Councillor defends £35k ‘latrine’ alleyway artwork plan

A councillor had defended plans for £35,000 new flower parade inspired artwork to brighten up a Spalding passage branded as a ‘latrine’.

Abbey Passage is to be the subject of the work ‘Flos Pompa’ (Latin for flower parade) by Transported Arts after gaining a £30,000 Arts Council England National Lottery grant.

The other £5,000 is from the £250,000 budget for the Town Centre Improvement Scheme allocated for Spalding.

It’s intended the tile mosaic will be a community effort created and designed by local groups and schools in groups with artists as a way to improve the passageway between Bridge Road and Vine Street which some have called for to be gated at night due to anti-social behaviour.

When announced on Tuesday though it drew criticism online.

Julie Grant called it on The Voice’s Facebook page “an absolute waste of money being spent on a passage I avoid at all cost due to it being used as a urinal. What are the council thinking?”

Coun Rodney Grocock, portfolio holder for Spalding town improvement, though pointed out the £30,000 has to be spent on artwork due to the terms of the grant.

“We’ve worked with stakeholders and identified a need to make Abbey Passage more appealing.

“This will be a community effort designed so more people will be more proud of their community and surroundings.

“It hopes to be a beautiful artwork that idiots won’t urinate on.

“Funding that comes from central grants has to be spent on what it’s for. In this instance it’s a grant for artwork that council officers worked hard on securing for the area.”

The first work on the artwork is due to begin next month.

A spokesman for South Holland District Council, said: “Flos Pompa will be themed around the returning town event, working with up to 3,500 local artists, residents, Boston College, school children and groups over the course of nine months to create a dramatic, decorative ceramic mural.

“The project is part of a larger piece of work to help foster pride and community involvement in the town, and to help brighten the surroundings for those visiting or living in the area.”

Nick Jones, director of Arts Council England-funded Transported Programme hosted by the University of Lincoln, said: “We are really excited at Arts Council England’s decision to fund the community ceramic mural project in Spalding.

“The area’s connection to horticulture and flowers is an important part of its history which we want to both share and celebrate, at the same time as making the town more attractive and interesting.

“Flos Pompa makes reference to the town’s historical carnival while Latin is the language of flowers, plants and horticulture.

“We are looking forward to inviting residents and groups to come along and make their contribution, so if there are schools or groups that want to be involved, please do get in touch with us as Transported.”