Spalding’s Circle of Death in Hall Place to be removed

The much-hated ‘circle of death’ will be removed following public calls to sort out the anti-social behaviour in Spalding town centre.

Deputy leader of South Holland District Council Gary Taylor has announced that the seating circle in Hall Place – previously dubbed the ‘circle of death - is going to be removed in the new year following feedback from residents and shoppers.

The council has been running a consultation on how to spend £280,000 on ‘physical enhancements’ for Hall Place, the riverside and Red Lion Street.

Coun Taylor told Spalding Town Forum that the council had listened to the feedback from the public to keep some seats in Hall Place – but not the circle.

Coun Taylor said: “There was some support to retain some seating, particularly with those residents who are less mobile. There was a view that the circle of seats doesn’t create an environment that people are inclined to use.

“Views have been taken into account with regards to Hall Place. There will be some seating but not a circle. We need to remove the circle and those people that don’t treat that part of Spalding with respect.”

Coun Taylor said there were no time scales but said the next stage would be design work.

But not everyone was pleased to see the removal of the circle.

Forum member David Jones said he was disappointed that the ‘shape of the town was dictated by undesirables’ and said the seating was used during a Good Friday service.

He said: “It would be a shame to lose that (the Good Friday event) because we lose the seats. It is a pity that we are having to adjust to the miscreants rather than adjusting to the good things.”

Forum chairman Rob Gibson said: “The most important thing for the public is to get rid of anti-social behaviour. If there was no anti-social behaviour we would want the seating.”

Spalding Civic Society chairman John Bland defended the circular seating.

He said: “It is not the design of the seating that is the problem. It is the lack of proper use and proper policing of the seating.

“We need to deal with the anti-social behaviour. It is holding the town back and take that seating circle away and it is something that will be a matter of regret.

“We will lose that natural stage and the focus for events – that is what it was designed for.”