South Holland local elections: Calls for cleaner streets, road improvements and saving public toilets

Cleaner streets, road and path improvements and saving public toilets were some of the issues raised by Spalding residents ahead of next week’s elections.

All of South Holland’s 37 seats are up for election next week, however, the Conservatives are already five uncontested seats ahead of the game.

The party currently holds power with 28 seats.

You can find all the election candidates for East Lindsey District Council here.

Ahead of the big day, local people have been telling Local Democracy Reporter Daniel Jaines their view on the streets of Spalding for what the issues in the town are as he walked around the town.

Brenda Howe, of Spalding, said there was an issue with people urinating in the street.

She added: “The streets look untidy as well, it’s the cleanliness – the paths are covered in stuff and all the gutters are full. Down our street i’ts ridiculous.

“I’ve lived here 10 years and the difference is so noticeable.”

Sharon Palmer, 39, from Spalding, said she felt let down by the Brexit debate nationally – accusing politicians of ‘going back on their word’.

Her focusses included anti-social behaviour such as public drunkenness and litter, however she also called on councillors to get more done to repair roads.

“The councils are always digging up the roads and putting new ones in but they can’t look after the ones they have already got.”

She, along with others, suggested some of the residential paths could do with being wider so people weren’t forced to walk on the road – particularly to avoid prams, pushchairs and wheelchairs.

Gordon Taylor, 83, and David Liquorish, 58, both agreed more needed to be done to keep public toilets open for residents and visitors alike.

“The public toilets need dealing with, they get trashed by ASB and crime. Vandals etc. They need to protect them and keep them open,” said Mr Taylor.

“One in the town centre closed for two months because of the ceiling falling in, but that’s a long time,” added Mr Liquorish.

He added councillors needed to be more vocal on issues such as police funding.

Other residents raised concerns with the increase in council tax and expressed sympathy with residents on the route of the Spalding Western Relief Road, which campaigners are currently trying to stop going through people’s houses.

One resident called on the council to rethink its stance on the planned Springwell Alternative Academy Spalding school at the Matmore Gate site which will look to help disruptive pupils.

Although the school has already been given permission and was due to open this month the resident argued traffic would be hugely increased on top of already strenuous parking issues caused by the two existing nearby schools.

South Holland District Council is Conservative-led, with the party holding 28 seats. Independents hold eight seats while one declared non-aligned holds the last.

There are eight councillors who are not running this year, including Conservatives George Alvey (Spalding Monkhouse), Jim Still (Crowland and Deeping St Nicholas), Malcolm Chandler (Whaplode and Holbeach St Johns), Colin Johnson and Susan Wray (both Donington, Quadring and Gosberton).

Joining them are independents David Booth (Sutton Bridge) and Graham Dark (Spalding St John’s) and unaligned councillor Peter Williams (Spalding St Paul’s).

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