Grantham: what future?

Grantham Journal article : 7 March 2007

Many things seem to be conspiring against the prosperity and future prospects of Grantham at the moment – the threat to our hospital, the permanent traffic congestion, the additional chaos caused by the temporary road works, the lack of parking places, and the great increase in parking prices at Grantham station.

Now we face weeks of disruption from gas pipelines being installed or replaced in some 60 streets.

All these things deter people from coming into the town. Businesses lose customers and money, and, unless relief comes quickly, some may disappear. If they do and they are not replaced, employment is threatened. Then more people leave town and the vicious circle takes another turn.

We are a long way from this kind of downward spiral at the moment. But we should be aware of its theoretical possibility.

We need an integrated vision of the future for Grantham, a clear sense of the attractions and weaknesses of the town, and a consensus on our requirements in infrastructure and other fields.

A lot of work has been done in the recent past, especially by SKDC. Many people will have firm ideas of their own, and all large businesses will have their own one year, five years and perhaps even longer-term plans. But we need to bring it all together and to involve the public as much as possible.

I will therefore be writing to all large employers in Grantham, to the Chamber of Commerce and the Business Club, to the banks (who are very crucial to investment decisions!), to the District and County Councils, and to one or two other leading figures, including the Mayor and the Editor of this paper (though he won’t know that until he sees this article) inviting them to a forum, to be held after the District Elections in May, to discuss the best way forward.

I will keep you all posted.