CALL FOR TAX INCENTIVE FOR PART-TIME BOBBIES

Scunthorpe Telegraph Tuesday 25th October 2005

Calls have been made for Special Constables to be encouraged to sign up for the police force by giving them generous council tax rebates.

Councillors in Winterton have called for extra incentives to encourage more Special Constables to patrol the region's streets. They hope reducing council tax rates by half would encourage more residents to sign up for the position, in a bid to cut down on crime.

Coun Allan Smith, a member of Winterton Town Council and North Lincolnshire Council, said councillors in the town backed the plans.

And he hoped members in Burton-Upon-Stather and Winteringham would also be in favour of them.

"I think introducing a system like they have in Hull, which would give special constables 50 per cent off their council tax, is a great idea," he said.

"If we had six specials in Winterton, for instance, then it may cost the council £4,000 - but it would certainly be money well spent.

"They have the same rights as police officers and when youths see police on the beat they tend to behave better."

Humberside Police Authority noted a large increase in the number of people interested in joining the Hull scheme when the rebate was announced.

Sally Blair, a spokeswoman for Humberside Police Authority, said: "In a normal week we would expect to get three enquiries from people interested in joining the Special Constables scheme. In the first week since the council tax initiative was announced we had 90 enquiries."

The chairman of the Police Authority, Coun Graham Stroud, who is a councillor on the north bank, added: "The council tax rebate is a small incentive to people to join and goes some way to showing our appreciation for the work they do."

Also offered in the Humberside Police area as an added incentive to sign up, is an annual allowance of £1,500 for a minimum 208 hours pre-arranged high visibility patrol or operational work.

Members of the special constabulary make up a wide cross-section of society and the organisation has reported people such as teachers, taxi drivers, accountants and photographers applying to join.

To get the rebate, the person needs to be a resident of the area where it is offered. As yet, North Lincolnshire does not operate the rebate scheme.

For more information on becoming a special constable visit: www.humberside.police.uk or call 01482 808172.


RATES BATTLE WON BY TOP RESTAURANT

Scunthorpe Telegraph Tuesday 25th October 2005

North Lincolnshire's top restaurant has had its bill for business rates cut by £21,500 a year, following a site inspection by the Government's Valuation Office.

The restaurant was hit with a £48,500 demand in April - but that bill has now been cut to £27,000. But the windfall has left former Winteringham Fields owners Germain and Annie Schwab with a bittersweet taste after they battled the taxman for more than a year.

The dispute started in September 2004 when a valuation officer reclassified their restaurant, which entertains top showbiz stars like Sir Elton John and Robbie Williams, as a hotel and premises, with a rateable value of £39,500.

They launched an appeal which was heard in Lincoln last December.

The panel was told Winteringham Fields was listed in 2000 as a restaurant and premises with an annual rateable value of £11,000.

That figure was increased to £11,500 in August 2001, following structural alterations.

The tribunal was told the Schwabs operated predominantly as a restaurant with 11 trained chefs on the staff.

There were seven letting bedrooms, all of which were only available to diners.

The tribunal concluded it was not possible to separately book rooms as it was with a hotel, and the occupiers were specialist chefs - leading to its recent nine-star award in the Good Food Guide, making it one of the top four restaurants in the country.

The rateable value was amended to £14,250, and the business again listed as restaurant and premises.

But the dispute surfaced again in April when the Schwabs, who have since sold the business for a reported £1.3-million, drew up their battle lines again over the bill for the business rates.

They were presented with an annual bill for £48,500 - just four months after the appeal tribunal.

Now their consultant, Tony Rogerson, who won the appeal in Lincoln last December, is demanding the valuation office pays his clients compensation for the wrongful assessment.

"My clients want to know why the chartered surveyor, who inspected Winteringham Fields on September 12, disagreed so strongly with the specialised licensed property valuer who called a year earlier," Mr Rogerson said. "It is apparent to me my clients have been put to much unnecessary expense due to the action of the valuer."

Mr Rogerson said he had asked the Valuation Office to compensate the Schwabs for 'a fiasco', which he believed could have been avoided.

"In my opinion an individual who holds himself to be a specialist should be equipped to provide valuations which are within at best a 15 per cent tolerance," he added.

The Valuation Office has confirmed the business rates bill for the restaurant from last April would be cut from £48,500 to £27,000, but said it would defend any action for compensation.

No other comment was available from the office at the time of going to press.
 

