Critics question dropping footbridge from A16 Levelling Up improvements in Spalding

A councillor has vowed to keep fighting for a pedestrian bridge over a busy A16 roundabout after it was removed from a county improvement plan.

Spalding ward member Rob Gibson fears that someone is going to be hurt crossing the Springfields roundabout due to the amount - and speed of - traffic using the A16 on the outskirts of the town.

Lincolnshire County Council has recently approved a £15 million project to widen the Springfields and Greencell roundabouts using government Levelling Up money – but initial plans to remove a footbridge have been removed due to the estimated £3 million cost.

Coun Gibson, who is the leader of South Holland Independents at the district council, has previously raised concerns about pedestrians crossing the busy road in order to get to McDonald’s restaurant.

He said: “I am going to keep fighting for it. The problem is I can’t see any other solution to this – it is either a tunnel or a bridge and both cost the same.

“I have to keep highlighting this and to keep shouting about it.

“We are making the roundabout so that traffic can flow easier but the whole problem is going to be that traffic has to be going quicker and the road is wider so children have further to run across with traffic going faster – that is my point.

“What we are trying to achieve is going to make the danger worse.”

He spoke out against the problems during a recent committee meeting at the county council meeting which was told that a footbridge could be added in the future but would cost in the millions.

Coun Gibson said: “It is not just about children crossing to get to McDonald’s. We have got to talk about active travel. If there was a better junction to get from Spalding to Weston and improve all the way through to Holbeach I think that would be a fantastic cycle link.”

Cycle group Pedals have also raised concerns about the loss of the pedestrian bridge to help cyclists and pedestrians to get across the A16 safely.

David Jones said: “It's needed enough now, but when they widen it and vehicles approach the roundabout even faster than they do at the moment it's going to be very, very dangerous.

"Are they waiting for some deaths?

"They're talking about it costing £3 million or so to put a bridge there, they claim to have saved £3 million in their estimates already for that roundabout.

"Young people need to go there. Not everybody can get into a car and drive. People under 17 need to get from A to B as well."

He also felt at improving cycling links should be considered.

Mr Jones added: "What Lincoln is unaware of - Peterborough is only 18 miles from here, Lincoln is 44 miles from here - are all the things Peterborough has done for pedestrians and cyclists. It makes it easier and safer to cycle.

"They've done a bridge or two over the river and a nice bridge over the roundabout at Eye Green where what used to be the A16 meets the A47.

"Maybe Lincoln could swallow their pride and ask Peterborough for advice on designs, costing and materials?”

l What do you think? Write your comments below or email andrew.brookes@iliffepublishing.co.uk