Call to discuss 25 steps to make difference in Spilsby

Spilsby's market is one of the topics being explored.

A meeting is taking place at the Franklin Hall Conference Room in Halton Road tomorrow (Tuesday) at 6pm.

Residents are invited to join East Lindsey District Council as they review Spilsby’s Vital and Viable report and look at ways the authority can support stakeholders in the town to make a difference.

The report was produced by the Institute of Place Management (IPM) - an international professional body and learned society which is part of Manchester Metropolitan University and supports people who serve places.

As well as Spilsby, the IPM has produced reports for Alford Louth Mablethorpe and Horncastle.

The Spilsby 25 factor audit for vilality and viability covers topics such as retail offer, vision. walkability, appearance and markets.

Initially a workshop was held at King Edward VI Academy in October to discuss these.

The IPM concluded Spilsby is 'an attractive town and with good feel to it'.

"It has a number of unique characteristics that taken together provide a reason to visit," the report states.

"However, this doesn’t just happen. There needs to be some co-ordination and some work done to develop marketing and communications, although the cost for this may not be high. Social media is something that more towns are using to regularly communicate about events, pop-ups, activities in their towns and this draws footfall.

"Another aspect of rebranding is ensuring that positive and consistent messages about the town are the experience for visitors. Too often in towns people talk them down. Working to share information about what is happening is important."

The report concludes: " Spilsby is an attractive town with promise. We were encouraged by the generation of ideas at the workshop and by the visit to the town itself.

"This does not mean that all is or will be well.

"Town centres are facing considerable challenges as we described at the workshop but if action is now taken by the community and council together to think about the future of the town, to explore opportunities and to share this with the wider community, we think Spilsby has the means within it to respond to the challenges it faces."

To read the full report visit www.e-lindsey.gov.uk/vitalandviable

For more information or to book your place please email [email protected] or call 01507 613119.