A public meeting to discuss a potential Business Improvement District (BID) for Spalding and other options will take place next month.
It follows the creation of a Spalding Business Board involving representatives from 18 different town businesses.
A draft model for a BID is to be discussed in a meeting at the South Holland Centre on Wednesday September 20 from 6pm to 8pm.
It’s being held by The Mosaic Partnership, a company that specialises in setting up such BIDs which South Holland District Council has hired.
The partnership released a statement today (Thursday, August 24) saying: “A new business board for Spalding created earlier this year is preparing to release initial plans on how the town centre’s business community can work together to increase footfall, improve the visitor experience and further support businesses.
“Spalding, like many other similar towns, is facing numerous challenges to its town centre success, including online competition, access and infrastructure issues and the need to modernise its offer and attract investment, coupled with the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic, rise in utilities and cost of living crisis.
“The board’s initial focuses have been to identify different projects which can help to increase the appeal and experience of using the town centre for shoppers and visitors, and to consider new partnership models that can help to deliver these ideas and create a collective voice for influence and change from town centre businesses.
“One of these potential models would be a Business Improvement District, a business led partnership where a levy is applied to help deliver projects and new initiatives.
“Whilst this option is one that could be considered, the board would like to discuss it with the wider
business community as part of the possible proposals.
“With all these initial thoughts and recommendations in mind, the Business Board will be sharing a Draft Business Plan with the wider town centre business community in the coming weeks, to be open about the discussions taking place and to invite wider feedback from the community.
“Local businesses and interest groups are invited to an open meeting at the South Holland Centre on Wednesday September 20 from 6pm-8pm, where the Draft Plan and suggestions for a delivery model can be discussed further and next steps agreed.”
A spokesperson for the Spalding Business Board said: “It’s great that we have been able to take these initial steps towards our town centre businesses having an impactful collective voice for the changes we can see are needed, and to be able to start finding suggestions and solutions to make them a reality.”
The board is made up of representatives from 18 different local businesses: Hughes, Chain Bridge Forge, Bennett Butchers, Turners Fish Restaurant, Masons Models, Element 78, Steadfast Training, Donnacomm Ltd, Gibbs of Spalding, Charmed Interiors, Bookmark, Spalding Civic Society, Calthrops Solicitor, Penman Watch & Jewellery, The Sessions House, Occasions Jewellery, Springfields and Daisies Floral Design.
