Spalding traders call for officials to fight for funding to help town centre recover from Covid

Traders and representatives are calling for officials to fight for post-Covid recovery cash for Spalding town centre - and urged for it to be spent wisely to bring people into the town.

Coun Angela Newton represents South Holland on the The National Association of British Market Authorities (NABMA) and says Spalding needs pop up market stalls.

She believes they would encourage specialist markets to visit - and might also help to give a chance to young people who want a risk-free way to try a business idea.

She said: “We can encourage people to try a stall and do something with start ups. If we buy some pop up stalls then we could run a youth market and encourage young entrepreneurs to try a new idea.”

Coun Newton said the market is a vital ‘focal point’ that can bring in customers to shops too.

Spalding’s Town Centre Improvement Steering Group is already looking into how best to use a share of £500,000 funding - and there’s a larger £56 million Welcome Back Fund on offer from the Government to be spent on the look and feel of the nation’s high streets.

Julie Newman, of Spalding’s Sizzling Grill stall, said any funding has to be spent on permanent attractions.

She said: “It’s better to spend money on something that’s more for the duration than on a quick fix because that’s not going to work.

“If you spend it on street entertainment then people might come in for one Saturday but what good is that to the rest of the year?”

She thinks revitalising Hall Place - with outdoor seating - would be attractive and called for joined-up thinking so that market traders could take part in themed events at the likes of Ayscoughfee Hall.

Both believed it’s also important to ask the public what would attract them to Spalding.

Julie added: “They should ask people, what would bring you in to town?

“If you could come in and sit outside and listen to music would that do it? What do you need?”