Lincolnshire Free Press mascot Spike the hedgehog raises awareness of Spalding's much-ignored pedestrian zone rules

Motorists continuing to ignore rules surrounding Spalding’s pedestrian zone has prompted our mascot Spike to get involved.

Everyone knows the old ‘why did the hedgehog cross the road?’ joke but we hope that there won’t be a ‘flat mate’ if Spike can help to raise awareness of the rules.

Spike is pictured next to a sign at the entrance to Broad Street which aimed to highlight to motorists that the town centre is a pedestrian zone thanks to a ‘traffic regulation order’.

This should prevent vehicles from driving through Broad Street, Market Place and Hall Place between the hours of 10am and 4pm Monday to Saturday.

But this rule is widely ignored and calls have been made for greater enforcement.

Lincolnshire County Council owns the town centre while the police are responsible for enforcement.

One person who has been calling for action is Spalding councillor Roger Gambba-Jones.

He said: “Taking the Mickey out of the sign is ok as it is pointless - it is a joke.

“The sign gives the ability to enforce, but ultimately it is the enforcement itself which is the more serious element.

“We are very fortunate that no-one has been hurt to date but the behaviour of drivers is changing.”

Police came under fire recently after not issuing a ticket to a motorist who had blocked Market Place by parking in the ‘road’ recently.

County councillor Liz Sneath has also been fighting for improvements to the TRO and has called for bollards to stop drivers.

Coun Sneath said no-one wants to take ‘responsibility’ but later added that the issue was being looked at as part of the Spalding Town Centre Steering Group work.

She said: “We have to get on top of it as it is getting worse and worse. There is going to be a serious incident. Anything that raises awareness of the issue is good.”

Pedestrian speaks out after encounter with van in Market Place

‘You take your life in your hands in the pedestrian zone’, a shopper has told us.

The woman, who wished to remain anonymous, feels that the town, is calling for the authorities to work together after a recent encounter with a van in Hall Place.

Under the traffic regulation order which covers the town centre, vehicles should not be travelling in Hall Place and Market Place between 10am and 4pm Monday to Saturday.

The woman told us: “Recently I stepped out of Peacocks into the path of a van driving along the Market Place at speed.

“Unexpected, unnecessary and I was made to feel in the wrong by the driver who glared at me like I shouldn’t have been there.

“You take your life in your own hands in the so called pedestrian areas of town.

“Why is this not being dealt with, I just don’t understand.

“It shouldn’t be this way. If things don’t improve, more businesses and people will leave and the many hundreds of new houses that are being built, plus a new ‘relief’ road just won’t be needed.

“Spalding can be saved, but multi-agency action must be taken or I fear the town I once loved will become void of its previous heart and soul.”