Football can and does help footfall in Spalding a councillor has claimed as a panel unanimously gave its backing for the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field to be leased out.
The ground bequeathed to the people of Spalding on the proviso it be open to the public was described as a “challenging site” for South Holland by Coun Paul Redgate who chaired a task force looking into its running.
Now owner South Holland District Council is looking to allow someone to lease it for seven years on the proviso whoever does complies with the original grounds on which it was donated to the town.
Coun Redgate told last week’s meeting of the Performance Monitoring Panel that anyone is able to bid for the lease.
Spalding United have played there for decades and have previously stated they would like to take on a lease that would allow them to access FA funding to improve the facilities.
Among those they’ve highlighted is the need to get new floodlights to allow them to stay at higher levels of the football pyramid if they’re promoted.
Coun Redgate told the panel that footfall is improved in the town by football at the ground where Pinchbeck United have also regularly played home games in recent years.
“The trust still holds the keys for the site, it’s just how we use it long term,” he said.
“Whoever takes the lease on, they have to make it available to the community at appropriate times.
“This also secures long term funding and grants for the site.
“I think it’s fair to say while most people will speculate its all for Spalding United, this is open to all.
“If someone wants to come forward and take it on, the opportunity is there.
“This is an opportunity for us to look at the site for the long term in terms of future repairs and growing footfall in the town centre through football.
“If Spalding United did take it on, the amount of footfall will only enhance the town centre.
“It’s not just the people going to the football, I’m sure many of their partners would go shopping.
“We also need to find a long term solution for a site that has been a challenge for the council for many years.
“What we’re proposing safeguards that site for Spalding for the long term.”
