The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
On one hand I welcome the proposal by Triton Property to create more jobs at the Springfields Outlet Leisure & Shopping Centre in Spalding.
Springfields attracts many people to the area and with the expansion plan comes more stability for people, jobs and the local economy.
But my other hand is full of concern as I see my home town, which was once a lovely market town in the heart of Lincolnshire, cry out for investment in the town centre.
I can recall Springfields promising funding for initiatives to increase the footfall in Spalding.
There does not seem to be a fair balance between the market town and Springfields.
As I see yet another plan launched for Spalding, the Town Centre Improvement Plan, which I welcome, I fear it lacks the investment required to bring Spalding back to life.
The demise of the town centre has taken decades to get to this level, why?
Massive cuts from central government have left local authorities on their knees and austerity measures over the last ten years have clearly not worked.
Over the last decade we had the Campaign For A Better Spalding, the Big Idea for Hall Place, the Enough is Enough Campaign, five point plan from our local MP Sir John Hayes, Winfrey Avenue Development, Improved Bus Station, Better Traffic Flow System and better infrastructure to support the housing development.
All good campaigns and plans, but local authorities have failed to deliver.
Local councillors say they want to attract larger national shops who look at the town centre footfall when considering opening a shop.
I look around Spalding and see shops that have pulled out of the town recently and the situation with the market and town centre parking is a shambles.
By the end of 2019 chains shed 8,000 stores and 85,000 jobs were lost nationally.
The period after the golden quarter of Christmas trading is the most dangerous for ailing High Street outlets who face rent and business rates bills.
Now we have the COVID-19 crisis having a compounding effect as local outlets fight rising costs and the move to online shopping continues.
I note the Improvement Plan will be receiving a £500,000 investment pot from South Holland District Council, but this is to be shared with our neighbouring town Holbeach.
I hope the plan is a success for the benefit of all concerned, but our market towns will need sustainable investment to fight off more decades of demise.
Rodney Sadd
Carrington Road
Spalding
