‘Pop-up’ bike racks to give a green boost

The racks were erected in laybys on the Market Place and Southgate on Wednesday, paid for with some of £100,000 granted to the county council by the Department for Transport active travel fund.

Coun Richard Davies, executive member for highways at Lincolnshire County Council, said the fund is designed to help aid the county’s recovery from Covid-19 by enabling better social distancing while people are out visiting town centres or cycling and walking to improve their health to resist the virus, as well as improving the environment.

Coun Davies said Sleaford is the first to get its new cycling storage, which will also be installed in Boston, Gainsborough, Grantham, Holbeach, Skegness and Spalding.

There are other pedestrian and cycling measures being put in place in Horncastle and Lincoln. All are temporary for a year, but could be made permanent, he said. The county is bidding for a second tranche worthover £800,000 for more ambitious projects.

The new racks have come in for a lukewarm reception from townspeople. Cyclist Ems Lord from Leasingham welcomed the investment but felt existing facilities should be maintained first. “Opposite these new racks are the existing ones on the market, but they are frequently blocked by motor bikes and pallets from the market, so I often cannot easily park my bike when I visit.”

She said the new path to Leasingham from Holdingham was not being maintained and poorly lit and the stretch from Scoffers to Holdingham was overgrown.

A council spokesman said they are trying to get the owners to cut the hedges back and their street lighting team are working to address the lights.

Others commented on Facebook: “All well and good, but have the council actually tried cycling round town? It’s impossible and dangerous.”

Another said: “I’m all for bike racks but the look of these is all wrong for this town. And that hideous green in front of the lovely green of the library!” Another suggested reflective paint to make the racks visible to motorists at night.