I was pleased to see that planners have blocked the development applications on the land of St Catherine’s House and the former Shirley Croft Hotel site.

The last few weeks have been awash with talk of Mrs T: from the Meryl Streep’s touching performance of the effects of old age, to calls locally for a fitting memorial to this much maligned local girl. For many the thought of a substantial monument to one of the towering figures of the 20th century is too dangerous to even contemplate, while to others an opportunity to capitalise on her name for more fiscal purposes not to be missed.

JUST a day after the Journal reported the heroic rescue of a boy from the frozen Grantham Canal, these boys were spotted flouting our warnings.

FEBRUARY is a month of spending time in the kitchen with Shrove Tuesday (pancake day) and National Chip Week, February 20 - 26, but all too often Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue is being called out to extinguish fires in the kitchen caused by the chef being too easily distracted.

THE Woodland Trust held a ceremony at the Prince William of Gloucester Barracks on Friday as it begins planting 2,000 tree at the site.

A CHARITY quiz night will be held at the Kings Hotel in March to raise money for Friends of Chernobyl Children.

NINETY saplings were planted in Bingham on Sunday by a group of enthusiastic Vale of Belvoir Lions and their families.

lA lecture was given at the Congregational School Room on “earthquakes and volcanoes”.

lA dozen Grantham schoolboys wrote to the Journal in protest at fox hunting. One of the boys wrote: “How can this possibly be called a sport? The fox just did not have a chance.”

lA motorist was lucky to escape with his life when his BMW burst into flames in Westgate. The driver had got out of the car minutes earlier.

I AM the recent victim of a stroke and have been a patient of Grantham Hospital for two weeks, until the nurses were 100 per cent sure that I was ready to go home.

NOW is the time to push out a thank you letter, starting with the Grantham Journal, for the good spread of adverts for our St Valentine’s dance at the college last Saturday.

Since the erection of the Frinckley Farm Wind wind turbine, and noting the application to SKDC for a Wind Turbine installation at Allington, villagers in the Carlton Scroop, Normanton and Barkston areas have become increasingly concerned about the unfettered proliferation of such visually destructive developments in the rolling landscape of South Kesteven.

Common Sense prevailed at the Lincolnshire County Council Planning and Regulation Committee with regard to the planning application put forward for the rebuild of the Priory Ruskin Academy.

I would like to say a big thank you to everyone for a great night last Sunday at A Cause to Rock.

We have recently moved back to Grantham. We thought we would treat ourselves for lunch at The Goose at the Bank. The menu gives a good variety of meal options, all at a very reasonable price.

As a Forest fan I was obviously aware of Nigel’s huge affection for the club and his considerable investment from his personal wealth.

A STATUE of Margaret Thatcher? Not a bad idea, might bring in tourists.

THANK YOU sometimes seem so inadequate a word when used to show gratification in a given situation. Such is the opinion of the majority of the population when the subject of the NHS comes into the conversation.

THE Journal Children’s Fund re-launches this week, and we’re asking those who feel they could benefit from a helping hand to come forward.