Calls for new set of barriers in Market Place

The barriers were introduced in September after the Department for Transport granted Lincolnshire County Council £105,500 from the first round of the emergency active travel fund to support the installation of temporary projects during the recovery from Covid-19.

The partial pedestrianisation of Market Place was first proposed in March and councillors expressed their frustration that the scheme took six months to complete.

Now, there are calls for a new barrier to be erected as the current one (pictured ) has been lying on the ground for several weeks.

One resident said: “It’s been like this for weeks.

“What must visitors to the town make of it?”

In a series of emails sent to Horncastle town councillors, Councillor Richard Barker said: “One set of barriers is lying flat on the road outside the Post Office - unacceptable!”

Councillor Barker also expressed his disappointment that new barriers had not been installed by Christmas as previously promised.

He added: “We are still waiting. It makes the Market Place look tatty.

“Where are the new barriers?”

The News contacted Lincolnshire County Council for a statement.

Councillor Richard Davies, Executive Member for Highways at Lincolnshire County Council, explained that the county council was now looking into ‘more attractive, more substantial planters as a means to close the road’.

He added: “When we pedestrianised this part of the Market Place earlier this year, we were always clear that it was a trial measure and that if it worked would stay, and if it didn’t we would reopen it.

“With that in mind – and with the short timescales we had to get the road closed after receiving the funding.

“We used temporary barriers and signage to close the road off until we were satisfied it had a positive impact in the town centre.

“The feedback we’ve had from residents and businesses about the pedestrianisation is good, so we are looking at more attractive, more substantial planters as a means to close the road, rather than the current signage.

“I’m sure residents can appreciate we didn’t want to rush into investing in these planters in the first place, if we then had to remove them shortly after.

“But it is now something we’re actively looking into.”