Holbeach trader Sam Bailey, of Funk Dora, says the town is dying and needs a plan to save it

Holbeach High Street will die unless there is a successful plan to turn the fortunes of the town around, a trader says.

Funky Dora owner Sam Bailey is calling for a new injection of life in the town to show that it has much more to offer than many local people believe.

She would like to see the market moved into the town centre from Boston Road South Car Park and for the empty shops to be tided up in order to improve the image of Holbeach.

Miss Bailey said: “I think there is stigma attached to Holbeach High Street that it is full of charity shops and hairdressers – we need to get away from that.

“If we can get people coming to give it a chance they will hopefully use the shops.

“We have got an opportunity to become a really good market town again with our independent shops.

“We need to change people’s perceptions of Holbeach – and we are trying to get people to realise the importance of it.

“If you want flowers, go to the Flower Basket as it has so many things in there.

“Trimmings is a fantastic shop.

“We have a nice selection of coffee shops and card shop which is so much more than a card shop.

“I’m just trying to make people aware of what we have.”

One of the things that Miss Bailey would like to see happen is the tidy up the empty shops in the town, such as the former Brake shop which has stood empty opposite the church.

She said: “It is a massive shop in the centre of town that is an absolute eyesore and something that could be so good.”

The other thing Miss Bailey would like to see is the market moved restored to pride of place in the town centre again and has suggested the wide pavement area in front of All Saints’ in Church Street as a location.

She said: “Most people don’t know there is a market in town. Usually there are only three stalls on a Thursday. If it was in town shop keepers would use it. We are supposed to be a market town but the market is out of town so there is no benefit.”

Miss Bailey would also like to see some improvements to car parking in the town to encourage people to visit along with the creation of a traders’ group to help bring about changes to the town.

She also went along to Holbeach Parish Council meeting on Monday to highlight the problems facing the high street and to call for greater support from the authority to traders.

Speaking after the meeting Miss Bailey said: “If we don’t have regular events and a reason to bring people to Holbeach, they are not going to come. We need to be building on the High Street. A lady from Bourne said they think Holbeach is wonderful as Bourne is on its knees.”

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