Town forum looks to parade float

Spalding’s tax payers could fund a float on behalf of the town at the proposed flower parade return next year.

The Spalding Town Forum is to ask South Holland District Council’s Cabinet to release £10,000 of its funding to go towards a float for the event set to happen on Saturday, May 6.

It’s to come from the £100,000 reserves created as part of the Spalding Special Expense, the extra council tax paid by residents of the town to fund some amenities in it.

The extraordinary meeting called by the forum heard it was the largest withdrawal from the reserve since £26,000 was taken out for the revamp of Spalding Cemetery last year.

The group, made up of the town’s councillors and other group members, unanimously voted it through.

The meeting’s chairman, Coun Roger Gambba-Jones said the forum would look to form a sub-group to oversee the float’s construction and ideas for it.

“We discussed a figure of £10,000 which is not considered to be unreasonable given the challenges that will be involved,” he said. “We know there are some around still in storage likely to be available,

“Then we need to find a way to power it and check for road-worthiness so it’s safe to operate on the road.

“It’s not a case of throwing money at this and expecting it to happen. The hard work now begins.”

Coun Roger Gambba-Jones also emphasised Spalding residents were invited to get involved with the creation of the float.

“We’ve got a big challenge on our hands. In a short space of time we’ve got to come up with something tangible. It’s not the case of giving £10k and saying see you in the beginning of May with our badge on.

“This is at a point now where sleeves have got to be rolled up and a group of people, not just ourselves, to create this and get it on the road, literally.”

Main organiser Steve Timewell claims around £100,000 has been pledged to fund the event including services that have been offered for free while a Go Fund Me page set up aiming to raise £50,000 has over £32,000.

Coun Gary Taylor said: “Well done to Steve and the volunteers for getting us to this stage in only a few weeks. The flower parade put Spalding on the map nationally and sometimes even internationally. It’s an opportunity for that to come back.

“It has support from the public, businesses and councillors and we’re showing our support.

“We know it’s moving forward. It’s coming home and it’s modern. We’re wishing all the best but we’re here to support and if he needs that to contact us in good time.”