I refer to the article (June 16) in the Voice regarding “Help for our town centre”. This is like shutting the gate after the horse has bolted!
So many people over the past few years have aired their strong views on how lacking our town centre had become and how it’s now like a ghost town due to bad management.
The councillor states there will be “spells of free parking”. Why only spells? Why not free to encourage people to visit and not have to worry when to pay and timing?
Councillor states free market stalls. I’m not surprised, after all, they have been treated dreadfully and have shown their disdain by leaving Spalding for other well attended markets such as Stamford and Boston.
As for the so called “individual shops and pubs”. The shops and pubs that are left are hardly individual.
The statement regarding the South Holland Centre showing a programme of films – I’ve no idea what that’s supposed to mean. Its cinema has always shown films on a weekly basis.
When I recently asked about its opening, I was told there was a consultation survey for residents to answer by May 20 on this subject and they didn’t know whether they would be showing any more films there! (see page five for opening details.)
The town centre is scruffy, dirty and unwelcoming. I, along with many other Spaldonians, use to frequently visit the town, but have now given up completely.
With the demise of M&S and so many other good mainstay shops, it’s just an unused ghost town and no amount of backtracking by the council, even after so many complaints from the public, will solve this problem whilst too much money is invested in Springfields.
Even fly tipping has increased due to the absurdity at the recycling centre in having to book slots – not everyone knows in advance when they require this service.
Plus, the amount of surplus staff standing around watching 80 somethings struggle with their items. No wonder there has been such an increase in complaints.
COVID-19 has nothing to do with them helping out, if the elderly occupant of the car stays inside their vehicle, then staff may be able to help them and not lean on brooms watching them!
D Davis
Spalding
