Members of the public are being urged to chip in and help secure Spalding’s historic former courthouse for community use.
A charity set up to oversee the project for the Grade II listed Sessions House is hoping that crowdfunding – raising cash for a project by many people contributing – will provide the means.
Terry Moore, chairman of the recently-formed Spalding Court House Charity, appealed for local residents to support the scheme with whatever they could afford.
“People can donate as little as £1,” he said. “If for one week everybody were to give us £2 instead of giving it to the Lottery, we’d have enough to buy it.”
The Ministry of Justice building in Sheep Market was originally put up for sale in January for £275,000, but is now “price on application”.
Spalding Court House Charity initially wants to raise £300,000, to cover the purchase and costs.
Phase two of the project would be modifications to make it accessible for all.
The building is on the open market, which Mr Moore accepts makes it “vulnerable” to being lost to another party. So there is a degree of urgency for the project, with trustee members of the charity working hard to pull in the required funding.
Mr Moore said: “Through our various links within the community, there are several local businesses that we are talking to.”
The mission statement of the charity is: “Provide a sustainable community hub that will strengthen and enhance the lives of the people of South Holland.”
Among the many and varied proposed uses, the main court would be preserved for educational purposes and the hub would become a base for voluntary and community groups, such as Spalding branch of the Royal British Legion.
A meeting earlier this month pored over the business case for the project.
Mr Moore said: “What we have got to find is a sustainable income from the building.”
A bank account is being opened this week.
In return for a donation to the cause, people would become a Friend of Spalding Court House Charity.
Should the charity then not buy the building, the money would be donated to other local charities, including those who would have benefited from it.
Besides Mr Moore, the charity’s other trustee members are Janet Prescott, Craig Delaney (Calthrops), Ken Maggs (Moore Thompson), Ann Savage (Bakkavor), Colin Jackman (Spalding branch of Royal British Legion), Harry Drury (We’ll Let Your House), Jan Whitbourn (Tulip Radio), and James Drake (Lloyds).
The charity has a Facebook page for the public to follow progress. Search for “Spalding Court House Charity”.
