Cracking down on drugs in Lincs

Lincolnshire Police seized enough illegal drugs in one year to fill a double-decker bus...

Cameron's top donor defects to UKIP...

Bad news for the Tory Leader in today's News of the World

Mr Wheeler is clearly not persuaded by the red meat he's being thrown about the Tories leaving the centre-right EPP and joining a right-wing amalgam in Europe.

Mr Wheeler seems to be pissed off at Cameron's move to bring back pro-Euro Ken Clark onto his front bench...

Now a Tory Euro-MP slams Cameron as 'ridiculous'...

A Tory Euro-MP says she may leave the Conservatives after David Cameron's 'ridiculous' decision to pull his MEPs out of the centre-right alliance, leaving them isolated in Europe.

Cameron is trying to feed red-meat to the Euro-sceptic wing of the Conservative Party by insisting that his MEPs join a rag-bag on the right-wing of Europe, but is clearly facing a revolt from within.

News that one of his MEPs may quit comes hours after the Tory Leader of Thurrock Council dramatically cross the floor to join Labour over Cameron's priority to hand a tax-break to millionaires...

Tory Council Leader joins Labour over Cameron's tax chaos...

The Leader of a flagship Tory Council has quit the Conservatives and joined Labour in protest at
David Cameron's priority to give millionaires a tax-break rather than help working people struggling to pay their bills.

The Daily Mirror highlights the Tory tax chaos which led to the defection which rocked the Tories.

Terry Hipsey says Cameron should have listened to Ken Clarke who at the weekend tried to play down Tory plans for a tax break for millionaires by saying it was only an "aspiration".

Company protects profits & dividends: shock, horror!

Quote of the Day

Leader of the union Bob Crow said First Capital Connect and National Express East Anglia were seeking to cut jobs "solely to maintain profits and dividends."

Reason given for a 24-hour rail strike which will stop thousands of Peterborough commuters getting to work next Monday, as reported in tonight's Peterborough Evening Telegraph

130-mph racer caught by his own camera...

A motorist was apparently so proud of racing his VW Golf at over 130-miles-per-hour on Lincoln's by-pass that he posted a clip on the internet.

Lincs Police launched a lengthy inquiry after seeing the clip and eventually tracked down the driver. Yesterday he admitted a charge of racing on the public highway.

As well as a 15-month driving ban, he was ordered to pay over £800 in fines and costs.

Maybe he should also have been taken to the A153 near Sleaford where a 70-year-old man and his 65-year-old wife died in a head-on smash on Monday.

The couple from Beeston in Notts became the 12th and 13th people to die on Lincolnshire roads this year.

The 25-year old driver of the car they were in collison with is in Pilgrim Hospital, Boston. His injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

Lincs Police are appealing for anyone who was in the area at about 2pm on Monday, who may have seen any of the vehicles before the collision or the collision itself, to contact the witness hotline on 015622 558855.

Home Office money welcome for more Tasers...

The special Home Office grant of £275,000 to Lincolnshire Police to buy 300 Taser stun guns is great news for the county.

As a member of the local Police Authority, I gave evidence to the Home Office when Lincolnshire Police was one of five police forces to pilot Tasers five years ago.

I'm a big supporter of Tasers, despite the controvery that surrounds them.

Our police officers put themselves in the front line every day – often miles from back-up or support. It is vital that we give them the best tools available to protect themselves as they do their job of protecting the rest of us.

Only officers who pass a dedicated training course and assessment will be issued with Tasers. There are strict rules governing their use – and the Taser itself provides a record of when it has been fired and for how long.

Lincolnshire Officers always try to resolve violent situations without force, but it’s not always possible. For example, getting in close enough to effectively use CS spray may expose an officer to attack, where merely drawing a Taser could calm things down.

If that doesn’t work, a Taser dart may be the best way to end a violent situation quickly and without injury. In some cases, it may be the only alternative to a lethal bullet.

Of the two, I'd always prefer to be zapped by a Taser than a bullet.

Amazing Grace shows Deeping's got Talent

Congratulations to teenager Grace Wain of Deeping St James who has been named Young Musician of the Year after the week-long Peterborough Music Festival.

Ex-MP convicted after visit to The Old Soke...

Former Peterborough MP Helen Clark went ballistic in a drunken rage when she was denied more drink, a court heard.

It's a sad old business, and I hope I'm forgiven for smiling at the name of the bar where it happened: The Old Soke at the Great Eastern Hotel opposite Peterborough Rail Station...

You may recall that video of the astonishing outburst appeared on U-Tube some months ago. It was removed after Helen Clark apparently threatened legal action. I chose not to post the video itself, but if you're determined, I'm sure you can still find it on the t'internet. But be prepared for a shocking, but truly pathetic performance from someone who you may decide has a very serious problem.

I sincerely hope she's getting the help she clearly needs.

UPDATE: Guilty verdict.

£2 million boost funds fens in Lincs...

Local Tories are celebrating winning a £2 million grant to help develop fenland communities around the Lincolnshire Wash.

No mention of where the money is coming from to support our local rural neighbourhoods...

Er, it's the Government.

Yep, that's the Labour Government, once again using local Tory-run councils as a conduit for investment.

Funny that, eh?

Tourism in Lincoln relegated to 2nd Division...?

I was first to welcome moves by the Tory Leader of Lincolnshire County Council to limit potential damage by shutting down both tourism centres serving historic Lincoln.

Martin Hill knows that the decision by his colleagues who run Lincoln City Council to save a few bob could cost the local economy dear in the long run.

He is putting on a brave face by hoping local businesses devoting a corner of their shop to promote Lincoln's attractions will offer a '21st Century' solution...

...But while no doubt better than nothing, will Martin's alternative plan relegate historic Lincoln to the second division of UK destinations, as suggested by one business leader in tonight's Echo?

I hope not...

Training a sooper-dooper pooper-scooper...?

A South Lincs council is unable to tackle problem dog-fouling until an officer has been trained in - wait for it - evidence gathering techniques.

Apparently, a South Holland Council officer is away on a course as we speak. No doubt, s/he is learning how to properly look into the matter.

Hope they issue him/her with a shovel...

Bad parkers take note!

When I posted earlier today on inconsiderate parking, I hadn't seen this story in tonight's Evening Telegraph which reveals that a record number of parking tickets were issued last year in Peterborough...

No comment!

Still chasing stars - and throwing our cash at fat-cat lawyers...

Two letters in this week's Grantham Journal attacking Lincolnshire County Council's daft decision to launch a Judicial Review in the High Court to challenge their poor one-star rating for adult social services for the sixth year running...

As I posted HERE cases of this kind can cost local taxpayers £100,000 or even £150,000. It's an open cheque-book.

Instead of handing over our cash to fat cat London lawyers, wouldn't the money be better spent on improving the services that were judged to merit only one star, for the sixth year running?

Thoughtless drivers...

Why do drivers insist on driving illegally on footpaths? As I write this, there's a silver BMW and a white van parked on the path outside my house - the van is so close to my front door which opens on to Church Street that mums with babies or disabled people in wheelchairs would have to go into the road to get by.

Ignorance or what?

Could new powers for Lincolnshire's PCSOs save the day?

Hope so.