‘You should be batting for this town - not making excuses’

Town councillors have been calling for St Lawrence Street to be shut off to traffic since last March.

They say it would give several hospitality businesses the opportunity to have outdoor seating - delivering a major boost to them and to the town’s economy.

As yet, only a section of road in front of the Post Office has been closed off, benefitting just one business.

However, Highways Officers have written to the town council, saying closing St Lawrence Street would be problematic and, at this stage, could not be supported.

That decision led to some fiery exchanges at last Tuesday’s ‘virtual’ town council meeting, held online.

The town’s county councillor Bill Aron was accused of failing to support the initiative.

Coun Alan Lockwood told him: “This has been going on far too long.

“Quite frankly, it is inactivity by our county councillor causing this. Other (county) councillors get things done in their areas. Why can’t ours?

“This is important to the town, for residents, for visitors and businesses.

“I was in a business today and asked why they hadn’t applied for an outside licence.

“They told me ‘I will do - when I know I can put tables and chairs outside.’

“There’s no indication at the moment that’s going to happen.

“It’s prevarication by Coun Aron. He needs to get on with it, not sit and wait for them (County Council) dictate.”

Coun Aron replied: “I take exception to what Coun Lockwood has been saying.

“(As county councillor) I have worked and voted for Horncastle for many a year.

“You have got to realise you can’t go into County Council and dictate.

“These (highways) officers are working hard. They gave you figures of how many repair jobs have been done in Horncastle - just this year.

“Where all this comes from that Horncastle isn’t getting a fair deal, I don’t know.”

However, several councillors stressed they were frustrated with the lack of progress, including Coun Richard Barker.

He said: “Yet again, we cannot be put off by Coun Aron and these highways officers.

“It’s interesting that Coun Patricia Bradwell gets things done - like two pedestrian crossings in Wragby - yet we can’t even get St Lawrence Street closed.

“There is no excuse. Businesses are suffering and we have a duty of care as a council to get this sorted, with or without help from Coun Aron.”

Mayor Coun Fiona Martin twice intervened to urge councillors to stop arguing.

It was eventually decided to discuss the issue at a meeting of the town council’s Highways Working Group.

Asked by Coun Martin, Coun Aron said he would attend and report back to the County Council.

However, he warned the county council was unlikely to consider any action until next year.

The letter, sent by Highways officer Richard Fenwick, acknowledges the county council is going against the town council’s wishes.

It adds that while the section of round outside the Post Office was suitable under the ‘Emergency Active Transport Scheme’, St Lawrence Street did not meet the criteria.

The letter raises several issues including:

• Lack of access to the post office would necessitate more vehicles using Conging Street, which is already at near capacity and would impact adversely on the Bullring and North Street. This is part of the busy 
North – South main routes on the A153 and has a pinch point where the two meet;

• A lack of access to ELDC’s car park in St Lawrence Street would again require Conging Street to be used;

• A loss of two taxis spaces outside the post office for taxis whose operators had indicated they wanted to remain there.

• Problems with maintaining barriers on St Lawrence Street which could be removed. Anything more permanent would block deliveries/setting up of the market stalls.

Mr Fenwick went on to make the point that not all residents in Horncastle supported 
the closure.

He added: “If it went through consultation it is likely that there would be objections which would end the process.”

He also points out the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership had no reports of accidents on St Lawrence Street for the last five years and did not support the closure.

Highways officers and the Executive Councillor for Highways had also held a site meeting with Coun Aron and refuted the town council’s case.

Mr Fenwick adds: “For these reasons, regrettably, we cannot support implementation of the closure under the Emergency Active Transport initiative as was done for the Market Place, and would not recommend it is progressed further through formal consultation for a standard TRO at this time.

“We will however review the situation early in the new year after Coun Aron has had a 
further meeting with the Highways Working Group to discuss the points a and the Local Highways Manager and I will discuss the options following that.

Coun Lockwood said the letter was a ‘disgrace’ while Coun Dominic Hinkins said none of the reasons outlined by the County Council were true. He added: “They are just trying to put of off.”

Coun Matthew Wilkinson said he was ‘disappointed’ with the letter but pointed out the council would consider the 
case again in the New Year.

However. Coun Barker said outdoor seating would benefit residents, visitors and businesses, even during lockdown. He added: “Delaying this until the New Year is not acceptable.

“Why are we still talking about this Councillor Aron?

“You should be batting for the town and this council. Not making excuses for Highways officers.”