Spalding action plan aims to get share of heritage tourism cash with the flower parade and Johnson Hospital among the projects listed

Securing the future of Spalding Flower Parade and the former Johnson Hospital are on a wish list of improvements being planned for the town in order to get a share of the thriving heritage tourism industry.

Traders could also receive money to improve their shopfronts or reinstate historical elements if the Spalding is successful in being designated a National Lottery Townscape Heritage programme – which typically comes with £1million of funding.

These suggestions have been listed in the Spading Heritage Action Plan for Transformative Change, which is currently under consultation along with proposals to extend the town’s conservation area along with that of Holbeach.

This 10-year plan and a long awaited shop design guide form part of the Spalding Heritage Strategy which aims to celebrate the town’s heritage. These documents are the result of the £225,000 Lottery-funded Spalding Reconnected Project, which also brought about the willow structures along London Road, new signage and the floating habitats near High Bridge.

It appears to be running separately to the Spalding Town Board proposals to reinvigorate the town using £20million Plan for Neighbourhood cash, which are due to be submitted to the Government for sign-off later this week.

The heritage action plan states: “Spalding has amazing heritage professionals and organisations who are doing innovative and impactful work already. The next 10 years of focused and connected heritage work through this strategy and action plan is an incredible opportunity to build on this foundation to bring heritage to the forefront of impressions of the town and change the way locals, visitors and the wider community perceive and experience Spalding.”

The ten year action plan provides a roadmap of how South Holland District Council along with heritage organisations and community groups can attract funding for a range of projects.

It is aimed that these proposals will fall into ten themes which were devised following an engagement exercise conducted by Heritage Lincolnshire a couple of years ago. These themes are: connectivity and communication; nature and landscape; public places; heritage-led regeneration; heritage is open for all communities; heritage and wellbeing.

A number of projects listed within the plan are already taking place such as Spading Gentlemen’s Society’s multi-million plans to refurbish their existing museum as well as extending into the neighbouring former business centre and Chain Bridge Forge’s digital blacksmithing project.

The plan’s ‘flagship’ proposal is an ‘area-based heritage-led regeneration scheme’ which aims to repair buildings and bring back historical details in order to boost vibrancy in the town centre.

To do this, an application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund is due to be submitted in January next year to get townscape heritage status. If this is approved, it is hoped to start work on delivering the projects between 2029 and 2032 with development work commencing in 2027.

But there are two headline proposals in the plan which would mean a great deal to the people of Spalding.

One is to develop a long-term plan for Spalding Flower Parade by exploring the current agricultural industries of daffodils and pumpkins as well as the historic tulip connection.

The second is finding a sustainable use for the former Johnson Hospital. This will include negotiating the ownership of the building along with undertaking a feasbility study to look at various uses of the site including affordable housing.

This Victorian Gothic building has been allowed to rot since the NHS sold the Priory Road site but people in the area have put forward other suggestions including using it for an creative arts site.

Other proposals included in the plan are:

– Conserving the Spalding Cemetery Chapels and Johnson Mausoleum

– Developing a water festival to celebrate Spalding’s heritage as a port

– Introducing a cafe/functional space to expand Spalding Railway Station’s waiting facilities

– A small seating area with The Bakers statue, which used to stand at the entrance to Spalding Bakery, created in Swan Walk

– Creating a town centre green space area in The Sycamores, near the Herring Lane Car Park.

– Developing a cultural events programme and a local list for nature and heritage

– Restoring the Grade II listed Veterchery in Mallard Road

– A heritage interpretation project investigating the history of Ayscoughfee Gardens

– Projects looking at the maritime, railway and wartime heritage of Spalding

– Explore the remnants of medieval built heritage and the story of medieval Spalding.