The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Apologies were made to Holbeach residents over the Boston Road South saga at a packed public meeting on Tuesday night, but those affected said they just wanted action.
Residents who live nearest to the work said they believe the road is sinking again days after Anglian Water completed its most recent work and with Lincolnshire County Council claiming it would be back open in two weeks time.
Officials from both were present at the meeting at the Methodist Church organised by Holbeach Parish Council and admitted to angry residents that the costs for the work given out previously only related to part of the work.
They vowed to get correct figures covering the full three years and eight road closures.
The officers, including LCC’s local highways manager Dan Goodman and Richard Fenwick plus Anglian Water senior project manager Adam Cooper and regional community engagement officer Rose Shiler, heard from residents about how it has impacted lives, including having not been told this week that more of the road would be closed so they couldn’t access their drives.
One man claimed house prices around the sinkhole would be reduced 25 per cent while others argued their buildings were being damaged by vehicles used for the works.
There was also claims that traffic using Chestnut Avenue was causing a new sinkhole to form and the meeting’s chair, parish councillor Sophie Hutchinson, said sinking was also being experienced in Carter’s Park near to the University Academy Holbeach. An old drain was mentioned as a potential cause.
South Holland MP Sir John Hayes laid the blame at Anglian Water and called for the company to reimburse the Boston Road South residents‘ water rates.
LCC, meanwhile, said it would look at conducting a consultation on whether to put a weight limit and change speed limits on the road when it opens.
Rose Shiler said Anglian Water would “work better and harder to support the people of Holbeach” while LCC’s Richard Fenwick said: “It’s incredibly frustrating for for us and I can’t imagine how much it is for you.”