@?*£!, IT'S AS GOOD AS GORDON'S

Scunthorpe Telegraph Tuesday 18th October 2005

A North Lincolnshire restaurant has been named as one of the top four in the country.

Winteringham Fields has received a coveted nine out of 10 stars by the 2006 Good Food Guide. The only other restaurants in the country to receive such high marks were Gordon Ramsay in London, Raymond Blanc's Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons and the legendary Fat Duck in Bray, Berkshire. No-one received 10 out of 10.

The guide - which acts as an industry guide to the country's top restaurants - scores venues on quality of food and service.

The restaurant, which has won a stack of awards in recent years, was recently sold by Annie and Germain Schwab for more than £1-million.

New owners Colin and Bex McGurran revealed they were delighted to scoop such a high rating.

"Naturally, some customers will be worried that the Winteringham Fields experience won't be the same now that the Schwabs have left, but the accolade from the Good Food Guide should reassure them," Mr McGurran said.

"Ultimately, though, I hope everyone will come and see for themselves. I like to think that those who have already done so have had a wonderful time."

Mr McGurran, who has previously owned hotels in West Yorkshire, said he was determined to build on the foundations laid by the previous owners.

"It is a tremendous challenge and a fantastic opportunity taking over from the legendary Schwabs," added Mr McGurran.

"I am delighted that head chef Robert Thompson, arguably the finest young chef in the country, has pledged his future to Winteringham and will continue to run the kitchen in his own brilliant style."

Former owner Germain Schwab said he believed the award proved the restaurant was in excellent hands.

He said: "I am extremely impressed with what Colin has already achieved at Winteringham Fields in such a short time.

"I believe he has the enthusiasm, passion and commitment to take Winteringham on to the next level.

"I also believe that Robert Thompson is the best chef that we employed in all our time at Winteringham. He leads the kitchen superbly and I am confident that he will be the youngest chef ever to achieve three Michelin stars."

Robert, named Young Chef of the Year in 2004, said: "I am thoroughly enjoying working with Colin and we are both determined not just to maintain, but also to enhance, the superb reputation of Winteringham Fields."
 

More success on menu for restaurant

Dave Mark

Yorkshire Post Friday 14th October 2005

IT is a quiet village in the heart of north Lincolnshire, boasting a local shop, a post office.... and one of the best restaurants in the world.

Michelin-starred Winteringham Fields on the southern bank of the River Humber has been given nine out of 10 stars by the 2006 Good Food Guide.

The only other restaurants in the country to receive the accolade were Gordon Ramsay in London, Raymond Blanc's Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons and the Fat Duck in Bray, Berkshire. No one achieved full marks.
The award heaps further praise on a restaurant long considered to be one of England's finest. Yorkshire hoteliers Colin and Bex McGurran bought Winteringham Fields this summer for over £1m.

Mr McGurran is determined to build on the success of the restaurant's previous owners, Germain and Annie Schwab.

He said: "It is a tremendous challenge and a fantastic opportunity taking over from the legendary Schwabs. I am delighted that head chef Robert Thompson, arguably the finest young chef in the country, has pledged his future to Winteringham."

Mr Thompson has been head chef at Winteringham for the past two years.
 

FERRYBOAT CROWNED CHAMPS

Scunthorpe Telegraph Wednesday 12th October 2005

The Scunthorpe Summer Darts League season ended in dramatic fashion, with the winners decided by a play-off

Having accumulated an identical points record, Ferryboat from Winteringham and Scunthorpe's Maple Leaf B locked horns at Ferry Road Club. After some good single performances, Ferryboat lead 4-2 and needed just one more point to win, but a great fight-back saw Maple Leaf even the score 4-4, meaning the match - and title - went down to the last double.

Like the rest of the contest, the final doubles clash was a nerve-jangling affair but, with Maple Leaf sat on double 10, up stepped Mickey Howard who, with his last dart, secured victory for Ferryboat on double 16.

Honours in the second division were much more straight-forward with Foxhills, a new team this year, finishing top ahead of Maple Leaf A. Both teams go up to division one next year.

The two teams relegated from division one are Frodingham Road Club and the Poacher.

The last meeting of the season is on Sunday at Frodingham Road Club, 12.15pm start while the league's presentation night is at the same venue on Friday, November 18.

HONOURS LIST

DIVISION ONE WINNERS: Ferryboat Inn.

DIVISION ONE RUNNERS-UP: Maple Leaf B.

DIVISION TWO WINNERS: Foxhills Club.

