Multiple major road schemes 'crippling' town

There are calls for the Dysart Road works to be paused or staggered before schools return next week

Highways officials are being urged to take action after complaints of traffic chaos caused by multiple roadworks in the centre of Grantham.

Works are simultaneously taking place in Dysart Road, Market Place and Station Road, prompting complaints about gridlock and disruption.

At a special meeting of Grantham Town Council on Tuesday, officials called for a pause, or staggering, of the Dysart Road works - before schools return next week.

However. Richard Davies, executive member for highways at Lincolnshire County Council, which is undertaking the works, said it made no sense to delay.

'String things out'

Chairman of the town council, Tim Harrison, said the works had been “badly planned”.

“Matalan and Poundshop have both told me that they will be laying people off and it’s massively affecting other businesses,” he said.

Mr Harrison, who is a town and district councillor, also runs his own taxi firm in the town.

“One bus company has dropped routes and my own drivers have seen a 45% drop in their weekly earnings,” he said.

"It's crippling the town - it's crippling businesses - it's financially hitting everybody very hard."

A petition calling for action over the "chaos" has attracted more than 500 signatures.

In response, Mr Davies said the county council had promised to deliver on the £3m Dysart Road scheme this year, and had been contracted by South Kesteven District Council (SKDC) to carry out works on the other projects, which are part of a £4.1m district council scheme.

He told BBC Radio Lincolnshire Dysart Road was in urgent need of repair, adding "it doesn't make sense to postpone it or delay it".

"That adds to the cost and congestion and it's not right to string things out," he added.

Multiple sets of roadworks are taking place in Grantham

Ashley Baxter, leader of SKDC, said he was "not interested" in apportioning blame for the overlapping of the works.

"As I've said, there will be pain whenever the works go ahead, but we are working with the county council as far as we can to ensure a smooth delivery."

Mr Baxter added: "Having three schemes on the go when the schools go back is going to be awkward, so if it's possible for the county [council] to pause any of them it's helpful."

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