I appreciate the problems we’re seeing as the works are being done and am sorry for the delays and congestion. We are working hard to keep disruption to a minimum and ask everyone to bear with us while we do the works.
Latest update on road works in Grantham:
Action Plan
- Partially open Market Place. ACTIONED
- Fully open Market Place, end of September.
- Delay High Dike reconstruction until 2025.
- Delay Green Hill Rd / Barrowby Rd crossing until 2025.
- Moving pedestrian crossing at the bottom of Westgate/Dysart Road to enable additional lane to be opened round onto Sankt Augustin Way. ACTIONED
- Left turn lane adjusted so that turning out of Westgate onto Wharf Road is possible. ACTIONED
- Additional traffic management staff onsite to monitor traffic and adjust phasing, signals and barriers as appropriate. One key location is the Harlaxton Road Rail Bridge. ONGOING
- Complete Station Approach Phase 1 so additional lane and left-hand turn can be opened by the end of September.
- LCC dedicated team onsite to monitor contractor performance and keep it to schedule. ONGOING.
- Dedicated Public Liaison Officer point of contact for queries. ONGOING.
- Regular updates to press, social media, local councillors and others on activity issues and improvements. ONGOING
For completeness below is recent correspondence with Grantham Town Council which provides additional information on works:
Received 22/8/24
Dear All,
This public blame game and finger-pointing has to stop. It is solving nothing. Meanwhile, our Town descends into further chaos. Both County and District would do well to remember that they are there, solely, to perform best for their constituents. Currently both are failing Grantham miserably and this will only get worse with the scheduled roadworks yet to start, and the re-opening of schools. The impatience that the plethora of roadworks is causing could very easily lead to a catastrophe once the schools restart. I invite everyone in this email trail to come to Grantham meet with the Town Council, listen to what we need, then go away and make it happen. That after all, literally is the job you all get paid for, (town councillors obviously not). This is an apolitical problem. It is most definitely not for point scoring. If you wish to do this AFTER the issues are solved, I am happy to oblige. Telling the public, that have been waiting years for roadworks, that they simply should plan their journeys better, is insulting and rude. Indeed, it is the job of Councils to get THEIR planning right. This has definitely not been the case. In the interest of fostering a better relationship and getting this debacle on track I will not voice all the things I am aware of here, but reserve the right to do so if we cannot get this solved and solved quickly. I invite you all to a meeting on Tuesday 27th at 6pm with the council in the Town Parlour at the Guildhall St Peter’s Hill to discuss and formulate a plan I can take to the electorate to allay their angst. I will also make this meeting available by teams for those unable to attend in person. I look forward to everyone’s input and working out the ensuing solutions.
This email will be made public so that Granthamians are aware of who was invited and please only respond with emails that you are happy to be shared.
In hope,
with kind regards
Tim Harrison
Chairman of Grantham Town Council
Response Sent 27/8/24
Dear Tim,
Thank you for your email and the opportunity to put on record the facts surrounding the ongoing roadworks in Grantham.
Blame Game
As far as I know, no objective ‘blame game’ or ‘finger-pointing’ is happening. When approached by the media for comment, LCC must correct incorrect statements, often generated by incorrect social media comments. For example, the allegation that “LCC forced these unwarranted works on Grantham”. You will appreciate this is a false statement, and it is proper that we correct it when asked by the Grantham Journal.
Background
For the record, I would make the following points concerning the Grantham works:
- The Market Place and Station Approach works are SKDC’s brainchild. They are managed by the SKDC Future High Street Board (FHSB), of which you and several other district councillors and officers are members.
- We (LCC) have been meeting with the FHSB regularly for several years, and specifically in October 2023, when both schemes were discussed. I suggested that neither scheme was worthwhile and seemed more vanity than practical. You similarly expressed the view that you could see that the problems created by traffic delays and reduced footfall would far outweigh the minor aesthetic improvements. Despite this, the board pushed us very hard to agree to deliver these schemes by March 2025 (to meet their funding deadline), which meant doing them in 2024. We discussed the other Grantham works, which were already programmed, and the traffic problems that would no doubt occur.
