Town centre role withdrawn

A role created to oversee improvements in Spalding and Holbeach town centre has been discontinued.

In 2020, South Holland District Council appointed a Town Centre Improvement Co-ordinator as part of its three-year plan for £500,000 worth of works.
However the role will not be continued.
When it was advertised as a three-year fixed term contract the job description stated it was “to make a lasting difference to the local communities” and “make South Holland’s market towns of Spalding and Holbeach communities with thriving centres which support growing businesses, attract visitors locally and from further afield.”
Part of the job role was to ‘secure multi-million pound grants from central government’ and there have been numerous in the last few years including the £20m Levelling Up funding and money from The Arts Council.
A host of initiatives and events have launched but many projects remain works in progress.
A spokesman for South Holland District Council said the role was funded for three-years and the projects started will be taken on by different officers.
“The post was always funded as a three year fixed-term role, which came to an end in May this year,” the spokesman said. “Through the position we have been able to successfully plan, develop and start a variety of new projects, partnerships and funding opportunities for town centre improvement, which can now be continued and built upon by officers from across the council, including our communities and economic development teams.
“The great work of the Town Centre Improvement Plan Co-ordinator role has kick-started an exciting process that will continue to grow and expand in the months and years ahead.”
The person previously in the role, Beth Stinson, is now working with the authority’s Communities team, South Holland District Council was told at a recent meeting.
Coun Gary Taylor, the council’s portfolio holder for Spalding town improvement, said that Miss Stinson would continue overseeing some of the projects in her new role with the Communities team.
“We’ve made very good progress and there’s been lots of positives including increased funding and a host of new projects coming along.
“Our town centres are now in a much more positive place.”