NEW traffic access to Gainsborough Market Place is being opened up to mark the completion of the latest phase of the £3m town centre makeover.

A bollard system is being introduced for deliveries – and emergency services will have 24-hour access.

From Monday, September 20, the new electronic bollards will be in action at the entrances to Market Place and Lord Street and the exit from Silver Street.

Between 10am and 4pm the bollards will be operated through a keypad system.

All delivery vehicles will be able to enter the area before 10am or after 4pm.

And if access is required outside these times, businesses must contact Lincolnshire County Council as highways authority on 01522 782070.

Bollards in Silver Street at the junction with Bridge Street will be in operation on Tuesday and Saturday market days.

"West Lindsey District Council is still committed to improving the Market Street and Church Street areas," said Growth Point manager Joanna Walker.

"But this is dependent on additional funding from the private sector – which has been delayed.

"This means that we cannot proceed with the full Market Street and Church Street programme at this stage. We are hopeful we will be able to go ahead within the next one to two years and we hope to be able to announce time scales shortly."

There is an urgent need to repair the road surface and certain areas of the footway along Market Street. A minor programme of improvements will be carried out in September – including repairs to the footpath and resurfacing the road.

All this will be carried out from Sunday, September 5, when Market Street will be closed to traffic.