Views on Spalding's drinking fountain and South Holland Centre

There was no sign on the door such as ‘Gone to Lunch’ or ‘Back in 10 minutes’. As I walked away a lady said she had tried earlier but got no response and she too wanted to book tickets and this was her second trip back.

Last Tuesday at 2.30pm I was back in town and tried once again but it was still all locked up, with a sign on the door stating ‘Box Office closed’.

If anyone should suggest the cinema is not well supported, I may be able to add some input as trying to support local enterprise or entertainment is certainly a trying experience.

John Ward

Moulton Seas End

The people of Spalding deserve better

The planning application to install the Johnson Drinking Fountain in Ayscoughfee Gardens, Spalding, has been withdrawn – although it is not altogether clear why.

Last week the Civic Society were told it was to allow time for us to study documents which we had previously requested, whilst the press were told the application had been withdrawn because it mentions shrubs rather than flowers and needs one or two other tweaks.

We should not be surprised, as it has never been easy to keep up with South Holland District Council when it comes to the Johnson Fountain.

In 2018 Coun Grocock declared to the council’s AGM that it was his “ambition” to reinstate the fountain “in the heart of the town centre”.

In early 2021, we were told it was to be put in the cemetery.

Now we are told that it is to be Ayscoughfee Gardens because, as Coun Grocock told the Town Forum in January, the Johnson sisters lived in Ayscoughfee Hall (they didn’t).

We are told that the fountain “has only been in two locations and it’s got to go in one of them” Really? Why?

If a third site could be identified which would enable it to have a much greater impact on the regeneration of the town centre, would it not be sensible to investigate the possibility thoroughly?

Historic England’s agreement to the former paddling pool area in Ayscoughfee Gardens is mentioned – “the highest level of expert advice” – well yes. But it does rather depend on what you asked them to give its expert advice on in the first place.

If it was just, say, to select the best out of three possible sites in the Gardens, then you’ve already ruled out the possibility of them offering any advice on the merits of anywhere else.

It’s not possible to be sure, as our Freedom of Information request was refused on 11 April on the grounds that it would take too much officer time to locate the information.

We are grateful though to have received some of the information we requested from a different council department.

There are three councillors in a mini task group, set up to determine the fate of the Fountain. Not one of them is a resident of Spalding. Surely Spalding residents and stakeholders should have been at the heart of the decision making process?

At the outset of the regeneration discussions, I called for all options for the fountain to be considered, so that a shortlist could be drawn up for wider consultation. This has not happened. I asked that the Society be engaged in the process. This has not happened. The Society was first told about the Ayscoughfee Gardens on the same day the press were notified.

The whole process has been less than transparent. The people of Spalding deserve better.

John Bland

Spalding & District Civic Society chair