DIVISION TWO RUNNERS-UP: Maple Leaf A.

TEAM K/O WINNERS: Maple Leaf B.

TEAM K/O RUNNERS-UP: Rileys.

SINGLES WINNER: Stuart Bird (Maple Leaf B).

SINGLES RUNNER-UP: Lee Blakey (Foxhills Club).

PAIRS WINNERS: Darren Coates & Steve Shaw (Rileys).

PAIRS RUNNERS-UP: Stuart Bird & Mick Finch (Maple Leaf B).

LADIES SINGLES WINNER: Kath Ingham (Beacon).

LADIES SINGLES RUNNER-UP: Anne Fisher (Dog & Rat Ladies).

MIXED PAIRS WINNERS: Eddie Clark & Christine Readhead (Maple Leaf A).

MIXED PAIRS RUNNERS-UP: Karl Forrington & Kim Darley (Ferryboat).

SENIORS CUP WINNER: Terry Finch (Dog & Rat).

SENIORS CUP RUNNER-UP: John Graves (Dog & Rat ).

SPOON PLAY-OFF WINNERS: Dog & Rat Ladies.

MOST 180s: Dave Ladley 12 (Ferryboat).

HIGHEST CHECKOUT: Mick Ligett 164 (Ferryboat).

LEAST DARTS LEG: Dave Ladley & Karl Forrington 12 darts (Ferryboat).

MOST 100s DIVISION ONE: Graham Stow 125 (Frodingham Road Club)

MOST 100s DIVISION TWO: Eddie Clark 76 (Maple Leaf A).

 

LOOKING A REAL TREAT IS JUST SO DEVILISHLY EASY ...

Scunthorpe Telegraph Tuesday 11th October 2005

Traditionally, Halloween has been the preserve of youngsters who delight in dressing like witches and wizards, or spooks and ghouls - but now it seems man's best friend can get in on the act.

Those who answer the familiar call of trick-or-treat on October 31, should really stock up on dog biscuits, as well as the usual sweets and chocolates, just in case they are met by a trick-or-treater - complete with spooky pet. A new range of costumes designed especially for dogs will mean nobody - or rather no pooch - has to be left out on Halloween.

For the first time this year, dog owners across North Lincolnshire could be encouraging Fido to beg for his favourite snack dressed as a devil, complete with horns, or Shep to wag his tail with his ears poking through a pointy witch's hat.

The fancy dress outfits come from America, where Halloween is cause for every householder to deck out their home, and dog owners can choose from two spooky outfits - a devil outfit with horns and red leg trims or a witch's outfit complete with cape.

Richard Barnett, manager of Jerry Green's dog sanctuary, near Broughton, said he thought it was great canines no longer had to miss out on Halloween fun.

"Why shouldn't they join in?" he said. "I've seen dogs dressed up at Christmas before, with lights round their collars or wearing baubles.

"I definitely don't think it's cruel - we see dogs all the time in bandanas. It's a great idea," he said.

Bess is a six-year-old Cairn terrier who will be celebrating this year's Halloween dressed as a tiny red devil.

Her owner Claire Dickinson (22), from Winteringham, said: "I can't wait to get her an outfit, it's a brilliant idea - she'll look so cute.

"There's no way it's cruel - if an animal doesn't like being dressed up it will let you know, but Bess doesn't mind, she likes all the attention she gets."

The outfits are available from the pet supply store Pets at Home, which has a store on the Lakeside Retail Park in Scunthorpe.

A spokeswoman for the shop, Linda Whiting said: "Pets are now part of the family and people's lifestyles so we wanted to provide a way for people to involve their pets in Halloween."

CLAMART LATEST BAR TO CEASE TRADING

Scunthorpe Telegraph Saturday 1st October 2005

After 15 years, the Clamart Bar in Scunthorpe's Shelford Street finally ceased trading at the weekend and the owners at Punch Taverns have stepped up the bid to sell the freehold of the former auction hall for a reported £200,000.

An Indian restaurateur is still tipped as the favourite to win the bidding. The Clansman (former Grosvenor Hotel) has joined the Britannia Hotel and Bar Rendezvous as temporarily closed pubs in the town centre.

Isn't it starting to look like a ghost town?

CHRISTINE and Kevin Kilmore, the new bosses at The Poacher in Scunthorpe, are seeking the go-ahead from North Lincolnshire Council to stay open until midnight Sunday to Thursday and until 1am on Friday and Saturday from November 24.

The Bay Horse at Garthorpe, however, is looking to stay open until 1am seven days a week.

