Proposal to buy former Spalding courthouse for community use

A group of business people have put forward a proposal to buy Spalding’s former magistrates’ court building.

It is hoped the Sessions House, which was built in 1843 and was last used for court proceedings in January 2014, could be renovated and brought back into use.

Last month the group behind the plan, which includes representatives of some of the town’s biggest businesses including Bakkavor, Moore Thompson accountants, Calthrops Solicitors and Lloyds Bank, met Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice MP Shailesh Vara regarding an offer to buy the historic building.
If the offer is accepted, the group intends to form a charitable trust with the aim of raising the money needed for the purchase and renovation of the Grade II listed building.

Property professional Harry Drury, of We’ll Let Your House, is one of the members of the group who travelled to London for the meeting.
Mr Drury, who is also a district councillor, said: “We are at quite an early stage with this and are not prepared to talk figures at the moment, but we hope that if this goes ahead it will safeguard this historical building for many years to come.

“We want it to benefit the community, but of course it will have to have a commercial element to it to make it financially viable and cover the costs of maintenance and upkeep.
“Future uses could include a museum housing local historical artefacts or meeting rooms for local organisations such as the Royal British Legion.
“We would definitely like to keep the old cells as a nod to the building’s history.

“When we get further along we will go to the public and ask them what they would like to see it used for.
“At the moment we are just focusing on keeping this beautiful building open – no one wants to see it deteriorate and become another town centre eyesore.”

The group’s visit to the Justice Department was facilitated by South Holland and the Deepings MP John Hayes, who is backing the bid to secure the building’s future.
Those who attended included Mr Drury, Terry Moore (Bakkavor), Craig Delaney (Calthrops), Jan Whitbourn (Tulip Radio), Colin Jackman (Spalding branch of Royal British Legion), Ken Maggs (Moore Thompson), James Drake (Lloyds Bank), and town centre manager Dennis Hannant.

Mr Hayes said: “I am delighted to continue back the team that are working to secure the court house for our community.
“They have my full support.”