Moulton councillor calls for Spalding Town Vision to improve Winsover Road and sort out derelict buildings
Tidying up an ‘uninviting’ key route and sorting out grot spots need to be included in the £20million vision to rejuvenate the town.
Members of South Holland District Council have had their say on the Spalding Town Board’s ideas for spending the Government Plan for Neighbourhood cash in a bid to turn around the fortunes of the area.
While the proposals have received some support, there were calls to sort out Winsover Road, alleyways along with derelict buildings such as the Bull and Monkie and improving links between the town centre and Springfields shopping centre.
More than 200 people have had their say on the vision, which includes plans for a canopy for the market, making greater use of the South Holland Centre, a new footbridge and tiered seating near Ayscoughfee Hall, before it is submitted to the Government for sign-off next month.
Coun Andrew Woolf, who was elected as chairman of the joint Policy Development and Performance Monitoring Panels meeting, felt that the vision has missed out on improved links to the revamped Castle Sports Complex, which is currently undergoing a £26million transformation in a Health and Wellbeing Hub.
The Moulton, Weston and Cowbit member wanted to see more connections to the Albion Street site, and highlighted the tricky junction with Pinchbeck Road, but also called for improvements to other parts of the town.
He said: “If you are going to come into town it needs to be inviting and a nice place to be - especially if you are coming for a far.
“But if you come down Winsover Road in its current state - that is not very inviting. You are probably going to pass through.”
Coun Woolf later highlighted the impact of improving areas like The Crescent, which includes fully paving the area between Francis Street and Priory Road, by some of the derelict buildings in the area.
He said: “It is a beautiful town. When I look at the drawings of The Crescent, it looks like The Shambles in York. It looks very nice cobbled but if you carry on all the way down, you come to the hideous building that was the old Sorting Office. Those are things that are going to drag things down.”
Another key grot spot, The Bull and Monkie, which is set to be demolished to make way for an 86 bedroom care home, was discussed by Coun Bryan Alcock.
He told the meeting that the Churchgate site was ‘extremely difficult’ to develop as there are so many limitations to overcome and added that the ‘commercial world can’t find a solution’ to the site at the present moment.
The Crowland councillor, who is a senior member of the planning committee, said: “A viable use for that site might be a car park.”
He said the vision was ‘extremely good’ but also called for the town to be tidied up along with raising concerns about the importance of convenient parking.
Coun Alcock added: “I don’t think rejuvenating the town centre is going to be easy, I think it is going to be incredibly difficult.”
He later said: “There are two key things for me, one is to get get much better links and awareness from Springfields. And there is no mention of alleyways that goes off Swan Place. These are not very attractive passage if you go down there.
“Those people who are going to be to the general area of Spalding need to be invited by attractive areas in the town centre.”
Coun Chris Brewis called for a quarter hour bus service between Spalding and Springfields.
The meeting heard that the town board will be receiving £600,000 in the 2026/27 financial year the first £2million allocation will come through on 2027/28 financial year.
The town board’s submission to Government, which will include the 10 year vision and investment plans, will be presented to South Holland District Council members in November and it will also go before the cabinet.