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Spalding and District Civic Society puts forward alternative plan for ex Bull and Monkie pub in Spalding




Civic leaders are putting forward plans for a well-known eyesore to be given a new lease of life as based for a new Spalding Town Council.

Spalding and District Civic Society wants to kick start a debate on the future use of key buildings in the town ahead of major political reforms — which could see South Holland district and Lincolnshire county council axed in favour of larger unitary authorities.

As a result of these major changes, Spalding could also be getting a town council — and the civic society feels the Bull and Monkie would be a better home for this smaller authority.

The Bull and Monkie is one of Spalding's grotspots
The Bull and Monkie is one of Spalding's grotspots

It argues that the current district council building in Priory Road should be sold off as a care home. It is also calling for the former Barclay’s Bank building in Hall Place be used as local offices for the new unitary authority.

Plans were lodged nearly two years ago to transform the derelict Bull and Monkie site into an 88 bedroom care home and the tweaked designs are due to go before planners later this summer.

The civic society states in its objection to the plan that: “Local Government Reform means that a town council is no longer an aspiration; it will be a necessity.

South Holland District Council's Priory Road HQ
South Holland District Council's Priory Road HQ

“If the local authority considered this site along with the empty Barclays Bank building and council offices, a scheme could be devised that would enable the Bull & Monkie to be repurposed as a Town Hall and the Barclays Bank building purchased for use by the unitary authority which will inevitably require a smaller amount of space in the town.

“This would have the advantage of bringing council services into the heart of the town. The existing council offices could then be sold for use as a care home. Whilst it would require some consideration to determine whether such an arrangement is viable, given the respective values of each site, if adopted, there is the potential for a significant profit to be made that could benefit the town of Spalding in future.”

Controversial plans were submitted last month to convert the former Barclays bank site into a Boylesports betting shop, which has sparked some anger in the town.

District council leader Nick Worth has said a Spalding Town Council would form part of major changes to the political landscape.

Spalding currently only has a town forum where councillors and figureheads share ideas. It has no powers of its own and proposals have to be rubber stamped by SHDC.

Labour wants to replace district and county councils with larger unitary authorities each serving a population of about 500,000. One proposal could see the county split into two - with authorities governing the north and south.

Spalding Civic Society chairman John Bland
Spalding Civic Society chairman John Bland

Civic society chairman John Bland said: “Given the considerable public interest in the proposal to turn Barclays Bank into a betting shop this alternative suggestion for the Bull & Monkie site which I proposed at the Civic Society annual meeting is probably now more relevant than ever.

“Whilst we do not know how much space the new unitary authority that will replace the district council will need in Spalding; it is very likely that the current council offices will become redundant.

“The scale of that building does lend itself to having a potential future use as a care home. Therefore, we feel that our proposal should be explored further to determine whether it is viable.

“Even if it was not viable to use the upstairs space at Barclays Bank for the unitary authority, if the Job Centre and Citizens Advice Centre were relocated to the ground floor of Barclays, this would on its own provide a considerable boost to footfall in Spalding Town Centre.”

A district council spokesman said the Bull and Monkie application will be determined by the planning committee in the late summer.

They added: “We always welcome suggestions from residents, businesses and local organisations, but any future unitary models and the implications of them remain unknown at this time, so it is not possible to accurately predict what type or size of building will be required in Spalding for this, though there are already existing council assets available for consideration for these purposes.”

What do you think? Send your views to news@lincsonline.co.uk or post your thoughts in the comments below…



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