South Holland District Council leader Nick Worth is calling on people to celebrate Spalding rather than tear it down

Spalding has a lot going for it and we need to celebrate it — according to South Holland District Council’s leader.

Coun Nick Worth is calling on people to ‘talk up’ the town’s unique identity in order to encourage people from outside the area to visit.

Concerns are regularly raised over social media about the state of the town along with issues with anti-social behaviour and its lack of shops and declining market.

But Coun Worth is hoping to change the narrative by highlighting the area’s eateries, shops and pubs along with a £26 million revamp of the Castle Sports Complex and the £20 million Spalding Town Board cash.

He said: “What we want is to be positive about the town and positive headlines about what is going well. We always look at the negative and not the positives.

“I would like to appeal to people to actually look at the town and from an outside prospective is quite nice town and we need to big it up.

“It is easy to be negative and critical. I don’t mind criticism as it can be healthy sometimes and I always listen to it. At the same time we need to be positive about the town otherwise people from outside will keep hearing about anti-social behaviour and fly-tipping.”

Coun Worth is also hoping people will make the most of the festive season as there will be a number of events held in town including the Christmas Lights Switch-on on November 29, late night shopping in The Crescent on December 6, Santa Fun Run on December 8 along with carols in Ayscoughfee on December 21.

The town will also be getting new Christmas lights thanks to a £70,000 investment from Spalding Town Board - which has the responsibility of spending £20million over ten years as Spalding was classed as ‘overlooked and taken for granted’ and so in need of extra investment as part of the government’s Long Term Plan for Towns

South Holland District Council and its partners were also awarded nearly £2million after being awarded National Portfolio Organisation status from Arts Council England.

Coun Worth said: “A great time of year is coming up with the Christmas season and there is a lot going on. It is a nice time of year and we have events on every weekend in December and I would like to do more after Christmas.

“People have been asking for it and we will do it. Arts council money if we put similar amounts towards and match fund it. £10,000 to £20,000 goes a long way.

“Spalding has a unique identity. We have got £20million coming to the town which is a massive investment for the town. There are a lot of opportunities to come over the years. That money will attract other people to the town.

“I am pleased to say that the football club is doing well. That will bring a large footfall to the town on match days that will benefit all the pubs, restaurants and cafes. It makes a difference to them. That was part of our reason for encouraging the football club to invest in the area.

“We have got that and a health and wellbeing hub coming which will make a big difference. I’m hearing people from Bourne say they can’t wait until we get the new swimming pool as they haven’t got anything like it out that way. We have a facility that people coming to Spalding and people need to talk it up.”

What do you think? What’s the best selling point of Spalding? Let us know in the comments below…