Survey of Grantham residents shows support for Pennine Way railway bridge which would connect Poplar Farm to Great Gonerby

A councillor has completed a survey which asked for views on a railway bridge and is calling for the completion of community facilities in an estate.

South Kesteven District Councillor Paul Martin (Con, Arnoldfield) held a survey to collect feedback on the Pennine Way link road which would connect the Poplar Farm development and Great Gonerby.

He said that 67 per cent of Poplar Farm residents are in favour of the link road and bridge, with 33 per cent against.

The survey also found that, across Grantham, 80 per cent of people were supportive of the Pennine Way link, including 85 per cent of residents in Gonerby village.

Coun Martin said: “Having lived in various locations in north Grantham over the past forty years I, like my fellow residents, am very aware of the traffic issues and the need for Grantham traffic to “flow”.

“Over the past month or so I have been talking to many, many residents on their doorsteps about the Pennine Way link road.

“I also held a large survey a few months ago from which I received literally hundreds of written comments alongside the survey results.

Coun Martin stressed the importance of traffic flow in the north of Grantham, and he hopes that the completion of the Southern Relief Road will help.

He contoinued: “Some interesting alternative suggestions from the people of Grantham include a level crossing instead of a bridge, a car only bridge, just a cycle/pedestrian bridge or no bridge at all. One resident suggests a railway stop for the Nottingham line.

“I would like to thank residents who responded to the online survey and, more recently, those who I have spoken to on the doorstep.”

Coun Martin is hoping to push for Buckminster to bring forward the “long overdue” sports and community facilities in the Poplar Farm estate.

He said: “Very soon, I will be meeting with the developer who will be outlining their future plans for the estate and link road.

“I have always said that we cannot continue with Poplar Farm residents living without local facilities for years after they were told they would be built.

“I can't have children growing up amongst a half finished building site when parents thought they'd have their shop, sports facility, medical centre and so on.”