More than £260 million will be given to Lincolnshire to spend on boosting transport in with the county getting £262,339,000 from the Local Transport Fund.
If all goes as planned, the cash is due to come to the area from 2025 and be spread over seven years – with the county now needing to get a plan together for how best to spend the money.
I live in South Kesteven, in South Lincolnshire. It is a rural area with towns and villages expanding as new houses are built, with a large number of commuters to Peterborough and London to work. Bus services north to south are reasonable, and whilst the bus service east to west are poor, they are improving slowly. A railway line passes through our village, but the station was closed in 1964, and there is no longer a train service.
Taking this summary of the local area into account, I have written below a summary of what I think is required to improve transport facilities in this area. I have also assumed that the funding is one off, and any improvements will have to be self funding after the 5 year period.
The obvious choice for spending this money is to fill potholes, but this is ongoing maintenance. I have concentrated on areas that will generate future wealth to benefit the County and pay for upkeep.
RAILWAY NETWORK
The railway network in South Lincolnshire is in dire need of upgrading. The direct link from Boston to Spalding should be restored, using the rural loop, connecting the Lincolnshire coast direct to London. This will increase visitor numbers to the County, as well as improving trade, bringing much needed revenue to the coastal area, which will go a long way towards relieving the poverty that is prevalent in the Skegness/ Ingoldmells area.
With the improved rail link, stations could then be reopened at both Littleworth and Donington, to take advantage of the direct link to the Capital. This would give a major boost to the farming community, with faster connections to the major markets in the big cities. With easier access by train, it will give a much needed boost to the tourist industry.
South Lincolnshire has many tourist attractions making it a desirable holidaying area:
- It is a Mecca for bird watchers, with a number of nature reserves, and acres of marsh land attracting waders and other birds.
- Museums, castles and churches and other listed monuments.
- Water sports; sailing, wind surfing, angling, just messing about in boats. Boat trips into the Wash to see the seals.
- Country pubs and restaurants.
- Magnificent sunsets
- Interesting walks over a variety of terrains.
- Interesting woodlands, the home of plants, mammals and birds, some of which are rare.
Also a rail link could be reinstated from Spalding to Kings Lynn and the Norfolk Coast via Sutton Bridge. This will help to take freight off the roads, and increase business for the area. It would also serve those wishing to visit the area and holiday in Norfolk.
Extra railway stations will attract more and better bus services to link up with the stations, helping to increase mobility. It would also take more cars off the road, creating less pollution, and less wear and tear on the roads. As a secondary benefit the road maintenance budget could be reduced in the future.
BUS SERVICES
Lincolnshire is a rural area, and rural buses are a neglected service. There is a need for new bus routes, but these need to be selected carefully. The buses will be run by private companies, subsidised by the County, and unless they become self funding within the 5 years that funding is available, they will quickly disappear. It is doubtful whether the County Council will continue to subsidise the routes in the long term.
Improving existing bus routes should also be looked at. As new housing estates are built, they will create a need for more bus stops, and the possible extending, and rerouting of existing services. However it may be better to finance this via S106 monies from developers.
Improvements to existing bus infrastructure:
- To include more bus shelters
- Electronic bus timetables, showing the frequency of the next bus.
- Bus clearways.
- Better connection information for bus users eg. Which stops for hospitals, railway stations etc
- Town centre buses. – As communities expand, it could create a need for round town buses to take people from outlying areas into the town centre to catch connecting buses, or for shopping, and to visit doctors and dentist surgeries, and markets. These could be minibuses to make them more economical. Once the route has been established, it would need be maintained by the local town or parish council.
FOOTPATHS
We have a network of footpaths passing through the area, including some long distant paths eg Macmillan Way. Some of these are poorly maintained, and poorly signposted, but they are very important. After years of neglect they would benefit from major investment:
- Footpaths attract visitors to the area. The income from tourists will help to maintain the network.
- Walking is good for the health, especially the heart. Better health makes us all feel better and happier, with less strain on the NHS.
- Walkers are the eyes and ears of the countryside. They see unusual behaviour and can be a useful deterrent for rural crime, as well as useful witnesses.
- Footpaths are a window to nature. Enabling users to interact with their surroundings, and to appreciate nature more.
Whilst footpaths have been neglected over the years, and are probably regarded as unimportant to many in the grand scheme of things, they are very important. Creating better health, encouraging wildlife, and attracting visitors. They create income from visitors, and save money on health services.
But I fear they will continue to be bottom of the pile where investment is involved.
FENS WATERWAYS LINK
This idea was first promoted in 2005, creating a waterway of 150 miles (240 kms) from Lincoln via Boston to Ely by a combination of improvements to existing waterways and the construction of new links. The project was initially started with great gusto, with a new lock at Boston, and new landing stages scattered throughout the network in preparation for the visiting boats, but alas the project has not reached fruition.
The Fens Waterway Link would bring many visitors to the area, who would spend their money locally. In fact once completed Lincolnshire would become a major boating destination, with a connection from Lincoln to the Trent via the Fosdyke Canal. Also with the extra boats it would give an impetus to the various projects that exist to restore other waterways eg Slea Navigation and Louth Navigation, as well as opening up the network of Boston drains.
After navigating the Welland the project involved a cut up the River Folly into Peterborough. I have always believed that there is a case for a spur a long the Welland in to Deeping St James.
This project is not likely to benefit from any of the new finance, but the benefits of its completion is enormous.
Cllr Andrew Bowell 