As a follow up from my recent concerns regarding the failed initiatives and lack of funding for Spalding town centre, I would like to put forward some proposals for the Improvement Plan Steering Committee and in particular the newly appointed portfolio holder for growth and regeneration Coun Harry Drury.
The importance of healthy vibrant town centres has been highlighted recently due to the visible effect of vacant shops, decline in market activity, and a perception among most people that towns are not providing them with all the services they want.
Town centres, and those local authorities who operate and manage them, are also having to adapt to rapid challenging budgetary constraints because of massive cuts in funding from central government and the uncertainty of the COVID-19 crisis that has been having an impact on all of us.
But we still need to rebuild business confidence, have good levels of local community spirit, which I think we have, build on an evening economy, good levels of visitor offer, a good mix of local markets that encourage the footfall for other local business in the town and solve the parking issues in and around our towns.
We also need good levels of partnership between the public and local authorities to address our weaknesses, but build on what is best practice for others and where we can utilise what we have.
With limited funding for the Improvement Plan Project for Spalding and Holbeach, where would I start to try and regenerate our market towns? I would start with the Sheep Market, as this area is normally busy with people looking for something that maybe not there, say on a Sunday.
Let’s look at the toilet facility in the Sheep Market, currently closed and in need of a very costly refurbishment.
We have a choice, demolish the building and open up the Sheep Market as a gateway into the town centre or utilise the building and use it for something else entirely different.
Open up and extend the market area and have more outdoor facilities such as tables and chairs in areas near cafe outlets etc. This could link in to encourage more street entertainment of various levels.
Of course this would be a stand alone project, but would be a foundation for the regeneration of our lovely market town in the heart of Lincolnshire, the town where I was born and I will continue to campaign for with passion for as long as it takes.
Stay safe everyone.
Rodney Sadd
Spalding
