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Crowland leaders told to keep Radar Junction roundabout on their 'wishlist' ahead of county devolution plans




A permanent solution to safety concerns at a junction of the A16 in Crowland may lie in possible changes to how Lincolnshire is run.

Town leaders were urged not to give up on their hopes for a roundabout at the A16/B1166 junction, known as Radar Corner, as plans to reorganise the county’s district and county councils are being developed.

During a virtual meeting of Crowland Parish Council on Monday, parish and district councillor Bryan Alcock told members to “keep alive our aspirations” for a new roundabout so that South Holland’s importance to the county’s food and farming sectors can continue.

Parish, district and county councillors meet at the A16/B1166 Radar Corner junction in Crowland in the autumn of 2018. Photo: SG-171018-003TW.
Parish, district and county councillors meet at the A16/B1166 Radar Corner junction in Crowland in the autumn of 2018. Photo: SG-171018-003TW.

The advice came as council members discussed their next options after plans for a £78,000 trial, including a ban on drivers turning right off the A16 onto James Road and Thorney Road when coming into Crowland from Spalding, were shelved by county councillors last month.

Coun David Kempton, parish council chairman, said: “Clearly, both as individuals and as a council, we were relieved that Lincolnshire County Council’s planning and regulation committee decided not to go ahead with the temporary closure of the junction.

“That was tinged with a bit of disappointment that traffic lights, as an alternative, were never even discussed and that the committee wished to take a roundabout off the agenda.”

During a meeting on July 6, committee members chose instead to consider reducing the 60mph speed limit currently in place at Radar Junction.

A report prepared for the committee put the estimated cost of a roundabout “in the region of £4million”, with 21 accidents having taken place at Radar Junction in the last ten years, three of these having been fatal.

Coun Alcock said: “As a parish council, I don’t think we should take a roundabout for that junction off our wishlist, or indeed dualling part of the A16.

“There is this thing coming down the track called reorganisation being imposed on councils by the Government.

“The actual entrance into southern Lincolnshire is the A16 and whether there is one, two or three councils for Lincolnshire, we in South Holland will need to fight our corner in this part of the world to keep the industries alive here.

“We need the best connections that we can have and, therefore, we should keep alive our aspirations for a roundabout on the A16 because that will be the artery for southern Lincolnshire.”

. Safety and security team strengthened as public are warned about criminal damage to play equipment

Steps to protect parks, playing fields and council workers in Crowland have been taken with the appointment of three new members to a safety and security committee.

Parish councillors Jon Boor, David Ringham and Annette Williams are to work with new committee chairman Coun Graham Searle in strengthening the town’s safeguarding measures.

Their duties will include regular checks of play equipment after a spate of incidents where a basket swing on Snowden Playing Field was tampered with.

The basket swing tampered with twice in July by vandals at Snowden Playing Fields in Crowland. Photo by Philip Green.
The basket swing tampered with twice in July by vandals at Snowden Playing Fields in Crowland. Photo by Philip Green.

Coun David Kempton, parish council chairman, said: “At first sight, being a member of the safety and security committee isn’t as involved as building a sports hall or digging up farms.

“But it goes into everything we do and it ought to be the most important thing that we take notice of.”

While the meeting was being streamed online, Coun Kempton took the opportunity to speak to Crowland residents directly, warning them about vandalism in the town over recent weeks.

Bolts holding the basket swing in place were deliberately loosened on two occasions in July.

“The criminal damage we’ve been suffering to some of our play equipment is very worrying and it’s certainly beyond anti-social behaviour,” Coun Kempton said.

“It’s criminal damage that could leave a victim injured, or worse, and the actions are clearly aimed at causing that.

“It’s depressing and quite frightening. I’m asking parents of children of any age who are out on their own, particularly in the evenings, if they are aware that acts such as we’ve been suffering where play equipment has been tampered with, are causing a threat to those using it?

“There are people in this community who are doing that and parents need to make sure it isn’t their children.”

. No plans to reopen town toilet block yet

A decision on whether or not to reopen Crowland’s toilets could be made by the end of the month.

Parish councillors agreed to reconsider whether the toilets in West Street can be used by the public again for the first time in five months.

Coun Graham Searle said: “Our position was that we were keeping the toilets closed for the protection of our workers, rather than the convenience of the public.

"I've had no comments about it for a month or so but we will review it at the next safety and security committee meeting."

. Work progressing to redevelop old allotments site

Plans to redevelop Crowland’s old allotments site, off James Road, by building a range of affordable and market-priced homes is “moving on at pace”, parish councillors have been told.

Holbeach-based Seagate Homes are leading the scheme and Coun Bryan Alcock told members that some of the new homes, including bungalows for the over-55s to rent, could be ready by next year.

Coun Alcock said: "Things are moving on at a pace and the developers seem extremely keen to get the Is dotted and the Ts crossed.

"The preliminary schedule presented to us indicates that we may have some houses near to, if not at completion, in a year's time."

. Plans to hold Christmas lights switch-on and fair in town

Families in Crowland can make plans to attend the town’s annual Christmas lights switch-on and fair in December.

Coun Cathi Elphee confirmed that plans for the event “are still moving forward”, although organisers would be guided by government advice.

"We'll have a tree and the lights will look pretty, but the fair will be down to government guidelines and we're going ahead with a view that if we can't have it, we can't have it."

. New vice chairman and clerk named

A new vice chairman and clerk for Crowland Parish Council were introduced at Monday’s meeting.

Ex-Crowland district councillor Angela Harrison is now keeping the council’s records, in place of former clerk Brenda Stanojevic who stepped down in March.

Meanwhile, finance committee chairman Coun Bryan Alcock has replaced Coun David Ancill as vice chairman.



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