Spalding town centre may not be decorated with hanging baskets next year unless funding is found
Beautiful hanging baskets may not be adorning a town centre unless funding and helpers comes forward.
Every year flowers decorate shops and other businesses in Spalding town centre but currently there is no funding available for the 2024 summer.
Spalding Town Forum chairman Rob Gibson says £11,000 was spent this year on the 120 baskets which adorned the town centre, which included watering and stress testing the brackets.
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Coun Gibson also advised Wednesday’s meeting that the George Slinger is stepping down from Spalding in Bloom and is now appealing for a new co-ordinator.
He said: “As it stands there is no funding for baskets next year. If anyone has any ideas or options I am all ears.”
Coun Gibson also stated that it costs £85 per basket to water during the season.
Vice-chairman Jan Whitbourn suggested approaching traders to see if they could help.
She said: “Would they be prepared to look after their own baskets instead of having someone go around watering that is where the money goes and that is why we have a problem.
“The Crescent used to do that and do their own watering and bought the tubs from us.
“Unfortunately that good will has gone. We need to go back to the town and see if they would look after the baskets themselves.”
She also appealed for a volunteer to take on the Spalding in Bloom co-ordinator role.
Coun Mark Le Sage suggested appealing to local growers who might be able to support Spalding In Bloom.