Sleaford £1m market place revamp could face legal challenge

The plans for Sleaford Market Square include new paving and seating areas

Plans for a £1m revamp of a town centre market place could be subject to a judicial review.

North Kesteven District Council (NKDC) wants to replace the car park outside St Denys' Church in Sleaford with flowerbeds and outdoor seating.

But approval of the plans has twice been deferred after more than 200 objections, with concerns raised over the loss of disabled parking.

The town's council said it was looking at taking NKDC to court over the issue.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), Sleaford Town Council has voted to allocate funding to explore possible legal action.

Council clerk Chris Pilkington said the authority was "currently in the process of seeking legal advice to establish whether we have grounds to take NKDC to judicial review regarding its plans for the Market Place".

"Whether it does, in fact, go to judicial review will depend on the advice we receive," Mr Pilkington added.

Following objections to the plans, NKDC added extra disabled parking bays to its plans for the market place.

The square outside St Denys' Church is currently used for parking and the town's market

However, last month the planning committee voted to defer a decision on approving the scheme.

The proposals also include new paving, with lighting to illuminate the war memorial and church.

Two raised beds of plants and new seating areas would also be created, with extra space for nearby cafes to put out tables and chairs, according to NKDC's plans.

A petition opposing the plans, which was set up by by Sleaford resident and campaigner Anthony Henson, was signed by nearly 1,000 people in just two weeks.

The project is due to be discussed at a full council meeting on 25 January.

Commenting on the possibility of a judicial review, Mr Henson said: "It would be absolutely absurd if North Kesteven District Council forces the spending of taxpayers' money on both sides of a legal action, simply because they were too pig-headed to consult."

NKDC has been contacted by the LDRS for a response.