- In February this year, we held a public engagement event where we explained all the schemes in the plan, and the then-District Leader, Cllr Richard Cleaver, presented the Market Place and Station Approach Plan. You were in attendance and voiced your opposition to both schemes. I repeated the position that it was SKDC’s project, and if you told us not to proceed with the schemes, then we wouldn’t. No such instruction was ever received from SKDC.
- Following this meeting, SKDC’s Future High Street Board formally decided to proceed with the Market Place and Station Approach schemes and instructed us to begin the contracting and procurement process.
- In preparation for the busy period, we scaled back routine maintenance to minimise disruption. We worked with the various utility providers to avoid conflicts. As part of this reduction, we have postponed the High Dike works and the Greenhill Road / Barrowby Road crossing until 2025.
- For the duration of these works, we have LCC staff who are tasked with monitoring performance and scheduling permanently onsite in Grantham acting as our ears and eyes on the ground. Myself and other members of the team are also regular visitors.
- Our works were programmed consecutively with limited overlap. These schemes were:
- High Street, Great Gonerby & Gonerby Road, Grantham reconstruction and new crossing – 7th May to 31st May COMPLETED.
- Barrowby Road crossing – 3rd June to 4th July COMPLETED
- Alma Park Reconstruction – 8th July to 7th August COMPLETED
- Dysart Road Reconstruction – 29th July to December UNDERWAY
- Several suggestions have been made that the Station Approach works should be postponed or cancelled. As we have repeatedly stated, if SKDC instructs us to stop the work, we will. However, I would emphasise that there will be significant congestion whenever this critical junction is dug and worked on, regardless of timing.
Market Place Scheme
- The Market Place Scheme began in May with an expected completion date of 19th August.
- A dedicated Public Liaison Officer (PLO) has been onsite, acting as the central point of contact, whom I know you and others have spoken to regularly.
- SKDC decided to raise the road level to the same level as the pavement.
- We set up a WhatsApp group for local businesses and councillors. This has helped address access and delivery concerns by connecting impacted businesses with the team delivering the scheme. For example, when there have been issues with contractor vehicles blocking deliveries or people needing access to their premises to make repairs.
- The quarry has had supply issues, and the blocks were delivered slower than we had scheduled. We issued this update on 19th August:
- The sett provider is a company called Tectonix. The setts are being installed by a sub-contractor 4 Smart under the main contractor Taylor Woodrow. The setts delivered to site have had three issues in the build up to the delay. A material defect with some of the setts which have been replaced by Tectonix free of charge, setts not being delivered in accordance with the agreed schedule and a higher percentage than expected of wasted blocks (due to cutting to size) from the contractors installing the blocks, resulting in additional setts needing to be ordered above what was anticipated. The additional orders that have needed raising with Tectonix will be recovered from Taylor Woodrow as part of the contract and LCC are considering all options available in terms of recovery from the sett provider. As the Market Place project and Station Approach project are being delivered under the same contract, the final commercial position and the overall project cost will not be until both projects are complete. The commercial arrangement of the contract is on a target price basis so any gain share / successful recovery of costs will be resolved when the contract is finalised. Any underspends that are generated through this process will be passed to SKDC for them to decide how to allocate, as Lincolnshire County Council is delivering this scheme on behalf of the District Council.
- I am very sorry that this project has overrun. We are investigating the delays and the financial redress internally and with the contractor.
- Any underspends and penalties will be passed back to SKDC for spending as you feel appropriate.
- The Market Place is now partially open to vehicles; access from High Street to Westgate is now possible. The Conduit Lane section remains closed to cars, and we expect to have it open by the end of September.
Dysart Road Works
- This big scheme has been in the planning stage for several months and is looking to address the surface issues and flooding problems along the entire length from the railway bridge to the A1.
- The Dysart Road works began on 29th July with traffic management beginning 5th August, and we revised the traffic management plan to make the road one-way. This should allow for better traffic flow rather than using alternate lanes running with multiple sets of traffic lights.
- As usual with our schemes, we have contacted impacted businesses and residents and liaised with the local schools and bus companies about road delays.
