£1.2m green space scheme to transform Lincolnshire market town

The former Baltic Mill site will be turned into a new community green space

A £1.2m project will spruce up two areas in a Lincolnshire market town as part of a levelling-up scheme.

Proposals include turning the former Baltic Mill site in Gainsborough into a community green space and regenerating the town's Whitton Gardens.

This week, West Lindsey District Council confirmed it had approved the plans which were part of the Thriving Gainsborough project.

The district council said it expected the green spaces to open by 2025.

In 2021, West Lindsey District Council was awarded £10m from the government to regenerate the town and help create the Thriving Gainsborough 2024 project.

The council said the scheme hoped to address economic decline and "acute deprivation experienced across several wards".

Planning applications, which would also include a new cafe at Whitton Gardens, would be submitted in coming weeks, the council said.

Sally Grindrod-Smith, director of planning, regeneration and communities, called the project "an integral part" of the Thriving Gainsborough programme.

She said: "The bid for funding recognised that access to quality green space is limited in this part of Gainsborough and we can't wait to deliver this part of our levelling-up programme."

Rob Johnson, who runs Johnson's Traditional Fish and Chips in the town, said the investment was needed.

He told BBC Radio Lincolnshire: "Gainsborough needs regenerating big time, especially around the town centre to bring more people into the town.

"There are a lot of properties that are empty, now if we get a lot more footfall from people then I'm sure that people would look at taking on the businesses."

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