Calls for ‘latrine’ alley to be gated

There have been renewed calls for a Spalding alley likened to a latrine, be gated at night.

Abbey Passage links Bridge Street and Vine Street/The Crescent, and is set to be the location of artwork commissioned by Transported Arts.

Coun Roger Gambba-Jones made the latrine claim at a meeting of the Spalding Town Forum last week.

He told the meeting he didn’t want the forum to “be missing the opportunity to do what we’ve talked about for many years which is gating it.

“One of the blights is the misuse and abuse of it after hours; the use of it as a latrine by far too many people.

“I hope we’re still looking at the opportunities as we had the co-operation of people who have the ability to control access to it.

“There are keyholders who were willing to open and close gates once they are fitted which could prevent some of that abuse.

“It’s not an essential thoroughfare and if it could be closed off at times it is misused, it could go a very long way to improving the quality of that passage for normal day time usage when people say it’s absolutely disgusting when trying to use it.

“If we are going to get Transported down there to do their artwork it would be a shame not to protect it.”

Coun Elizabeth Sneath said she didn’t walk down the alley during the day, ‘never mind at night.’

She added: “We need to gate it. I think it’s pretty difficult to improve it and we’ve tried paintings before, but they’ve just been vandalised.”

A report to the forum said it would support Transported in submitting a bid to Arts Council England for public art intervention.

“It will brighten up that area and make the passage feel safer, welcoming and more attractive,” members of the forum were told.