Water Day plans revealed in order to boost use of River Welland in Spalding

The ‘positive impact’ of getting more boats onto a river could be shown during an event next year.

Spalding councillor James Le Sage is hoping to promote the importance of the River Welland by holding a water day in the town next year.

Coun Le Sage - who has previously called for Cambridge-style punts to be used on the river - is also hoping to get a ramp installed in order to launch boats.

Speaking at Spalding Town Forum on Wednesday, the South Holland district councillor said: “We are going to attempt next year to do a water day to get as many people on kayaks to show what a positive impact that having more water craft on the river will have.”

He also updated members of the committee on his attempts to boost the use of the river by speaking to Anthony Grunwell from Spalding Water Taxi.

Coun Le Sage said they had identified a possible site for ramp and he was hoping to speak to those who are in control of the land.

He stated that the nearest ramps were in Crowland or Spalding Yacht Club where you have to be a member to use it.

His brother Coun Mark Le Sage announced earlier this year that the Spalding Raft Race is set to return in 2026 after a long break.

Celebrating the River Welland and the town’s heritage was the aim of the Spalding Reconnected project which received just under £250,000 of National Heritage Lottery funding.

An event is due to be held next month when a ‘series of commissioned natural artworks’ are due to be installed along the river bank.