Events planned for Spalding and Holbeach market days to bring people back into town centres
A series of events have been planned for market days in Spalding and Holbeach as part of a bid to bring people back into town centres.
Tomorrow (Tuesday) sees the start of a programme of entertainment that aims to give visitors extra reasons to support town traders after the pandemic.
There will be street entertainers working throughout the town in Spalding tomorrow - and they will also greet shoppers in Holbeach on Thursday.
Once Covid restrictions are fully lifted the monthly events will increase in size and scope - with the prospect of a brass band and live music, sports club showcases, props for photo opportunities and mini golf.
The events were revealed at a meeting of the Spalding Town Centre Steering Group last week.
At that meeting, it was also revealed that South Holland traders had benefited from £3.6 million in Government Restart Grants to help them bounce back from Covid.
The group - a mix of traders, councillors, officers and community leaders - heard how bus passenger numbers are now still at about 65-70% of pre-pandemic levels.
Brylaine bus firm MD Marianne Garbutt said: “Older people are still slow to come back on board in terms of public transport. They are coming back but they are going to be hesistant.”
Nationwide Building Society’s Stephen Sharp said customer numbers were down about 50% still in Spalding.
Over at Springfields, retail director Simon Stone said footfall was still under 2019 levels - but that turnover was strong.
A set of hanging baskets has already been put up around Spalding thanks to donations from David Ball at Bridge Farm.
There was a general optimism that people are giving their support for Spalding traders - with the green shoots of recovery showing.
Coun Angela Newton said: “You can’t say it’s buzzing yet - but when you get a nice day there’s a different feel in the place and it’s really lovely.”
Coun Liz Sneath said: “It’s a different atmosphere in the town now - it’s not buzzing but it’s quietly bubbling away.”
She praised the new-look Hills and said its prosecco bar was helping to attract people into the town.
Trader Graham Boor, who works at Hughes, said visitors are not ‘lingering’ in the town for long.
He said it was the ‘holy grail’ to encourage shoppers to stay around after 1pm, when trade tends to tail off.
He said: “We have got to find some way of getting the retail day to last longer.”
He added: “We are happy with the way things are going but we just need a quick fix.”
He said that parking prices and toilet facilities are regularly raised as things that need fixing with the town.
Coun Roger Gambba-Jones suggested timing street entertainment so that events would give people a reason to stay in Spalding into the afternoon.
He also said that having a town council would be good for Spalding.
It would be a way to ensure that the ideas being raised now can continue on for several years to come - and that plans could be made for the long term.
