Spalding Flower Parade excitement so high that 'any date would have gone down a treat'

The organiser of next year’s hotly anticipated revived flower parade has been forced to change the event’s date.

The decision to rearrange the Spalding Flower Parade was made at an emergency meeting called just hours after details of King Charles III’s coronation were announced.

Both events were set to clash on May 6, 2023, and while organiser Stephen Timewell was initially confident he could keep the date, mounting pressure forced his hand.

Addressing committee members on Wednesday night, Steve said: “This has caused a problem which I do believe can be solved.

“You may have seen on Facebook that the poll suggested May 13 is the best option, which I personally agree with.

“But as it’s such a massive problem to solve I didn’t think it was for me to do all on my own as I need second opinions.”

A number of problems had been raised in the wake of the coronation announcement, from concerns over police and medical staff being drafted to London to coach companies pulling out.

Concerns were also raised over the parade’s 52 road closures which would clash with any street parties.

Steve had also looked in to screening the coronation as part of the parade celebrations while toying with different dates. He said: “Now, no one really wants me to do it on May 6, Lincolnshire County Council especially in terms of the road closures.

“We can’t go any sooner, mostly because of the flower situation and we couldn’t do it on the Sunday after as the (district) council don’t like to have live music on Sundays in the arena (Castle Sports Complex).

“I also looked at a two day event with screens on the Saturday and the parade on the Sunday but it’s too much.”

Nick Stockdale, of Tilly’s Garden Party, agreed that May 13 would give everyone the chance to see both events.

He said: “The flower parade audience is going to be the same people who are interested with the coronation.”

Steve added: “We’ve already had one coach company cancel and I anticipate all nine would not be happy.

“They will be bringing pensioners who have more loyalty to the crown.”

The committee present at the meeting voted unanimously in favour of changing the date to May 13, with Cliff Brinkley of CD Inflatables adding: “It’s such a shame that we lost it so any date would have gone down a treat as people want it so much.”

l Steve did fear South Holland District Council would charge him twice for a licence to use the Castle Sports Complex field due to the date change.

However, a district council spokesman confirmed to the Lincolnshire Free Press that the authority will not be making any extra charges for the licence changes.