Residents are only spending 18 per cent of their outlay in Spalding, it’s been claimed, while there has been a 600 per cent increase in vacant shops in the last six years.
The figures have been revealed in minutes of the Spalding Town Board which is looking into ‘an incentive or grant package’ to support retailers.
It has been formed to see how £20m over 10 years is spent on improving the town.
After apologising for not publishing up to date minutes and agendas the board has now been uploaded them to its website bar for the meeting on September 29.
At its August meeting the board was presented with the results of a ‘Retail and Leisure Study’ carried out by Jonathan De Mello’s company JDM Consulting.
He told the meeting shop vacancy rates had risen from 1.9 per cent in 2019 to 14 per cent in 2025.
This was ‘along with the loss of key comparison goods retailers’ the minutes state.
The minutes do not include anything to compare those statistics with nationally or locally.
It does though say: “Although the grocery sector remained strong, the leisure offer was underdeveloped.
“Spalding captured only 18 per cent of its catchment spend, with substantial leakage to Springfields and Stamford.”
The recommendation was to focus on independent-led aspirational retail and leisure anchors such as a cinema, which would complement rather than compete with Springfields. Board members expressed strong support for these recommendations and emphasised the importance of improved footfall analysis, enhancements to the public realm and greater engagement with landlords.
“Examples from Gainsborough were cited as successful models worth exploring.
“It was also agreed that an incentive or grant package should be considered to support retail in the town centre and address empty properties.”
While this could help with local footfall, July’s meeting received a presentation on a Tourism Management Plan.
The minutes state ‘a localised action plan for Spalding was being developed’ to encourage more tourists to the area. The Spalding Town Board says the information has helped it shape its plan for the town centre, the consultation for which ends on October 28.
It has received ‘over 200 responses’ so far but is encouraging others to put their views over before the cut off date.
That’s also now the deadline for its call for projects to come forward that might benefit from the money it has been allocated as part of the newly re-titled Pride in Place (Plan for Neighbourhoods) programme.
Robin Hancox, chair, of the Spalding Town Board said: “On behalf of the board, I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has shared their thoughts so far, either by completing our survey or by talking to the team at one of our events.
“There is clearly so much enthusiasm for our town’s future, and its potential, and the board will take time to carefully consider the findings of this consultation.
“If you haven’t yet done so, please do have your say and tell us what you think, and help us to shape our submission to government.
“Of course, our engagement with the community is ongoing and we will carry on speaking and listening to local people’s thoughts and ideas for the lifetime of the programme.”
