Daffodil Route to be spruced up

Long-standing plans to improve the Daffodil Route path in Spalding are to due to start this month.

Partly built on the former Spalding to Boston railway line, it runs from Pinchbeck Road opposite the junction with Park Road to Enterprise Way in Pinchbeck, and was created just over ten years ago as a route for cyclists and pedestrians to get to the Johnson Hospital which it passes behind after crossing Vernatt’s Drain via a bridge.

Parts of the route needs work, particularly with regards to drainage in the winter.

As previously reported in February 2020, South Holland District Council (SHDC) agreed to spend more than £75,000 of Section 106 money secured from Spalding Power Station for the works.

Now Spalding-based cycle group PEDALS says work by SHDC is due to start on February 21.

A spokesman for PEDALS, said: “After many years of campaigning we received welcome news from SHDC that work will go ahead early in 2022 to upgrade the surface and drainage of the length of the route owned by the council, northwards from Pinchbeck Road, near the cemetery gates, to near the rear access to the Johnson Community Hospital.

“Lincolnshire County Council has erected new signs at the northern end of the route at our request.”
Coun Gary Taylor, SHDC’s communities and facilities portfolio holder said more details would be published in the next week and that the work would take around six weeks to complete.

“It’s in a bad state of repair,” he said. “I cycle and walk down it myself and it’s not ideal, especially at this time of year.

“The route is currently full of potholes and not particularly attractive for pedestrians.

“Following the pandemic we want to promote more cycling and walking and it may encourage people to use the path rather than drive into town or to Enterprise Way.

“It could also attract more people to the Vernatt’s Nature Reserve which the volunteers there have turned into a wonderful place to visit.”