Regarding South Holland District Council’s engagement sessions to find what changes are needed for a better Spalding that will attract more people into our lovely market town.
Firstly, working in partnership would be a start to involve the public and residents to be stakeholders to achieve more robust strategic decision making.
Community spirit is closely associated to various elements of social cohesion and a sense of pride. People who feel part of their place in the local community will be more willing to get involved in sharing their skills and ideas.
Secondly, we are a market town in the heart of Lincolnshire, so let’s build on our traditional market town atmosphere.
Markets, like any event, can be a major motivating factor for people to come into the town centre.
The presence of a regular, well supported traditional market can add diversity to the retail offer of the town centre and can act as a foundation for other more specialist markets, evening markets or Sunday markets etc.
All this can contribute to our local towns diversity and attract more local residents and visitors alike from our catchment areas.
So if SHDC want bold ideas let’s start with the Sheep Market, which could be utilised into the gateway into our town centre.
Demolish the toilet facility on the Sheep Market, but keep the one in the Crescent car park.
Initially this could extend parking, free for local town shopping, then on market days the market could be extended onto the Sheep Market along with other events such as artisan markets,continental markets, Christmas markets and night markets.
People want better access, the possibility of driving into town and parking safely remains a considerable element of convenience – based attractiveness as it grants them a higher sense of perceived comfort and independence.
Why not a park and ride option from the out of town outlet into the market town, which would be a major factor for visitors to increase the footfall for local independent traders?
This would decrease traffic congestion and air pollution, but this option is sometimes favoured in other nearby towns.
To end on a note of partnership, as I am sure some of our local representatives see me as a member of the opposition.
But when it comes to the town I was born in and it’s future, I am sure we can all work together in partnership for the benefit of all concerned.
So SHDC don’t shut the public out, be more transparent in your decision making and invite residents to more conferences so we can foster a stronger sense of community pride of place in our market town of Spalding in the heart of Lincolnshire.
Rodney Sadd
Spalding
