Plans go in for new location for Spalding mosaic

A mosaic which had been earmarked for a town centre grot spot could be decorating a different location if planners give the thumbs up.

The Flos Pompa mosaic was originally planned to be decorating Spalding’s Abbey Passage after being created in a £35,000 project funded by Arts Council England and South Holland District Council.

Now Transported Centre for Culture and Creativity has submitted a planning application to erect the mural on a wall in Double Street, which is close to the town’s Herring Lane car park.

The original Abbey Passage project had created some debate in the town with many people feeling it was a waste of money while others felt it might prevent anti-social behaviour in the area. It also attracted some cheeky graffiti when someone sprayed “30k p*** alleyway" on the wall in 2023.

Nick Jones, director of Transported said: “Thanks to such incredible community enthusiasm, the Flos Pompa ceramic mural has grown bigger than we ever imagined.

“As a result, we are hoping the final artwork will be installed on Herring Lane at the corner of Double Street, a more open and visible site in Spalding and able to accommodate the larger panels: a prominent location welcoming those arriving by water taxi or walking the riverside, and anyone passing along one of Spalding’s busiest roads or using the neighbouring car park.

“The site will enable viewers to see it from a distance as well as get up close to appreciate the amazing, detailed celebration of Spalding and the very special history of its Flower Parade.

“We are waiting to hear of the planning applications results and hopeful we can announce the location to the public soon.”

Supporting information lodged with the application states that the mural will not harm the town’s conservation area but will ‘enliven and enhance Herring Lane’.

The document states: “The original proposal for the project outlined the recognised need for high quality public realm interventions in the town to enhance its character, contribute to the reduction in anti-social behaviour by creating better public spaces, and involving the community in the process of deciding what was needed.

“These observations were made as part of South Holland District Council’s regeneration sub-committee which included representatives from the council, the county council, Transported, and other local stakeholders.

“The mural design emerged as part of a creative community consultation process with initial workshops in the town centre as part of the Pumpkin Festival. Many people spoke fondly of their memories of the flower parade and Spalding’s significant horticultural heritage symbolised with the growing of tulips. This inspired the artists to develop a mass participation ceramic project using floral heritage as a starting point.

“The mural’s size means that it needs to be displayed on a large area of wall so that it can be appreciated by the public but without detracting from its setting. The wall on Herring Lane that is part of The Lime site offers an area of wall suitable for this purpose.

“Other sites around the town have been considered but many ruled out due to other street furniture obscuring views or permissions from site owners being unobtainable. The artwork will enhance the character of the town as a standalone piece but can also be seen as part of a suite of artworks and sustained interventions that reference the town’s unique heritage and history, delivered in consultation with the local community’s wants, needs, and aspirations.”