News

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

MORe News, MORe sPORT, MORe LOCAL, MORe VALUe

Help bring more books to library

BOOKWORMS at Horncastle Library can now help widen the selection of titles available. Donation boxes have been placed at a number of sites around the county, allowing borrowers to contribute to their local librarys book fund. This follows a successful pilot scheme at Stamford Library, where almost 1,000 was raised. Jonathan Platt, head of libraries and heritage at Lincolnshire County Council, said: We already buy hundreds of new titles each year for our library network. These donation boxes allow people to make a voluntary contribution to their library, which will enable each of the participating sites to buy more books for their customers. So the more money that is donated the more books we can buy for that library.

Day centres saved but users still not certain of the future
By Alison sandilands
alison.sandilands@jpress.co.uk

NEWS that day care centres in Lincolnshire will stay open has not satisfied users at Holmleigh in Horncastle.

Man owes over 1k in council tax

A 59-YEAR old man from Hawthorn Hill near Coningsby could face prison after failing to pay his council tax. Peter Hughes of Willowmere Mobile Home Park is charged with non-payment of council tax and costs totalling 1070.31. Last Wednesday, Mr Hughes appeared at Skegness Magistrates Court where his case was adjourned until May 16.

Lincolnshire County Council has agreed to keep the 31 day centres across the county open, with a view to handing them over to the private sector, following fierce opposition to closure plans. But Pete Hinson, who has been at the Holmleigh Day Centre in Foundry Street for the past 30 years, first as a user then a volunteer, is not happy. He said: In the long term I think they want to get rid. We feel like we are being pushed out of the door. Its like playing a waiting game. Pete is skeptical because some of their members have already been deemed ineligible to attend the centre under LCCs new assessment criteria. Only those with substantial care needs qualify for care, un-

like previously where people with moderate care needs benefited. Pete said: They have chucked people with moderate care needs right out of the window. Amongst the centres users that have already failed to qualify for care include a 102-year-old woman and a man who cannot read or write, struggles to speak and has lost the use of his right hand following a brain haemorrhage. Pete added: It does feel like they are beginning to help more following the reaction, but they are still not dealing with the overall issue. Coun Graham Marsh, executive member for adult social care, said 500,000 has been allocated to support the transition of these services over to the private sector during the next two years. He said: We said at the start that nothing was off the table and are now pleased to be pressing forward with plans to keep the buildings open, which users told us they wanted.

UNCERTAIN TIMES: The day care centres are safe for the time being, but people at Holmleigh are skeptical about the future.
Our next job is to ensure that they continue to provide the services that people want to use - and at the same high standards we expect. According to LCC, at least nine groups have already expressed an interest in running the day centres.

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