Public opposition stops 'active travel zone' plan for Spalding

People power has put paid to an unpopular plan for Spalding town centre that would have removed some of the town's on street parking.

Lincolnshire County Council has revealed that it will not go ahead with its 'active travel zone' in the town after 79% of respondents to its consultation were 'unsupportive'.

Traders had branded the idea a 'stab in the back' for removing parking at a time when they are trying to recover from the pandemic.

The scheme would have seen on-street parking in Broad Street, The Crescent, Sheep Market and Double Street removed to make way for cyclists and pedestrians.

The one-way system in The Crescent would also have been extended from the junction with Spring Gardens to Sheep Market.

The council says 15% of respondents to its public consultation supported the scheme.

Residents in Spalding, Boston and Mablethorpe turned down active travel zones - with proposals supported in Grantham, Lincoln, Louth, Skegness and Sturton by Stow.

The council will now look to spend some of the £799,000 Government funding on Stamford, Sutton-on-Sea and Lincoln instead of the three areas that turned plans down.

Coun Richard Davies, executive member for highways and transport at Lincolnshire County Council, said: "We were clear when we launched this consultation that only those schemes with public support would get the go ahead. We've listened to what residents have told us and made amendments to schemes based on your feedback. We'll start work as soon as we can to put in the changes that residents have told us they want to see.

"Where these schemes are being implemented, they will be temporary for up to 18 months. If they work for the community, we can make them permanent. And if they don't, we can take them out again easily.

"Although they are temporary, we're keen for no community to feel like they've just got roadworks happening for 18 months so we will use high quality infrastructure to implement these changes, such as traffic planters.

"With some of the schemes not supported and so not going ahead, we've got some funding left it the pot. As such we're looking to consult on more prospective schemes very shortly for Stamford, Sutton-on-Sea and Lincoln.

"Once again, these ideas have come from the public, and will only get the go ahead if they're supported by other local residents."