The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Over the last 20 more years I have spent many hours in Spalding and seen the decline in the town centre.
They include empty shops, shop window covered, a lack of market stalls, no police awareness, drinking and drugs, I could go on forever.
I have always called South Holland district the Forgotten County.
Even The Government have recognised this now. Go back over these years, where does the blame always start?
The Top, MP Sir John Hayes, ex-leader of the council Lord Porter, No leadership!
Look how things have changed in this time? Sir! Lord!
Does the seating area require ripping out? A good clean up would go a long way, make it more Inviting.
The patrol officers would be better off used patrolling the centre not spending most of there time in the Sainsbury shopping and car parking area.
Homeless people sleeping in doorways requires addressing urgently.
Make it a total no traffic area, cars, vans, scooters, cyclist stop them all, you put your life at risk just walking through the Town Centre..
The shop windows require a make over. Offer new retailers cheaper rent, rates etc to try and encourage them to open new shops.
Without the shops you will have no footfall in the town centre people will still carrying on using Springfields give them a reason not too!
The market traders offer them something to entice more stalls.
There is now two appointed officers to oversee the market, is that the answer?
To try and make this all happen I’ve not got the answers.
I just hope the £20 million will be put to where it’s intended not be wasted on admin, expenses etc.
David Barfoot
Shepeau Stow
