Councillor says rethink is needed over town centre vehicle access

A councillor says current restrictions on vehicles driving through Spalding town centre should be changed after witnessing six cars in quick succession driving there when they shouldn’t have been.

Coun Gary Taylor has said that cars should either be banned permanently, or be allowed to always drive down Market Place and part of Hall Place.

He described the current situation, where all vehicles except delivery vehicles are banned from 10am to 4pm, Monday to Saturday, as being unacceptable.

Rotating signs are in operation at all ends of the pedestrianised area.

Around 11am on Wednesday, October 17 Coun Taylor said he saw six cars driving there when they shouldn’t have been, endangering pedestrians and Lincolnshire County Council staff working on the road.

Because of the works, cars had to drive along the pavement outside Specsavers to get through.

Coun Taylor says a consultation should be carried out to see if the public wanted the road permanently opened to vehicles or permanently closed so there’s no confusion.

“I think we need to stop vehicles going down there permanently or let them go down there,” he said.

“The present situation is not working at all.

“Drivers are unsure and just driving down.

“I saw six cars driving through in just a few minutes.

“It needs to be enforced and stopped or let vehicles through.

“We don’t want to kill our town centre and we don’t want vehicles speeding through, but if cars are allowed down the streets pedestrians would be more aware and wary of vehicles using the road.

“Safety must be a major concern.

“We need to consult businesses and those that use the town centre and ask them what they would like to see.”