The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Residents and traders are being urged to keep giving their view on controversial trial changes under way at a Holbeach car park.
South Holland District Council wants to hear, by late September, all feedback on Boston Road car park hosting the town’s market and on closing one of its two entrances.
The plea follows a busy public meeting in the town on Monday (August 15), arranged by Holbeach Parish Council chairman Coun Isobel Hutchinson and ward district councillor Tracey Carter.
About 70 residents heard the arguments for making the changes from district council officers and Coun Roger Gambba-Jones – the man who has ultimate responsibility on the future of the trial changes, under a portfolio holder decision.
Coun Gambba-Jones said after the meeting that it was “disappointingly hostile”.
He insisted the council was open to people’s concerns and suggestions but it was clear and immovable on one thing – it would never again allow the car park to be used as a rat run between Park Road and Boston Road.
“The disappointment for me was that people seemed to think that because nobody had been killed or injured yet, that it was OK to continue,” he said. “We made it clear that was not an option.”
One idea being looked at is concrete bollards being used to effectively make two car parks, with both Boston Road and Park Road entrances utilised. The cost is said to about £8,000 – an “expensive option”, according to Coun Gambba-Jones.
Holbeach district and parish councillor Paul Foyster said: “At the last parish meeting the council voted to make an unspecified contribution to the cost of providing bollards. I will help this by allocating some of my own ward budget and inviting my two district colleagues to do the same.”
Some shops have complained that trade has plummeted since the market moved from High Street to the car park last January, as a health and safety measure.
Coun Carter has said previously that she would have liked to have seen Church Street considered as an option.
Proprietor of High Street shop Toto, David Hudson, gave this proposal “100 per cent support”, but fears it is too late.
He added: “The council keep calling these moves a trial, but they have spent too much money for it to convert back. People are concerned that they are basically getting walked over.”
Coun Carter felt the meeting was useful and said all the feedback gained during the trial period is “crucial” to the decision-making, and to enable other options to be considered.
She added: “I was glad to see such a good turnout and to see so many residents of Holbeach come to hear the comments.
“I really felt it gave people the opportunity to be heard that they really wanted and needed, so I am extremely glad myself and Isobel arranged the meeting.”
