Junction work starts next month

Holbeach’s Market Hill junction is to get a long-awaited revamp.

The work, which is part of the Town Centre Improvement Plan, is aiming to increase traffic flow.
Lincolnshire County Council say it will include installing new signals, “a better pedestrian crossing” and resurfacing.
Work is due to start on July 17 and last for six weeks.
Park Road will be closed for the duration with four-way temporary traffic lights put in place.
Coun Tracey Carter told Holbeach Parish Council last week that a change to the Market Hill lights would boost traffic by 15 per cent through a new proposed lay-out.
“I thought it would be a little bit more,” she admitted. “But it should make a difference and a 15 per cent improvement is better than nothing.”
Coun Richard Davies, Lincolnshire County Council’s executive member for highways, said: “We have a large improvement scheme happening that will make a big difference to everyone using the crossroads.
“Because the current signal equipment has reached the end of its operational life, we have taken the opportunity to upgrade the site.
“The new signal equipment will be extra low voltage which will also reduce the carbon footprint due to the reduced power consumption. It will utilise the latest traffic and pedestrian technology to help improve the overall efficiency of the junction.
“We will also carry out some resurfacing work to improve the quality of the junction and extend its life.
“Further traffic management will be required for the resurfacing and whilst we can’t set the exact dates yet, these works will happen at the end of the schedule, starting around Monday, August 21.
“By doing these works in this way we get all the benefit of the improvement for the area with much less disruption than would occur by splitting the jobs up.
“We will do everything possible to get the work completed as soon as possible and I would like to thank everyone effected for their patience and understanding whilst the crew go about the Market Hill area improvements.”
Holbeach Parish Council last week heard of other potential measures to improve road safety in the town.
Coun Carter has asked the county council to again look at putting a crossing across Park Road after the authority said the area did not meet the criteria for one.
She’s asked officials to look at it again possibly further up the road, and if that wasn’t possible, whether ‘cages’ or islands in the centre of the road could be installed to help pedestrians crossing.
“I still think there’s something needed,” she said. “I’m asking them to review all of these things.
“It’s about making sure we create the right situation.”
Coun Carter also said LCC is working on purchasing a small piece of land from South Holland District Council to create a new footpath along Fishpond Lane where there isn’t one currently.
It followed a bid for double yellow lines along there being refused by the county council after it received some objections.
“It’s a nightmare for pedestrians as the path doesn’t exist,” she said. “It will tidy up that corner of the car park as well. It’s tatty and overgrown.”
Holbeach Parish Council clerk Jan Hearsey told last week’s meeting the authority had requested traffic wardens visit High Street more frequently but that no response had been received.