Boston Gateway project hints at future for Spalding Abbey Passage

Could this be an indication of what Spalding's Abbey Passage makeover could be like?

This paper recently revealed that Transported Arts will head a £35,000 project to brighten up the walkway with a Flower Parade-inspired mural, in a bid to curb anti-social behaviour.

Programme director Nick Jones pointed to work done by his group at the Boston Gateway - the site of the former town centre bus station near the now-empty B&M Bargains - an an example of what to expect.

There installations include mosaic, featuring memories contributed by the public and banner designs to highlight life in the town.

Abbey Passage is currently a gloomy walkway which has been met with disdain by locals as it is often used by people to urinate.

However, Mr Jones believes that brightening up the site can lead to aspirational changes in mentality from the public.

He told this paper: "That project (in Boston) demonstrates that when you work with the community to create art work that raise people’s pride in the area and then you change people’s behaviour.

“I’m not naive to suggest that you don’t move it somewhere else. The challenge is how do we change people’s behaviour - we do it by changing how they feel about the place.”

South Holland District Council was awarded a £30,000 Arts Council England National Lottery Grant and will also be supporting it with £5,000 from the Spalding Town Centre Improvement Budget.