The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Businesses are being asked to get on board and boost one of Spalding’s biggest attractions.
For the last 14 years the Spalding Water Taxi has been ferrying people around the town’s beautiful waterways.
In that time the same fleet of four boats has provided memories for thousands of people.
And though the boats themselves remain in very good working order, those behind the not-for-profit service are looking to give them a lick of paint for the first time since the initiative was launched.
Now businesses are being asked to get in touch about sponsorship opportunities that will help fund that work.
Anthony Grunwell, a former concert violinist and assistant head at the former Gleed school in the town, is the operations manager for the Spalding Water Taxi.
“The fleet was purchased 14 years ago and they’re showing they are in need of a little bit of TLC,” he said. “The boats themselves are very much fine, they’re in fantastic condition in fact, we just want to renovate them a little.
“We’re a not-for-profit organisation so we’ve not got the money to spend lots on them currently.
“We had a really good season last year but despite that, once we’ve paid for out pilots and regular maintenance, we don’t have much left over for other work.
“That’s why we’d like to speak to businesses about sponsorship opportunities.”
In the last three years 35,000 people have travelled on the Spalding Water Taxi.
It’s subsidised by Broadgate Homes but is a not-for-profit organisation.
“The water taxi is a fantastic attraction and tremendous asset for the town as well as being an important link between the town, Springfields and vice versa,” Anthony continued. “
“We know people come to town from the likes of Nottingham, Scunthorpe and Peterborough just to go out on our boats.
“It’s about making sure that this attraction for the area survives into the future.”
The Spalding Water Taxi will be back providing rides from April 4 this year.
But there is also the opportunity to hire the boats out at any time, something that around 5,500 people have done in the last three years.
It costs £55 for two hours, £80 for four hours and £150 for a full day on a boat.
“We do all kinds of different trips,” Anthony continued. “Very soon we have someone who has booked it to watch the sunrise over the water on their birthday.
“There’s also the two-hour rate for those who work in the day and might otherwise not have time to go on the taxi.
“It’s just a tremendous thing for the town to have.”
Anyone interested in helping the Spalding Water Taxi can contact 07740 664017 or email discoverspalding@btconnect.com
