LETTERS – We will continue to fight

We would like to thank the residents of Spalding for their messages of support received over the past two weeks.

We have lived in South Holland all our lives, as have generations before us and consider ourselves loyal citizens of the district.

The past two weeks have been traumatic for all, and the residents along Bourne Road are all of the same opinion we do not want to see a bulldozer pass through our family homes, it is not just bricks and mortar, there are memories of families born and growing, loved ones lost, pets, houses adapted for severe disabilities, the reasons why we all do not want to leave our homes are endless, and united. We will fight together to ensure no one has to suffer the destruction of their property.

A petition has also been sent to Lincolnshire Country Council, advising we WILL NOT vacate our properties.

Questionnaires completed, we now have to wait to hear our fate, we can only hope that common sense will prevail.

After all, it appears a line or ‘safe corridor’ can be drawn anywhere across the South Holland District, it is the residents of Bourne Road who have to suffer the loss of their homes to build the Spalding Western Relief Road today, but it just as easily could be another area when the next new road is built in ten or 20 years.

All we ask is that alternative routes are considered and utilised. The ‘visual impact’ for existing properties across the horizon, the reason we are told a route through the allotments, which would not necessitate the destruction of up to nine properties cannot be used, seems a small price to pay compared with the loss of our ‘forever’ home, or as we have repeatedly said, the homes of any of our dear neighbours and friends.

An Englishman’s home is his castle, but for the unified residents in the potentially affected ‘bulldozing area’ this does not seem to be the case, this is like a return to the barbaric times of old, we thought those days were gone.

We will continue to fight to stop the demolition of any homes in the ‘safeguarded’ area. What a ridiculous use of the English language, and indeed some thought that meant we were safe.

Residents are to meet shortly to see what else we can to do to stop this injustice, after all how would a planner at the highways or council departments feel if it was their home?

Thank you again for the support you have shown to us so far. If we might and it’s required, we may appeal to you again to support a wider petition online.

Frank and Catherine Roberts
Spalding