One hour free parking period has started in Horncastle

In a joint statement, the town’s three East Lindsey District Councillors - Coun Sandra Campbell Wardman, Coun Fiona Martin and Coun Richard Avison - said they were pleased to be able to confirm that car parking is now free for one hour in the St Lawrence Street car park.

The statement continued: “Car parking will only cost £1 for four hours after that.

“Users will still need to collect a ticket from the machine for the free period.

“This is now in force as appropriate signage and changes to the ticket machine have been made.”

The councillors said the one-hour free parking offer in Horncastle will bring it in line with the market towns of Alford and Spilsby.

The Market Place car park will remain at 30 minutes free and The Wong will be free all day, both with tickets from the machines.

At the town’s Tesco car park, it will still be possible to claim back the £1 parking fee from the two hours’ parking, when you shop in store.

The statement concluded: “This change is for the foreseeable future, not just the next couple of months, and we all hope it will help our town to recover following lockdown.

“Your High Street needs you so shop local, shop safe and be kind.”

The matter was discussed at this month’s Horncastle Town Council meeting.

Although the one hour free parking period is now in place, parking in the St Lawrence Street car park has been free for the whole of September so far after an error by an ELDC officer.

Speaking at the meeting, which was held on September 8, Coun Richard Avison said: “As councillors are aware, we had negotiations with Adam Grist and we got the one hour free which then turned into a fiasco.

“It turned out the officer in question (at ELDC) didn’t do that (put in a request for new signage) and as a result of that the three of us put in an official complaint against that officer and that is ongoing.

“As a result of that it is free parking at the moment in St Lawrence Street car park.

“It (machine) has been covered up for the last two weeks.

“At the moment it is free so ELDC is losing out.

“We suggested the officer in question comes to this meeting and faces the music.”

Coun Alan Lockwood said: “There is nothing to be gained by dragging them here - the
bottom line is we have got it free at the moment.”

Coun Avison added: “It is the signage that is the issue and it is done by another company.”

Mayor, Coun Fiona Martin, added: “Signage and reprogramming of the machine were two things that weren’t done.”

Coun Lockwood added: “My fear is that if machine covers are taken off and the old signs are still in place, people will get confused.”

Coun Avison confirmed that appropriate signage would be installed.

Coun Martin added: “We feel that we have got a reasonable deal.”

Coun Avison confirmed: “It is as good as we can get at the moment.”

The News contacted ELDC for a statement regarding a delay in providing the one hour free.

In a statement issued on Monday, an ELDC spokesman said: “Amending the car parking order that governs the car parks and for the machine manufacturers to update the car parking machines to reflect the new tariff arrangements takes time.

“However, the changes have now been made.

“The St Lawrence Street car park is offering one hour’s free parking, which we hope the community in Horncastle will find helpful.”