“Blatantly untrue!” South Holland District Council leader Nick Worth hits back at suggestions lack of support from the authority has played its part in next year’s Spalding Flower Parade not going ahead
South Holland District Council leader Nick Worth has hit back at suggestions that a lack of support from the authority has played its part in next year’s Spalding Flower Parade not going ahead, labelling accusations ‘blatantly untrue’.
In a video message posted this morning, parade organiser Stephen Timewell announced he would not be putting on an event in 2025.
He gave a number of reasons, including the personal toll the event takes on him.
But he also cited further issues, including a lack of support, funding and red tape, which many have seen as a slight towards SHDC.
“From day one, we've had no support whatsoever from any authority,” Mr Timewell said.
“I won't name any names or anything like that, but we've not had any funding. We've had to raise every penny ourselves and, in fact, from from certain local persons in authority, for two years now, we've had nothing but grief.
“There are certain persons within authority that have done nothing but give me grief and it's deliberate grief for two years now.
“And again, it says I I've asked local authorities for help and sponsorship, and we've had nothing, nothing whatsoever.
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“So there comes a point where you say like enough is enough. There's obviously people that don't want this to work.”
However, Coun Worth defended the authority, stating: “Some of the comments were blatantly untrue. The main one being finance.
“We directed him to the UKSPF (UK Shared Prosperity Fund), which is where our community funding comes from.
“He put an application in and it was not successful because it didn’t have enough financial information.
“The officer turned around and offered to help with the application if he wanted our help with that, or we could direct to other alternative funding. But he didn’t take us up on that.”
Coun Worth also refuted comments suggesting the council do nothing to aid the parade, pointing to work done by the Pride Team — which cleaned up after the event — and also the safety advisory team which worked alongside Lincolnshire Police and Lincolnshire County Council to ensure the parade was able to go ahead.
“It’s also unfair to say we did nothing,” Coun Worth added.
“We have workers who live and work in the town and they’re miffed to see this.”
Coun Worth also reacted to comments made about a lack of green spaces to stage the event due to the Castle Sports Complex potentially being out of action due to its £26 million makeover.
Last week he told LincsOnline that SHDC would be willing to look at places that could act as the parade’s base, with the Monkshouse Playing Field the most likely venue.
“We’ve always been willing to help with that one,” Coun Worth reiterated.
“We’ve already saved the parade a lot of money by letting them use the Castle for free.”
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