The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
The recent front page article in a local paper again highlighted the dangerous junctions on the A16 at Crowland with yet another pile up added this weekend.
Lincs County Council tells us that there are far more dangerous junctions in the county for them to prioritise.
They admit the best solution for ‘Radar Corner’ is a roundabout but there is no money.
We are also told the junctions are not dangerous it’s just bad driving.
They may be Lincolncentric opinions but they are not those of local residents.
Neither is it the opinion locally that there is nothing wrong with James Road or the junction with Peterborough Road, and yes, we do want a speed limit between Postland Road and the junction with the A16.
We did get a new road to stop the slaughter on the old A1073, but despite the parish council lobbying for close on 20 years, we didn’t get dual carriageway, roundabouts at all junctions and direct access from Peterborough Road to the roundabout to enable Crowland residents to get onto the A16 instead of queuing every morning to get out of town to go to work.
The secondary school has been taken away against the wishes of local people resulting in a loss of social cohesion, the former primary school has been demolished, the site sold off with no financial benefit to Crowland.
The former primary school playing field and original junior school is being sold off with no financial benefit to Crowland.
Quite substantial sums are being realised from assets within Crowland. Add to that the income being derived from the average speed cameras on the A16 and hefty sums are being syphoned away. Let’s have some of it spent at Crowland.
Let us treat the A16 with the importance it deserves in serving the local businesses and at the same time improvements could save lives.
Vast residential expansion of Holbeach will increase the commuter traffic using ‘Radar Junction’ and the A16, as will the vehicles from the 400 houses being built in Crease Drove. Things will only get worse.
I will certainly take every opportunity to keep lobbying for at least a minimum of the A16 between Thorney Road and Queens Bank to be made dual carriageway with roundabouts at Thorney Road and ‘Radar Corner’ as well as for alterations on James Road.
Such alterations would alleviate the frustration on the A16 as well as issues on James Road.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced substantial funding for potholes and road improvements. The Lincolnshire Enterprise Partnership control a large budget for infrastructure.
The average speed cameras raise substantial sums. Lincs County Council benefits from selling off assets, so there is money available. It is therefore opportune for the movers and shakers to get their heads together and get Crowland a better deal.
In the very short term we want James Road sorted out to prevent it being used as a high-speed passing route, in the short/medium term the ‘Radar Corner’ junction sorted and please put in a roundabout that will accommodate dual carriageway and make at least part of the A16 made dual carriageway.
Coun Bryan Alcock
Crowland
