Spalding and Holbeach £500,000 regeneration plans get greenlight from South Holland District Council

Exciting plans to spend more £500,000 to attract more people to Spalding and Holbeach town centres have been approved today.

Members of South Holland District Council's cabinet has approved the three year project to regenerate the two town centres at their meeting this morning.

A heritage trail, events programme and free WIFI are all part of the plans, funded from the Council’s growth and investment reserve.

Speaking after the meeting Coun Nick Worth, deputy leader and portfolio holder for growth and commercialisation, said it was a great decision to invest in the two main towns.

He said: "I think it is a really positive step. We know that high streets are struggling across the country so we are putting our money where our mouths are."

Coun Worth and Coun Gary Taylor will be working with local groups.

The plans include:

• Refurbishment and modernisation of town centre toilet facilities
• Installation of new street furniture including benches, bollards, planters and bins
• A programme of events including activities shows, specialist markets and celebrations
• Review and reshape the existing markets provision
• Free Wi-Fi provision along the high streets
• Creation of a heritage/arts trail featuring key heritage sites, buildings and river

A Town Centre Steering Group would also be established to feed into the shaping and developing of the plan. The groups will consist of local community and business representatives to give a wide range of experiences and views from the town, and to help inform elements of the project as they develop.

This is further positive news for Holbeach with the council being awarded £150,000 from the Future High Streets Fund to develop an improved business case for the town centre. This has to be submitted by June 2020 and could ultimately secure capital funding in the region of £5-10 million for the town, with the outcome likely to be announced by the Government in Autumn 2020.

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