THE Fly hears bouncers and bobbies were locked in discussion at the Geneva Bar, Scunthorpe, on Sunday afternoon over the problems of abandoned bottles and glasses in the town centre at the weekend.

One solution might be to charge drinkers a £1 refundable deposit for their bottles and prosecute people for theft if they take glasses into the streets.

Revellers who happen to fall on broken glass in the streets will, however, welcome the news the bouncers are to receive first aid training at Scunthorpe's Blarney Stone on October 24 and 25.

TREVOR Howson and his partner Michelle Butler have agreed a deal with Enterprise Inns to take over the tenancy of The Ferryboat at Winteringham, after nine years at The Royal Oak in Grimsby.

One of the first things he brought to the Ferryboat was his tank of prized saltwater fish.

As Trevor said "You cannot have a Ferryboat without fish."

Has your pub any unusual pets? Let the Bar Fly know.

REGULARS at the Mary Rose in Scunthorpe have been following with keen interest the attempts by frogmen to raise the bows of Henry V111's former warship in Portsmouth.

The ship Mary Rose sank in 1545 but the pub lives on with the same name, thanks to local dentist Clive Thompson, who two years ago gambled on opening his bar in Frodingham Road.

Scunthorpe's Mary Rose is believed to be the only pub with the name in Britain.

A ROADSHOW organised by North Lincolnshire Council to promote home improvements should have spin-offs for pubs in the region.

The tour bus pulls in at the Black Bull, East Halton, tomorrow and then travels to the Nags Head, Wootton, next Tuesday.

Other stops include: Marrowbone and Cleaver, Kirmington (October 12); Ancholme, Brigg (October 14); Haymaker, Bonby (October 17); Nelthorpe Arms, South Ferriby (October 17); Ye Olde Thatch, Broughton (October 19); Sheffield Arms, Burton-Upon-Stather (October 20); Lincolnshire Arms, Luddington (October 27); and Open Hearth, Scunthorpe (November 10)

THE Kings Arms at Haxey has agreed to cut back its proposed extended hours from 1am to midnight Sunday to Thursday from November 24, after police and council officials mediated on behalf of objecting neighbours.

WHITBREAD has admitted its child-friendly Brewsters Restaurants - as seen at Scunthorpe's Anchor Lodge - sometimes put off adults.

Finance chief Christopher Rogers said: "They are somewhere anybody over six years old wouldn't want to go into."

BEWARE of low flying scuds, the disco with the same name will be putting on a show at Parkies, Scunthorpe, tomorrow night.

 

SPOKE OF LIFE IN 40S HOLLAND

Scunthorpe Telegraph Saturday 1st October 2005

Vice-president of Winteringham WI Sandra Wilkinson was in the chair for their September meeting, when she welcomed members and guests and explained the president was on holiday.

The secretary read through the minutes of the July and August meetings and all agreed these were a true record. The matters arising from the minutes were dealt with and the correspondence received was presented to the members.

Winteringham's idea to have a magazine exchange table at each meeting had been mentioned in the Federation News.

Tickets were on sale for the Trent Group Meeting on October 5 when the speaker will be Geoff Druett, who will tell members of his experiences in broadcasting.

Future events including the shopping trip to York on Saturday, November 19, and the annual dinner were discussed.

In the news slot Mrs Wilkinson told the ladies about the jumble sale in the village hall on Sunday and the flower arranging demonstration also in the village hall on Wednesday, October 26.

The speaker for the evening was Marya Clarke, who spoke about her life as a child in occupied Holland. Marya had lived in a village just outside The Hague and she said she remembered the German tanks arriving in 1940 when Germany invaded Holland. Sometimes Marya's stories were very sad and yet she also injected a touch of humour into her memories.

She spoke about the cold and hunger, but in May 1945 Holland was free and for the first time in her memory she ate white bread and butter.

Christine Hammond thanked Marya on behalf of the members and invited her to judge the competition for a souvenir of Holland. Jenny Pike's entry was first, Jean McAvoy's second and Karen Moody's third.

Hostesses for the evening were Mrs McAvoy and Carol Cook. The draw for the mystery parcels donated by Sandra Wilkinson and Mrs Cook took place.

The secretary explained about Val Lancaster's idea for the WI, to have an archive of knitting patterns which members could borrow. This would be discussed further when Val returned from holiday.

The October meeting is Birthday Night when everyone is invited to join in with Circle Dancing led by Mrs Foreman.