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A survey conducted by Spalding Town Forum has found that people want a pedestrian only area and to see the rules enforced




Pedestrian only access to Spalding town centre – and enforcing the rules - is important to help create a safer shopping environment, according to a key survey.

Spalding Town Forum has been running a survey to find out what people think about the current traffic rules which are frequently ignored by motorists.

Currently, vehicles are prohibited from entering Hall Place and Market Place between 10am and 4pm by the traffic regulation order – although this is frequently ignored.

Cars regular park up in - and travel through - Spalding town centre when it is 'closed'
Cars regular park up in - and travel through - Spalding town centre when it is 'closed'

The survey – which received 815 responses - found that pedestrian only access is extremely or very important to 65.9% of respondents with pedestrian only access ‘extremely important’ to more than one third of respondents - the most popular rating by respondents. One tenth of respondents stated that pedestrian only access is not at all important.

And, driving the appetite for pedestrian only access was a desire for a safer and more pleasant shopping environment for pedestrians.

Coun Robert Gibson, Chair of Spalding Town Forum explained: “This survey has given us a clear insight and understanding into how people feel about town centre access in Spalding – an issue which I know is important to the local community.

“It is evident from the feedback that having a safe and enjoyable experience in our town centre matters to people, and there is a strong appetite for pedestrian only access.

“There is also a real desire for the regulations around access to be clear and consistent so that people using the town centre can understand them.

“I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who took the time to share their views. We had a fantastic response to this consultation which allows us to have confidence in the findings.”

The significant majority of respondents – 86.4% - would like to see no general vehicle access on weekdays and Saturdays between 10am and 4pm.

And, 52.5% of respondents want no general access on weekdays and Saturdays outside of 10am – 4pm.

The most popular response to the question of vehicle access on Sundays was no general vehicle access with 37.8% of respondents choosing this option.

A consistent concern was that emergency vehicles are freely able to access the town centre at all times.

It is evident that many visitors to the town centre do not understand current access restrictions or, indeed, disregard restrictions. Whatever rules apply in the town centre, respondents would like these to be made clear and be applied consistently.

Respondents also want to see any rules enforced.

The survey, which also sought feedback on how people use the town centre, saw a huge response with 815 people sharing their views, providing statistically robust findings.

The consultation, which took place in July over a three-week period, invited participants to have their say online and via paper copies of the survey.

The survey was promoted under ‘Love Spalding’, a brand that has been designed on behalf of Spalding Town Forum to reflect and promote pride in place.

The findings were unveiled at the September meeting of the Spalding Town Forum, which had taken place earlier tonight.

Coun Gibson said: “The Forum will listen carefully to what people tell us through this survey and the findings will be shared with all of the different organisations that need to be involved in shaping future improvements for the town centre.

“Ultimately, I want everyone to be able to enjoy Spalding town centre and all that it has to offer.”



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