Daffodil Route to bloom again?

A popular cycle way and footpath created to link Spalding town centre and the Johnson Hospital could be set for a new spruce up.

The Daffodil Route runs from Pinchbeck Road in the town opposite the junction to Park Road until Enterprise Way.

Partly built on a former railway line, it was created just over ten years ago as a healthy route for people to get to the Johnson Hospital which it passes behind after crossing Vernatt’s Drain via a bridge.

South Holland District Council (SHDC) has allocated potential money for a project to update the Daffodil Route and working with the group Pedals – Spalding’s Cycle Action Group on the initiative.

The chair of the local branch of Pedals, David Jones, said: “It’s quite a highly used path already and it’s the most beautiful route to cycle down in good weather.

“However vegetation has encroached and potholes have developed.
“It’s fallen into a state of disrepair and a few years ago the district council put some gravel on part of the former railway bed which isn’t ideal for cycling. But we’re working with the council and suggesting work that needs to be done.”

Last month SHDC ratified over £75,000 of funding needed for the improvements.

It lists in its key decisions that it will fund the improvements through money from Section 106 agreements which are signed by developers.

It says the reason for giving the go-ahead to utilise the money is for the “potential improvements to the Daffodil Route between Pinchbeck Road and Johnson Hospital utiilising section 106 funding” and a report is due to go before SHDC’s Cabinet next month.

The authority’s executive of place, Coun Roger Gambba-Jones however says the details of what can be done to the The Daffodil Route have yet to be finalised, partly because it’s unclear how much Section 106 money is available for the project.

“We’re yet to bottom the details down and in truth we’ve still to get a detailed analysis of the ground conditions throughout the route,” he said.

“We are in discussions with Pedals who are giving us their expertise and telling us what the cycling public want.

“We all want a lovely surface and lighting so you can see obstacles so it’s all part of a healthy option to get into town, while making sure it’s good value for money.”

Coun Gambba-Jones also said that while SHDC owns some of the Daffodil Route, including the bridge, other parts of it are owned by Lincolnshire County Council and Broadgate Homes.