What is to become of our town?
WHAT is happening to Sleaford and what can we do to change it from a declining market town to how it used to be; a thriving place to live and shop?
Firstly we have to change this deplorable traffic situation.
In my view it could be remedied very simply – put a mini roundabout on the junction of Eastgate and Southgate near the HSBC bank, and one at the Eastgate entrance to Carre Street.
Make that short stretch of road at the side of the Market Place into a two-way lane.
Next, a mini roundabout at the Handley Monument and then one at the Boston Road end of Carre Street and again make the road in between a two-way street.
Make the road from the White Hart Hotel into two lanes again to filter up Northgate and Eastgate traffic as this would allow better road access from West Banks.
With these systems in place there would be 50 per cent less traffic through the town centre which would make everyone's life easier.
This brings me to another major issue in Sleaford because if you want fast food, charity items, banks or building societies, you are okay because we have very little else.
We need to get some major shopping industries on the outskirts of Sleaford – not in it.
There are too many narrow-minded people who are adamant in doing things their own way and not considering the majority of Sleaford citizens.
You only have to look at some of the many stunts they have been involved in –- like the dragon near the monument and the sail on theRiver Slea.
What are they all about?
And the Hub?. . . Least said!
The closure of the level crossing will not only strangle the town but create a north versus south divide.
And the planned road through the recreation ground is unbelievable – the recreation ground was donated to the people of Sleaford for the purpose it is currently being used for, not to be ripped apart by faceless people.
A truly bad set of ideas and money well wasted.
And why do we need another Tesco?
The one we have is quite big enough.
If they are desperate for a bigger store let them put it on the outskirts of town near the bypass, where you could also put the likes of Next, Marks and Spencer or Topshop for example.
This new road system is designed to take people to the new Tesco and back out again, without bothering to walk into town.
I could go on forever ...
I have been in Sleaford now for 40 years and the residents deserve better.
Bring on the election as soon as possible before we are dragged down even further.
F E Dupe Sleaford
2 Comments
by Matthew Holden, Sleaford
Wednesday, March 17 2010, 7:20PM
“It is true are infrastructure needs a good looking and there are a plethora of other problems in our town that is causing the decline of our high street.
One quite simple answer to the problem is do not drive, unless necessary. The number of parents picking their children up in cars each day is reasonably high or the number of us that drive before we think about walking.
Radical right? If we get out our cars and walk to do our daily tasks there will be a visible and vast improvement to our town. Sleaford is reassembly small and you can walk one end to the other in no more than half an hour.
More people walking the more towns people will talk to each other fostering a sense of community, the more people walk the more likely people are to buy from the high street supporting our butchers, backers and market.
By fostering a sense of community and pride in our town we will reduce crime, increase sense of community, encourage local economy and greatly improve the lives of all living our town. Walking has the added bonus of being healthy for you and the environment.
I understand the need for some cars on the road and some distances are far luckily we have the IT buses which if used more would still create a community spirit.
In our post modern societies we have become detached from one another looking at problems as if the only way is to reconstruct our surroundings. If more people get out there cars we deconstruct unnecessary modernity and complication in our lives we begin to build a better future for all.”
by Simon Kitchen, Sleaford
Saturday, November 14 2009, 2:36PM
“One of the main causes of traffic hold ups in Sleaford is the lack of a bus station which all surrounding towns have. When Tesco is moved I suggest demolishing the old Tesco and turning the whole site into a bus station. All the school children could be dropped off and picked up here thus alleviating the gridlock that occurs each morning and afternoon caused by the buses stopping in the market place. Sometimes there are up to ten buses trying to pick up/drop off children where there is only room for three, and hence they sometimes have to double park which is dangerous and also stops the traffic.
Another spot to be looked at is the east bound A17 sliproad to the A153 The westbound junction has a roundabout. A roundabout is badly needed on the east bound side. This is an accident blackspot, the A153 is the main route to the coast, it is also a main route into town along East Road and is also the route to existing industrial areas and the expanding Pride Parkway industrial site (where the new tesco should be built along with a park and ride scheme). The highways department built a roundabout near holdingham roundabout, the necessity of which is doubtful and ignore an area where a roundabout is essential. It's not rocket science it's common sense!!”