- As with Market Place, there is a dedicated Public Liaison Officer for this scheme.
- We continue to monitor the traffic management and have already made changes, particularly around the access down across Sankt Augustin Way, to keep traffic flowing as much as possible.
Station Approach Works
- The Station Approach works began last week and, as expected, the first days were terrible regarding traffic congestion. There is no easy way of digging up the junction of the A607 and A52 without causing severe disruption. We have never shied away from this and have tried to warn people. I disagree with your statement that it is ‘rude’ to suggest to people they need to plan
;accordingly as it is just a sensible, practical warning. - The first week of a scheme of this nature is always the worst; after a few days, people get used to the issues and, where possible, find alternatives. This isn’t to suggest that the congestion goes away, just that people get used to it. The initial pain has been compounded by a broken-down car on day one and a suspected drug driver smashing five cars up in the middle of the works on day two.
- We continually monitor traffic at this location and elsewhere in the town and have changed the traffic light timings to encourage maximum flow.
- One issue we have seen is vehicles queuing under the Harlaxton Road rail bridge. This has meant HGVs have struggled to get through, which blocks Wharf Road. To reduce this, we have moved the stop line back towards the BP garage and brought in a traffic management operative to hold traffic back so that the bridge stays clear.
- Seeing how traffic was funnelling onto the junction from Dysart Road and Westgate, we have also moved the crossing to enable us to open up the western lane, so there are now two lanes exiting onto the junction.
- The scheme is being done in phases, the first of which is the northeast quadrant, which is why the slip road onto Wharf Road is closed. As a partial option, we are exploring whether we can allow a left-hand turn out of Westgate onto Wharf Road using the temporary layout in place. This phase will be complete by the end of September, which should alleviate some delays as drivers will be able to turn out of Dysart Road / Westgate and turn left onto Wharf Road.
Update on our meetings
Since the schemes started, we have met on two occasions onsite, the most recent being last Tuesday. We discussed several issues which it would be helpful to recap here (my comments are under each in italics):
- You expressed concern about the number of complaints you had received and the perception from many that you and Grantham Town Council were responsible for what was happening.
- I can completely understand your concerns over this. Grantham Town Council has no responsibility or mandate on highways issues, so it is unfair that it is held responsible. As a district councillor and member of the SKDC Future High Street Board, you are part of the decision-making process for the Grantham Market Place and Station Approach works. However, I appreciate you didn’t support either scheme.
- You felt that our work was being rushed and our lack of maintenance over recent years meant everything was being done simultaneously.
- I am on record for saying that the lack of spending on roads in rural England is a problem. As a county council, we have always tried to maximise our spending on roads. However, we have to balance the budget against schools, children’s services, adult social care, etc. If we wanted to spend more on filling potholes, then some other areas would have to be cut.
- You felt we had lied about the delays in opening the Market Place. In particular, you stated that curing the grout from the blocks took only four hours, not seven days.
- This issue is based on a misunderstanding. The seven-day curing time refers to the concrete base on which the setts are laid, not the grout between the blocks. As the materials arrive, our laboratory takes samples and tests them over time so that we know when they have reached a suitable strength to drive over. Seven days is the standard time we allow; obviously, if we rush this part of the process, there is a real risk that the blocks will come loose. We need to accept the professional opinion of the qualified civil engineers working on this issue who adhere to national design standards.
- You felt that people who live in the town should make decisions on Grantham, not those who don’t.
- I don’t think this argument stands up. Firstly, we have locally elected county councillors. They are involved in the scheme planning process and help to draw up priorities. Residents of Grantham elect them with a specific democratic mandate to be members of the Highway Authority. Secondly, we have a local Transport Board, which meets regularly with local stakeholders to help discuss and coordinate issues such as potholes, public transport, and development. Finally, even local district councillors, like yourself, sit on the district council’s planning committee, which sees councillors from Grantham making decisions about what is built in the Deepings and vice versa. There is a limit to how locally decisions can be made.
- You expressed a strong desire to see electrical sockets installed in the Market Place to help the Market attract a broader range of stalls, providing the sockets were suitably weatherproof. You felt that this would help justify the work in the first place.
