The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Anglia Water says it’s ‘hopeful’ that the major road it’s closed will be open before this weekend’s Spalding Flower Parade as its organiser warned it will be a ‘disaster’ if not.
On Tuesday the water company closed Wardentree Lane completely just past the roundabout junction with West Marsh Road.
It’s just a few yards from one of the two allocated park and ride locations at Spalding Auction on Enterprise Way.
The road’s closure has led to traffic problems throughout town including on to the A16 and West Elloe Avenue where vehicles are looking to get back on to the A16 because there’s three-way temporary traffic lights causing delays at the mini-roundabout in Pinchbeck.
That work is being carried out by Cadent Gas and is not scheduled to finish until May 25.
While those works had been planned, the new pipe at Wardentree is a more urgent repair.
A spokesman for Anglian Water said: “Anglian Water are aware of the issue on Wardentree Lane and apologise for any disruption.
“A road closure will be in place in order to lift the pipe from the road and replace with new.
“We anticipate this should be straightforward and we are hopeful that all works will be concluded by the end of this week.”
It comes as thousands are expected to be descending on the town for the first time that the event is being run for ten years.
And more are now due to arrive by road as a strike by rail workers has cancelled trains.
Organiser Steve Timewell speaking fresh from helping pick 125,000 flowers with 35 volunteers on Tuesday, said: “I hope it’s all sorted or it will be a disaster for the town.
“The traffic company I’m working with said they’d spoken to Anglian Water and it was maintenance but someone I spoke to at the council said it was emergency work.
“There’s work being done on Hawthorn Bank as well which could have an impact too.
“Anglian Water had promised Park Road would be open and it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen.
“Hopefully they will though have Wardentree Lane open.”
Steve said the number of coaches attending from around the United Kingdom was now up to 46.
“It’s going to be great for the town,” he said.
