Individuals and businesses took the chance to examine plans for the £6.5m Food Heritage Centre at a consultation at the South Holland Centre last week.

The 3,100 sq metre three-storey building promises further and higher educational services, a specialist food court showcasing local produce, a new restaurant run by a Michelin-starred chef, and units for local businesses.

Of the 100 responses received on the day 90 per cent said they would use the specialist food court and 90 per cent said it would benefit Spalding. Suggestions for produce included fresh fish and meat, honey, pickles and cheese.

Ninety-three per cent said the centre as a whole would bring more businesses and organisations to the town and promisingly 35 companies have already made initial inquiries about the business units.

Sixty-one per cent thought buying local produce would be very important, 34 per cent thought it was quite important, and five per cent thought it was sometimes important.

The multi-agency project has been put together by partners South Holland District Council, Lincolnshire County Council, East Midlands Development Agency, Lincolnshire Enterprise, and Boston College.

Boston College marketing manager Mark Emmerson was delighted with the results. He said: “I did a consultation for a similar project in Boston and only got 40 people, so to get 100 was very pleasing.

“Many of those came in in groups with only one person marking the sheet on behalf of others, and the footfall was more than 200 people.

“Overall comments on the design were positive. People seemed to especially like the Broad Street area and the fact that it was an open-plan multi-use building.

“We also had a couple of people come in who were initially against it and changed their minds by the end, so that was also pleasing.”

lThe plans can still be viewed at South Holland District Council’s offices for the next week.