Road repair fury in Grantham

The head of Grantham
Business Club has hit out at highways chiefs for major road repair programmes
taking place in Grantham at the same time.

Chairman Sue Hodgson fears that with the repairs happening all at once, drivers may be deterred from driving into Grantham town centre, particularly hitting businesses on London Road.

Lincolnshire County Council starts work on two major highways projects in Grantham in the coming days, with a third to follow.

On Sunday, from 6am, reconstruction of the London Road/ Wharf Road junction will begin. Road crews will work 24 hours a day, aiming to finish by 7am on Friday, August 3.

The junction will close for six days with local diversions for smaller vehicles that can travel under railway bridges, while larger vehicles will be diverted via the A1.

A second major project sees new traffic lights being installed on the London Road/ Bridge End Road junction. Work starts on Monday, August 6, which will involve closing Springfield Road between the A52/B1185 and a point 50 metres west of the railway bridge for four weeks.

A third scheme will reconstruct Avenue Road/ Springfield Road between Monday, August 13, and Sunday, September 2. A section of road between the B1174 St Peter’s Hill and Sandon Road will be rebuilt, while the footpath between Castlegate and Welham Street will be resurfaced and new kerbing installed. Work will take place during the daytime, with the road
closed and diversions in
place.

However, Mrs Hodgson says she cannot believe the two London Road projects are happening at the same
time.

“It’s really disgraceful. What’s happening to the businesses in London Road? Nobody will get to them. As chairman of the Grantham Business Club, I am staggered that these two roads are going to be closed at the same time. Why don’t they close Sankt Augustin Way as well! I am speechless!”

She pledged to complain to county highways officials and its executive member for highways, Grantham councillor Richard Davies.

Coun Davies said:“Road improvements within a major town are always going to have some level of impact. However, traffic tends to be much lighter during the school holidays, so we aim to get as much work done as possible on our busiest routes during that window.

“We always try to work closely with local businesses so we can accommodate their needs as far as possible. I’ve attended many recent meetings of Grantham Business Club, and both the club and the majority of businesses I’ve spoken to were strongly of the opinion that the work should be done without delay and in a way that minimises disruption. Months of prolonged work, rather than a short-term hit, clearly wouldn’t satisfy that demand.

“Our team will be working to get these improvements done as soon as possible, and the long-term benefits will certainly outweigh the short-term pain.”