Allan Watkiss

Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue is consulting on plans to recruit 20 full-time firefighters and make Grantham Fire Station staffed around the clock, creating Lincolnshire’s second 24/7 whole-time station. The changes would be funded mainly by ending an uplift paid to whole-time firefighters who voluntarily provide overnight on-call cover. Grantham would use a 2-2-4 shift system, while seven other whole-time stations would retain nighttime on-call cover and 29 on-call stations would be unaffected. The Fire Brigades Union welcomed the investment but said sustained funding was needed. The consultation runs until 23 August, following a separate £4.4m investment in new fire engines and equipment.

A week of events in Horncastle will celebrate the history of the town's horse fair, once described as the world's largest before ending in 1948. The revived event, introduced in 2023, will take place on 8 August 2026 and include a community mosaic, horses, therapy ponies, dance, puppetry, storytelling, music, crafts, virtual reality presentations and a procession. Organisers say the celebration is evolving into an annual summer event involving local artists and the community.

Grantham Bike Night will return to the town centre on 6 August 2026 from 17:00 to 21:00, featuring live music, performances and displays of motorcycles. The free event is organized by South Kesteven District Council and is expected to build on the 2025 gathering, which attracted about 800 motorbikes and 2,000 visitors. Exhibitors include Moto GB, Motorcycle Reclamation, Lincolnshire Emergency Blood Bikes, motorcycle safety trainers and Lincolnshire Police Cadets. Several roads and a car park will close during the event, alongside existing roadworks on the Grantham Gyratory.