- The requirement for power sockets wasn’t included in SKDC’s specification before we started the scheme, but SKDC officers have subsequently raised it. Once SKDC has finalised what they want and where, it will be easier to comment on whether it’s feasible. I am concerned about the prospect of digging up the Market Place so soon after working there. It may be possible to deliver power to key locations in the area in such a way as to avoid digging into the new surface.
- You raised the east slip lane closure at the bottom of Westgate/Dysart Rd, where the road meets the junction.
- As mentioned above, Phase 1 of Station Approach involves working on that slip road, so the lane closure is required. As a partial option, we are exploring whether we can allow a left-hand turn out of Westgate onto Wharf Road using the existing temporary layout. We are confident that it can be lifted completely when the work moves to Phase 2 at the end of September.
- You expressed significant worry that extra traffic and buses will gridlock the town when the schools return next week.
- I share your concerns, and we are meeting with bus operators and schools to try to plan accordingly. We will also have additional traffic management teams onsite the week the schools return so we can respond as quickly as possible to any issues on the ground.
- You flagged the fallen barriers over the missing tree planting area on Westgate.
- I have now personally picked them up twice, and I have asked our team to put extra sandbags on them. We hope to replace the tree later in the year.
- We discussed the lack of financial compensation for businesses impacted by the Market Place closure, which reduced access and footfall.
- As you know, I wrote to SKDC earlier in the year asking this exact question, and I will support you in pushing them to do more to support local businesses. After speaking to SKDC Leader Cllr Baxter, I believe that the town centre’s footfall figures are improving, and that will be in no small part due to your efforts regarding growing the Market.
- You felt traffic wardens shouldn’t be in Grantham on Sunday and were sometimes too heavy-handed.
- This is a perennial problem as I get as many complaints about lack of enforcement as I do overzealous ticket issuing. We constantly adjust the schedule to try and find the right balance.
- You raised that cars are driving and parking on Welby Street despite it being pedestrianised.
- We are unable to enforce the moving vehicle offence; that is a police matter. We have instructed our traffic wardens to patrol the area and give tickets to vehicles parked in the pedestrianised area.
- Subsequently, you and others have reported water pooling in the Market Place.
- This has already been picked up as part of the snagging. I don’t have an answer yet, but it is likely the contractor will have to relay the blocks at the right heights.
Being cognisant of the need not to confuse the residents of Grantham, dragging the town council into this through another set of meetings is not a good idea. There are already structures in place, such as the Future High Street Board and the Grantham Transport Board. Rather than introduce another group of councillors into the firing line, we will continue to work with SKDC, local residents, businesses, and all those impacted to try and minimise the disruption.
I met with Cllr Ashley Baxter, leader of SKDC, this morning, and I’m sure he’ll report back to you as a local district councillor in due course. I would also urge any councillors or members of the public to speak to their local county councillor (https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/findyourcouncillor).
I am very happy to continue meeting with you and others to discuss issues and improvements at upcoming meetings, such as the next Grantham Transport Board.
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch. The more feedback we receive, the better, so I value yours and your colleagues’ input and ideas.
Action Plan
(Drawn from recent LCC Press Release)
- Partially open Market Place. ACTIONED
- Fully open Market Place, end of September.
- Delay High Dike reconstruction until 2025.
- Delay Green Hill Rd / Barrowby Rd crossing until 2025.
- Moving pedestrian crossing at the bottom of Westgate/Dysart Road to enable additional lane to be opened round onto Sankt Augustin Way. ACTIONED
- Left turn lane adjusted so that turning out of Westgate onto Wharf Road is possible. ACTIONED
- Additional traffic management staff onsite to monitor traffic and adjust phasing, signals and barriers as appropriate. One key location is the Harlaxton Road Rail Bridge. ONGOING
- Complete Station Approach Phase 1 so additional lane and left-hand turn can be opened by the end of September.
- LCC dedicated team onsite to monitor contractor performance and keep it to schedule. ONGOING.
- Dedicated Public Liaison Officer point of contact for queries. ONGOING.
- Regular updates to press, social media, local councillors and others on activity issues and improvements. ONGOING