Leaders agree to erect barrier to stop traffic entering Spalding town centre pedestrian zone

Town leaders have agreed to put up a barrier to stop vehicles travelling into Spalding’s pedestrian zone after residents have called for a safer shopping area.

Spalding Town Forum will be working with Lincolnshire County Council and South Holland District Council to get the much ignored traffic regulation order (TRO) tightened up to clamp down on vehicles along with anti-social cycling and mobility scooter driving.

Members have been conducting a survey in recent months to find out what people think of the TRO, and the results have shown that the majority of the 815 people who responded what to see no general vehicle access on weekdays and Saturdays between 10am and 4pm.

And people want a clear rule which is enforced.

Chairman of the committee Coun Rob Gibson proposed speaking to the county council to get them to tinker with the TRO to ensure it is ‘crystal clear’ so parking attendants can enforce the rules.

He proposed to “erect a barrier between Market Place and Herring Lane where road naturally comes in

“Bollards are going to have be raised and lowered by someone. We are talking to the leader of the council now look at a department to do that.”

A presentation was given to the meeting about the results of the survey. Respondents generally lived in Spalding, Pinchbeck and Holbeach and were aged between 45 and 74.

Coun Mark Le Sage said: “I think it absolutely 100% crystal clear what the people of Spalding want - they want the town centre free of vehicles between 10am and 4pm seven days a week.

While Coun James Le Sage said that the council need to be seen to be doing something about the anti-social behaviour and for the toilets need to be priority.

He added: “We need to refurbish the town centre and make it a more enjoyable experience and we need market stalls back so we regain being a market town.

“My view would be a good idea to think about disabled access up Red Lion Street as you can get right into the town centre.”

Coun Liz Sneath, who is also a county councillor , said that disabled parking is really important issue for the town and hoped to see improvements in Red Lion Street and the Sheep Market.

She said: “I am very concerned about cycling rules when people go through the town centre.

“When they tweak the TRO we need to ensure that the rules about people cycle through town need to be tightened up.

“The motor scooter rules also need to be tightened up. Can’t be going wrong way up the street. I would like to see more signs about cycling and we need more bike racks.”

Former councillor Christine Lawton has been calling for action to be taken on the TRO for some time.

She said: “You can see the sign that it is a pedestrian zone and people treat it with utter contempt - I think it is disgraceful and I hope we will follow through what the people of Spalding generally want.”

David Jones, of cycling group Pedals, said that motorists vandalise the signs and highlighted that a car park off Francis Street should be better promoted.

Coun Ingrid Sheard suggested having the notices written in different languages to ensure everyone understand.

Coun Gary Taylor said: “We need a consistent message rather than grey areas. We need to communicate this with businesses. Hopefully it will make a more safer environment.”

The TRO has been a source of contention in the town for a number of years as pedestrians have called for the rules to be enforced.