last night.

However there it was: it can be viewed on NKDC Planning Online with a 2 Story Care home. Thae application number is 16/0986/RESM. Land Off Furlong Way and south of the A17. It is also next to the Housing Development at Holdingham Grange.

The  Town Council meeting is covered it at the following YouTube Address. YouTube.  This short video also covered the proposed local changes in the NHS,



IT will be situated to the left of this photo. (This photo taken in July/August).

Energetic Debate about how Sleaford Town Council should work?

The Town Council meeting on Wednesday discussed its Constitution: a relatively new Constitution which incorporates Panels and Working Groups(as well as having a Councillor iin the role of Leader). 

It lead to a long debate, with plenty of argument on both sides (maybe more sides than that). However this part of the agenda was filmed (as the Law allows). 

It is on Youtube at STC September 21st: 56 minutes long  (on one Agenda Item). 

Holdingham Roundabout Improvements: will they be enough?

An article in the local newspaper has highlighted a problem (covered many times on this Blog) about preventing major hold ups on a major artery of Transport in the East of England. It is at a junction of the A17 and A15. 

Here is the newspaper article but remember the backdrop: little money for major road improvements (notwithstanding the Lincoln Bypass) and massive housing expansion planned for Sleaford (some smaller projects also in outlying Villages). 

Here is the Newspaper article. More will be needed for sure (not just at Holdingham). 

Otherwise the regular reports of accidents and potential fatalities will grow. 

Alternative Needed to using the Holdingham Roundabout

Once again an accident on or near the Holdingham Roundabout is causing a major disruption. 

The Sleaford Target has reported another accident today (13 August 2016) which is having a major impact on movements within the area. And further afield: as the Roundabout is a junction of the A15 and A17.

Decisions are needed, before all the proposed houses are built, to ensure that Sleaford does not become gridlocked by Traffic.

Here is the link. Traffic Chaos.