I take no pleasure in being proved right that Springfields would kill Spalding town centre stone dead
Why am I rather unsurprised that Spalding is apparently facing a retail and economic crisis?
Years ago I was a member of the small group of district councillors whose task was to visit two towns with existing shopping centres, prior to consideration of the proposed development at Springfields.
We went to Bicester in Oxfordshire, and Street in beautiful Somerset.
The notable feature of both of those towns was that the shopping mall developments had been created immediately adjacent to the town centres, and many thousands of visitors moved (many by foot) between the town centre and the malls in both directions.
When the proposal for Springfields was being considered, I expressed the view that it's long distance from Spalding's town centre would, over a period, kill Spalding 'stone dead'.
It gives me no pleasure whatsoever to have been proved right.
I was one of only three members of the planning committee that night who voted against Springfields. I have been true to my forecast, and would never, ever, visit the shopping centre there.
Engineering a recovery of the retail sector in Spalding will require some really drastic action.
I would suggest, as an initial idea, which would need to be financed and worked out in detail, copying Fenland and doing away with car parking charges.
The resultant fillip to Spalding might be quite dramatic.
Tinkering will not right the wrong inflicted on our market town all those years ago.
Coun Chris Brewis
Representing Sutton Bridge and Wingland on South Holland District Council
