Pedestrians must not be forgotten in highways improvements at Holbeach, according to a town mum.
Paula Hayes says a pedestrian crossing on the A17 near Boston Road roundabout is the minimum requirement and a 40mph speed limit between there and a proposed new roundabout at Peppermint Junction is desirable.
As reported in The Voice last week, that 500m stretch of the road is earmarked for possible dualling in the future.
Mum-of-two Mrs Hayes, of nearby Kennedy Road, has been campaigning for better pedestrian facilities for months – and the latest proposals have hardened her opinion that a traffic light controlled pedestrian crossing is required.
She said: “I cross the A17 about eight times a day and know how difficult it can be.
“If we’re going to have more traffic on it because it’s not going through the town centre we need better pedestrian facilities. I know there is a lot of support for something to be done.”
Mrs Hayes says highways officials have told her that the underpass between Park Road and Pennyhill Road should be utilised.
But she said: “I’m sorry that’s not good enough.
“Using that from where we are adds on about another mile. For older people who go to Holbeach Hospital that’s just not possible.
“I’m told that traffic light controlled pedestrian crossings are not installed in Lincolnshire, but there’s one on the A16 at Kirton. That’s all we want because the situation is an accident waiting to happen. We don’t want something similar to what happened in Bourne [two schoolgirls badly injured].”
Not opposed to the proposed highways improve-ments, Mrs Hayes says she just wants some of the funding directed towards pedestrian provision.
“It all seems geared towards vehicles,” she said. “I’m a car driver myself but I prefer to leave it at home and walk into town.”
