Councillors slam highways chiefs for trying to make Crowland business foot the bill for road improvements

A business should not be footing the bill for the lack of highways maintenance, planners have said.

Ruthkay Ltd had applied to convert a chicken shed into a Crowland Caravans sales unit and change the use of land in Carrington Drove, Crowland.

Members of South Holland District Council’s planning committee backed the applicant against the request of Lincolnshire County Council Highways for them to bring Carrington Drove up to a suitable standard.

It was argued that this was not the applicant’s responsibility and would be costly.

Coun Henry Bingham added: “It is distasteful to ask a small business to relocate and fund their (highways’) lack of maintenance.”

Coun Andrew Woolf echoed the sentiment.

He said: “It shouldn’t be on the applicant to do this. Shame on the county.”

Crowland Parish Council were pleased to see this proposal that protects the future of Crowland Caravans, which is an established business.

This was echoed by councillors with comments from Coun Jim Astill that it ‘supports many local jobs and brings visitors to the town.”

It was agreed that the application was positive with a successful and prosperous business coming back to the location it would like to use.

The application was unanimously approved by the committee on Wednesday.