The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Civic pride is alive and well in South Holland as the Wombles of Spalding Common go from strength-to-strength.
The success of the group with more than 3,000 members has been clear to see over the last few months.
Now Surfleet is hoping to tap into a similar vein of community spirit to help get its play area back up and running in time for the summer holidays.
The parish council is hoping members of the community will help at Glen Park over the Bank Holiday weekend.
Council clerk Granville Hawkes said a health and safety report had identified work to be done, but the cost was five figures.
“We have got an industrial cleaning machine going in on Saturday, but we are hoping for some help over the weekend because we think we can do it much cheaper and quicker than the report says,” he said.
The play area has been closed since May 2019 and its condition has deteriorated ever since. It had been run by the Surfleet Play and Recreation Charity (SPARC) but closed when safety issues were identified.
Mr Hawkes said people were needed to help with the gardening, painting, cleaning and general maintenance of the area.
“The only thing we can’t source locally is the safety netting which we will have to buy from a supplier. We are hoping people will come over the weekend and help us – and if someone wants to set up a barbecue, donate some sausages and buns then that would be better still,” he said.
If anyone can help over the Bank Holiday, contact 07971 176124.
Meanwhile, the Wombles of Spalding Common, formed in January, continues to gather members and interest.
“We have around 500 active members and of those 100 hardcore members who go out regularly and help,” said Sam Roberts, one of the group’s founders.
“It hasn’t died down and there are 3,000 members on Facebook – it’s still going really well,” he added.
The group, which has also been working with schools in the area, recently received its third donation of pickers, labels, gloves and bags from Bakkavor’s Staff Employee Forum.
