The public is to be asked if the Spalding Flower Parade goes ahead based at Springfields in 2025.
For the past two years events following the parade have been based at the Castle Sports Complex, but renovation work there means it’s not available next year
In a video posted this morning (Monday, July 22), Becs Roberts said it followed a vote at a ‘difficult’ meeting of the committee yesterday.
“We’ve explored every viable option in town and there’s just nowhere we can hold it safely and that is financially viable,” she said in her video message. “We had to have a really difficult vote of either no flower parade or have it at the exhibition centre.
“Your dedicated committee have voted for the exhibition centre.
“To that end, we want to put it to the public vote.
“It’s a simple vote for having our much loved flower parade and it ending at the exhibition centre, or vote no for no parade in 2025.
“I feel devastated it won’t be in town. I’ve listened to all your feedback and community is key.
“The town is central location for everybody and it brings everybody together and that the businesses and town centre need this.
“I’ve thought so hard and there is really no other option.
“I hope you will still back us. I really want there to be a flower parade in 2025.”
Becs also outlined how options were not viable including the Ayscoughfee Hall and the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field being too small.
The later would have been unable to host food vendors which brings in a large chunk of the £80,000 money needed to run the parade every year.
“It has to be a big enough venue for us to generate enough money for us to cover the costs,” Becs continued. “We’re a community interest company that can’t run at a loss.”
The Spalding Grammar School would have had an additional cost of £11,000 for access while the Whaplode Street car park’s entrances and exits would have been a safety issue, she said.
Becs praised the venues for their support and thanked South Holland District Council leader Nick Worth, South Holland and the Deeping MP John Hayes and local businessman Matt Clarke for helping.
“All three were desperate to keep it in town as much as I was,” she said.
The poll is available here.
