Lincolnshire this week.

Anglian Water are to spend £44 million on a reservoir and water treatment plant at Newton on Trent. Water will be taken from the River Trent and stored before being used to supply Lincoln. Recent drought problems, now a bit of a memory as we emerge dripping and soggy from another week of downpours, have highlighted the need for extra provision for the city. Paul Valleley, director of water services, said: "The current drought affecting our region has highlighted just how important water supplies are.


"This development will help us to ensure we safeguard our customer's drinking water supplies long into the future.

A devoted brother has come to his sisters rescue by driving to Boston to try to get a word with health secretary Andrew Lansley to highlight her plight. Gillian Moulds has twice had her cancer operation cancelled by Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham due to unforeseen emergencies. Brother Andrew Smith succeeded in getting to meet the health boss and now Gillian has been told she would be able to have her procedure in the next few days having previously been told no date could be given, talk about knight in shining armour! No doubt Mr Lansley was also grateful for the opportunity to participate in a good news story for once.

Talking of Boston, I wasn’t particularly aware the town was knee deep in litter but the eyesore has again been making the headlines as Network Rail has finally been persuaded to clean up land adjoining the railway station. Barrie Beagles has had a bee in his bonnet about the problem and has been snapping at the heels of Network Rail to do something about it. The Borough Councils Project Manager saw his efforts rewarded as the authority were joined by some of the towns litter pickers and Operation Fly Swat to sort out the mess. Mr Beagles confessed it was probably a matter of taking the line of least resistance for the rail bosses:-

"I was determined not to give up on this so I kept phoning and phoning and probably made a nuisance of myself but it has paid off and what they have done looks great.

"However, I will be getting on to them again because there's still more to be done.”

Tory MP for Mablethorpe Sir Peter Tapsell has criticized the proposed caravan tax which is now likely to become reality after the measure just about passed through a vote in Parliament. Sir Peter told the Louth Leader :-

“I’m not at all happy with the effect the VAT will have on static caravans and our tourist industry.”

“I’m hopeful of a second bite of the cherry when the bill comes back at report stage, if it’s still unsuitable I will either abstain or vote against it.”

The District Council was not happy either. Leader of the Council Doreen Stephenson said:-

“I am very concerned that introducing this increase over such a short space of time risks damaging the progress that is being made in East Lindsey.

“It needs to be recognised that East Lindsey currently has over 24,000 static caravans, and this proposal will inevitably have a disproportionately negative impact on our area.”

A North Hykeham woman has taken part in the Paris marathon in memory of a brother she never met. Emily Lowman took part in the race on 15 April to raise money for Brake, a charity dedicated to road safety. Emily’s brother was just 11 when he died in a road accident, before she was born. Despite sustaining an injury she completed the course in just over five hours, raising more than £1200. She told the Lincolnshire Echo:-

"It was my first marathon,"

"It was emotional crossing the finish line and seeing my family and boyfriend. It was an overwhelming feeling for us all in remembrance of Gavin."

Lisa Kendall, community fundraiser at Brake, said: "We are extremely grateful to Emily for taking part in the Paris marathon in memory of her brother. "The funds that Emily has raised will go towards Brake's work caring for victims of road crashes and their families."

Got to dash myself now. Have a good weekend wherever you are.