South Holland and the Deepings General Election candidates debate how they would spend Spalding’s £20 million funding

What should be done to boost Spalding? Whoever becomes the new MP after Thursday’s vote will sit on the town board - the body tasked with spending £20 million over the next ten years to improve the town’s fortunes.

The cash was handed over after the Government said Spalding had become a ‘left behind town’ — with the aim to ‘provide long-term investment in towns that have been overlooked and taken for granted’.

The six candidates for South Holland and the Deepings offered their views by answering the following question:

Spalding has £20 million ‘left behind town’ money - what would your number one priority be for spending this cash wisely?

Rhys Baker (Green)

I am keen on some of the community ideas that can kill two birds with one stone. For example, buying the Johnson hospital and converting it into a community hub with homelessness support, a warm hub and a community reading café would fix up one of our grot spots, address homelessness in the area, and provide a community space that residents don’t need to pay to enjoy. Funding could be used to revitalise our play areas with better equipment, provide safe places to play, address obesity and get children outside. We could clean up our waterways, provide community “healthy cooking” sessions, or upskilling workshops. We can be really creative.

We have already seen 500 responses to the consultation, and it is right that the town board take the lead on how this money is eventually used. But I am sure I speak for everyone in Spalding that I want to see the money getting spent!

Jack Braginton (Liberal Democrat)

The first thing to do is to ensure this money gets delivered! Nobody knows what a Labour government will do, and it is only the Liberal Democrats who are preparing to challenge them and stand up for our local communities. The Tories have already promised to redirect the levelling-up fund into their National Service plan instead if they are elected, in another broken promise to our towns. In terms of spending the money, I believe that the consultation must go wider and include more of the public directly. I believe in local people having power in our communities. I want to see a restoration of our towns, cleaning them up and emphasising the beauty of our area. It is my duty to work in Parliament, on a national level alongside this effort, to ensure our towns are never left behind again.

John Hayes (Conservative)

Having been asked to help lead the case to Conservative Ministers for Spalding to get the £20 million funding to revitalise our town… I did so and we won. That success comes on top of the other recent good news - the record £42 million additional funding we’ve won for South Holland since 2021.

As a member of the Town Board which is working to determine the best use of the £20 million, it is essential that we use this extra funding to rejuvenate Spalding, building a lasting legacy through which the community can feel inspired and excited, and which by investing in high streets boosts the local economy.

My joint top priorities would be to tackle notable ‘grot spots’, and to tackle anti-social behaviour.

The old Johnson Hospital, empty for years makes me sad each time I pass it imagining all those born there and treated there in years gone by. This fine old building, gifted to the town, should surely be brought back to life. Revitalising that and other derelict buildings would nurture community spirit and nourish local pride. Many studies have shown dereliction leads to delinquency, so tackling the first helps to counter the second.

Paul Hilliar (Labour)

Spalding is lucky to be one of the few towns receiving this money. But I do feel for others towns in the area who are not. The Tories’ ‘levelling up’ agenda has failed and under Labour, we want to see proper funding for local councils alongside more powers for them to make investments they believe in.

It’s wonderful that local people will be empowered to say how this money should be spent and I’d relish sitting on the Town Board to shape the vision. I have made my priorities clear for the area and would advocate for it to be spent on reviving the town centre, community spaces and play areas. But it’s not entirely up to me! So, however the group collectively decide how the money is spent, I’d urge for it to be allocated to long-term, sustainable projects.

Mark Le Sage (Independent)

Unfortunately, Spalding HAS been left behind by the Conservative district council, this is a direct result of years of underfunding by the Conservative government.

The £20million (£2Million a year) is a drop in the ocean as to what should have been given to the area over the last 14 years. As with my response to a previous question my priority would be to tackle Anti-Social Behaviour & Street drinking. We need our towns to be safe, clean and vibrant to encourage residents back, which would then hopefully encourage business back to our beautiful little town.

Matthew Swainson (Reform UK)

Exactly that: To spend it wisely. It must be spent on capital projects which will deliver value for years to come, not on repairs and maintenance. To that end I would seek input from members of the public and put their ideas to a plebiscite. This is the people’s money and should be spent according to their priorities.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments below…