Spalding Flower Parade cancelled for 2025

The Spalding Flower Parade first took place in 1959 and attracted thousands of spectators

The Spalding Flower Parade will not take place next year, the organisers have said.

Reasons cited for the cancellation included a lack of council support, red tape and issues finding a replacement venue while the Castle Sport Complex is refurbished.

Steve Timewell said the decision was the "hardest thing I've ever had to do".

The leader of South Holland District Council, Nick Worth, described the situation as "sad" but said the authority would do all it can to help keep it going.

Organiser Steve Timewell apologised for cancelling the event but said "all good things come to an end"

Mr Timewell told the BBC the event had "taken over his life" for the past two years and had "taken its toll".

"There comes a point where you cannot cope anymore. There are more important things in Spalding than the flower parade and I can't see how it can continue.

"The regulations around health and safety are so stringent and tight. It just becomes impossible and that's where a lot of large events have failed.

"It's just not sustainable. There's no problem raising finances but it's the time and the hurdles that make it difficult."

More than a million flowers were used to decorate the floats

The community interest group which runs the event said it had considered scaling back the event but said it would take "too much" to run.

Nick Worth, the leader of South Holland District Council, hit back at claims the authority had not been supportive of the event and said it was "completely untrue".

"Our staff do a huge amount for the parade. We put on additional waste collections, we have a team that makes sure everything is spick and span in the days leading up to it.

"Our officers also offered to help him (the organiser) apply for funding but he didn't take that up. We've also been willing to help find land for a new venue.

"If the volunteers are keen to take it on we'll see what help we can provide".

The parade was first held in 1959 but stopped in 2013. It was then revived in 2023.

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