Call for school crossing on busy Holbeach road

Calls have been made for a crossing to be installed on a busy road to help youngsters get to school safely.

Holbeach Primary Academy pupils and their families are having to negotiate Boston Road South with the cars which travel ‘damn fast’ from the roundabout.

The problem was raised during the annual meeting of Holbeach Parish Council when members were told there is not a lollipop lady or other form of crossing.

Coun Isobel Hutchinson told the meeting that she had been approached by the parent of a pupil who is campaigning for a crossing.

She told the meeting that there had previously been a lollipop lady but parents had been told that it was now too dangerous to have one.

She said: “An awful lot of children cross the road and it is a really busy road.

“Currently in town we are having a crossing revamped as it’s deemed to be needed an upgrade. William Stukeley Primary School had one. Why on earth with cars speeding down Boston Road. Can we please put pressure to get a crossing on that road?”

Last year Lincolnshire County Council installed a puffin crossing in Spalding Road, Holbeach, as part of a £3.8 million improvement scheme. This is used by families and pupils of the William Stukeley school.

The county council is also replacing the existing pedestrian crossing in Fleet Road, near the Co-op, with a modern modern low voltage one as part of a £100,000 scheme.

Council chairman Peter Savory told the meeting, which took place in Holbeach Methodist Church Hall, that parking around the Boston Road school did not help but agreed action should be taken.

He said: “There should be a crossing there - it is a busy road and they come off that roundabout damn fast. It should be an advisory 20mph speed limit but hardly anyone sticks to it.”

- The council will also be meeting with Holbeach United Football Club over a number of issues relating to the Carter’s Park ground and the lease.

- Former councillor Pat Ward had written with a number of issues including the Cemetery Chapels.

He stated that if the chapels could not be ‘restored economically’ there may be little choice but to demolish them.

Deputy clerk Becky Brothwell told the meeting that the chapels are home to bats, which are a protected species, and could not be pulled down.

- Former councillor Rick Stevens called for two members of the council to resign ‘on behalf of the people of Holbeach’.

Coun Isobel Hutchinson said she would not be resigning and that the council had worked more effectively recently.