New vision to create 'more pleasant' town centre

Lincolnshire County Council has drawn up a new strategy for Stamford

Improved public transport and better facilities for cyclists and pedestrians are part of plans to improve a Lincolnshire town.

Lincolnshire County Council has drawn up a new strategy for Stamford that aims to support future development.

The document is set to be reviewed and voted on by the authority's highways and transport scrutiny committee on 29 April.

Councillor Richard Davies, executive member for highways, said the plans would “hopefully lead to a more pleasant town centre”.

The possibility of pedestrianising Maiden Lane is among the options being considered

The strategy includes a number of proposals to be considered over the next 20 years, including:

• Making the eastern end of Scotgate one-way and widening the footways

• Pedestrianising Maiden Lane from High Street to St Mary’s Street

• Creating a cycle route along the B1081 Casterton Road linking to the existing cycle-friendly route along Empingham Lane towards Rutland Water

• Improving the town’s cycle network.

• Enhancing bus journey times and reliability.

• Delivering the Stamford North link road, which would connect Old Great North Road with Ryhall Road

• Increasing the availability of public charging points for electric vehicles.

• Implementing parking restrictions, residents’ parking schemes and removing some public on-street parking within the town centre

'More attractive'

Councillor Davies said: “The main purpose of our new strategy is to provide the people, businesses and organisations in Stamford with a transport system that helps meet their daily needs now and well into the future.

"This will hopefully lead to more people using alternative forms of transport, resulting in less congestion on the roads and a more pleasant town centre, making Stamford a more prosperous, attractive and healthier place to live, learn, work and visit.”

Public drop-in events and workshops were held, along with a survey that received more than 500 responses.

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