Parish Council Review

This year has been another extremely productive and ambitious one for North Thoresby Parish Council, with major investment in our village facilities, community spaces, and future projects for residents of all ages.

Community Room Refurbishment Project

Following the closure of the committee room due to safety concerns, the Parish Council successfully applied for grant funding and was awarded £16,880. The project has now been fully completed and includes:

Insulation, plastering and new downlighters in the entrance hall
New aluminium front doors
A newly paved seating area outside the committee room with benches
Three new outdoor games tables beside the village hall
Full refurbishment of the old committee room into a modern new community room

The transformation has significantly improved both the appearance and functionality of the village hall facilities and created a welcoming new community space for residents.

New Yamaha Electric Piano

The Parish Council also secured funding for a new Yamaha electric piano, which is now in regular use for music lessons and community activities.

Memorial Garden Improvements

A new flagpole has been erected in the memorial garden, proudly flying the Union Flag, the England flag and the Lincolnshire flag.

Play Park Improvements

The old wooden benches in the play park had deteriorated considerably and have now

been replaced with:

* Two new games tables

* Two new benches

* A 12-seater accessible refectory table with wheelchair access

These additions have created a far more attractive and inclusive space for families and

residents.

Welcoming Our Clerk

Last year we were joined by our new clerk, Binal Sawjani, who has worked wonders for the Parish Council and continues to do so. Her professionalism, organisation and commitment have been invaluable.

Rediscovery of the Village Hall Deeds

For many years there has been discussion around creating an independent management committee to oversee the village hall. This could potentially open access to grant funding streams unavailable to Parish Councils.

However, one major obstacle has always been the legal ownership of the building. The hall has historically been administered by the Parish Council and listed on our asset register, but no title could be found with the Land Registry.

Despite an 18-month search involving solicitors, former councillors and local enquiries, no documentation could be located.

Remarkably, a local resident recently discovered a box of historic paperwork in their

garage. Included were the original deeds and documents relating to the will of Frederick Fields Lord, who died on 30 January 1923, leaving the Parish Council the land on which the village hall now stands, along with £500 towards its construction.

This important discovery now allows the Parish Council to properly explore future

governance and management opportunities for the hall.

Improvements to Village Hall Management

Our caretaker, Mark, has once again done a sterling job throughout the year.

Late last year the Parish Council also introduced ‘Hallmaster’, a web-based booking system for the village hall. This has significantly reduced administrative workload, simplified bookings and supported the clerk with end-of-year accounts and financial management.

Looking to the Future

While we are proud of what has been achieved, the Parish Council remains focused on the future of our village.

Protecting the Character of the Village

North Thoresby faces significant changes in the coming years, including proposed

electricity pylons to the north of the village and a 550-acre solar farm between North

Thoresby and Ludborough.

The Parish Council continues to object strongly to both developments due to concerns

regarding their impact on the rural character of the area. We also continue to monitor the development of the 192 new houses at Beanlands. While this was ultimately a battle we lost, it is important that the new development integrates properly with the existing village rather than becoming a “village within a village”.

One key priority is establishing a pedestrian walkway linking the development to the High Street. This would improve access to the school, Venny’s, sports facilities and village amenities for new residents.

Reinstating the Black Leg Drain Bridge

Earlier this year the bridge over Black Leg Drain was removed. Although this is not the

direct responsibility of the Parish Council, we have made the decision to work proactively with residents and landowners to help reinstate it.

We are pleased that telecommunications company Internetty has offered funding towards the project, and we are working hard with all parties involved to make this happen.

Investing in Young People

One issue repeatedly raised by residents is the lack of facilities for teenagers within the village. Recently, after speaking with several local teenagers cycling around the village, they expressed interest in having a cycle track like those in Holton-le-Clay and New Waltham. Unfortunately, facilities of that scale can cost more than £120,000.

However, these conversations highlighted an important issue: while the village provides many activities and facilities for older residents and younger children, there is very little specifically aimed at teenagers. The Parish Council is determined to begin addressing this imbalance.

Ninja Trail Grant Application

The Parish Council has applied to the National Lottery for a £20,000 grant towards a Ninja Trail activity course. While the application was returned requesting further information, we remain committed to pursuing the project this year.

Pump Track Demonstration Day

To help assess demand and strengthen future grant applications, the Parish Council has approved funding to hire a temporary pump track for a day, including:

Professional riders
Bikes
Safety equipment

This event will provide local young people with an opportunity to try the activity and help us measure community interest.

New Youth Club Initiative

Youth provision nationally has declined dramatically over recent years, with around 70% of youth clubs closing in the last decade due to funding reductions and budget pressures.

The Parish Council believes it is vital that we invest in opportunities for young people and reduce social isolation and overreliance on mobile phones and online activity.

We are therefore delighted to announce that, with support from Louth Rotary Club and YMCA Lincolnshire, we will be launching a pilot youth club from the village hall.

The project has already secured:

£1,500 funding from Louth Rotary
Support from YMCA Lincolnshire
Six to seven local volunteers
Twelve young people already pre-registered

The YMCA youth worker is also aiming to visit the school to help promote the new club.

Virtual Reality Project

The UKSPF Grassroots Grant programme is now approaching its final round, with

applications closing on 12 May. To date, North Thoresby has secured more than £45,000 through this funding stream.

The Parish Council has submitted an application to purchase ten Meta Quest 3 virtual

reality headsets. While originally intended for use within the youth club, the project has unexpectedly generated strong interest from older residents as well.

At the recent plant sale, three headsets were demonstrated to visitors. One elderly resident patiently waited while the younger attendees tried them and afterwards remarked: “I now know what I want for my 70th birthday.”

This perfectly captures the spirit of what the Parish Council is trying to achieve — bringing generations together, embracing innovation and ensuring North Thoresby continues to be a vibrant, forward-looking community for everyone.

North Thoresby, Waithe and Grainsby Parish Council: A Review

of the Year 2025-26