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‘Footbridge will cause difficulties’
IN last week’s Standard, Sleaford Civic Trust gave their considered views on plans for the development of Sleaford and expressed concerns about various issues of the plans, including the closure of Southgate level crossing.
This week Sleaford structural engineers Russ Mathieson makes his observations on the proposals to close the crossing and replace it with a footbridge over the railway line.
He also has concerns about the footbridge and the impact it will have and the difficulties it will create for elderly and infirm pedestrians south of the railway line getting into town.
To illustrate his concerns Russ has submitted pictures he took of a footbridge at Tempsford on the A1 in Bedfordshire to give some idea of the scale of the proposed footbridge and the lengths of the ramps that would be needed.
He said: “I don’t suggest that the Tempsford bridge is of the exact same scale as the one being proposed for Sleaford but it does give some indication of the length and slope of the ramps and how difficult it would be for anyone in a wheelchair or older and less mobile pedestrians to cross over.
“My wife and I have two elderly parents and have concerns about how difficult it would be for them.
“I have been a structural engineer all my working life and I don’t think the authorities have been telling us the whole story in terms of the scale of the footbridge and the impact it will have.
“I know Southgate level crossing is a problem but lots of small towns have that problem. I don’t want to see a road through the recreation ground.
“I have nothing against Tesco but I do feel that the link road will primarily be of benefit to them and not the town as a whole.
“Personally I don’t think any road scheme will improve traffic flow in Sleaford and I certainly don’t think the new road will solve it.”
l Do you support the views of Russ or Sleaford Civic Trust (in last week’s Standard) or do you think the proposals being put forward by Lincolnshire County Council and North Kesteven District Council for the footbridge and the link road are the best measures for the long term future of our town.
Or do you have alternative ideas on to how to improve traffic flow in Sleaford and for the town’s future development?
Email your views to john.lavery@jpress.co.uk
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Weather for Sleaford
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 21 mph
Wind direction: East
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