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Weston Parish Council fear plans to convert Weston Hills pub into a Spar could create traffic issues on busy Austendyke Road




The likely prospect of motorists speeding along a busy village road are among the concerns raised against plans to convert a pub into a convenience store.

Weston Parish Council fears that there is a ‘real potential of further road traffic collisions’ along Austendyke Road in Weston Hills if The Bell Inn becomes a Spar shop.

The parish council has long been fighting for the 40mph speed limit along Austendyke Road to be cut to 30mph along with asking for a speed camera in a bid to get motorists to slow down when travelling through the village.

The Bell Inn, in Weston Hills, could become a Spar if planners agree
The Bell Inn, in Weston Hills, could become a Spar if planners agree

Planners at South Holland District Council are due to make a decision shortly on Mr N Satheeskumar’s bid to change the use of the pub - which is reported to no longer generates enough money to provide a ‘basic income’.

A statement from parish council chairman Chris Dicks shows that a total of 23,816 vehicles were recorded by the authority’s Speed Indication Device during a 16 day period in December.

He states: “A legitimate concern is the potential of increased traffic danger by customers parking on a ‘B’ road which currently has a 40mph speed limit which Highways have been challenged about on several occasions due to the number of road collisions, both injury and non injury, between the junctions of Broadgate and Delgate Bank which is exactly where the current premise lies between.”

Austendyke Road in Weston Hills
Austendyke Road in Weston Hills

Nine vehicles were recorded by the SID to be travelling through the 30mph speed limit at over 100mph along with a further 64 were hitting speeds of more than 80mph.

There were also 2,423 recorded going through Weston Hills at 60mph and 15,175 were seen at 50mph.

He said; “These figures are regularly sent to Lincolnshire Police and Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership with little to no action being taken.

“Although there is allegedly parking off road next to the premises, human nature tells us that parking on the road is the easy choice, also there is a very likely danger that customers who might park off road would end up reversing from the car parking area onto the main road, something Highways have raised concerns about themselves.”

Concerns about the impact of lighting on nearby residents has also been raised by the councillor along with fears about possibility of increased anti-social behaviour.

He states: “We believe that if this application is approved there is a real potential of further road traffic collisions and an increase of anti-social behaviour which would be to the detriment of village life for all the residents of Austendyke Road not forgetting their privacy being invaded.”

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