‘It will be hell’ as Lime Walk in Long Sutton set to be closed for three weeks

Disgruntled residents are bracing themselves for weeks of ‘hell’ thanks to a series of road closures.

Lime Walk in Long Sutton is going to be closed for three weeks from Monday for an Anglian Water project to install a sewer connection for a new estate.

But this work overlaps with a project in nearby Hallgate, Gedney, which is closed until October 7 for a Lincolnshire County Council scheme to replace a bridge and resurfacing. National Grid was due to finish a four-week closure of Guys Head Road in Sutton Bridge - which had a very long official diversion route - today.

Long Sutton Parish Council is ‘disgusted’ with the organisation of the road closures but the county council says it has worked with the developer to reduce impact of the Lime Walk closure on the public.

Resident Mike Tarbuck has raised concerns about the impact of the three road closures and called for the Lime Walk project to be postponed.

He lodged a complaint on the Fix My Street website: “Getting out of Gedney Drove End, Gedney and Lutton means everyone using the Little London Road to Long Sutton as exiting using Lowgate onto the A17 is very difficult as it is.

“You are aware that the roads east of Long Sutton are narrow and have to take tractors and trucks as it is. The Little London Road from Lutton Gowts is narrow, has a school and on road parking, it is going to be hell.”

John Clarey, chairman of Long Sutton Parish Council, also feels that the Lime Walk work should be delayed.

He said: “Our area has had more than our fair share of road closures this year.

“I strongly believe Lime Walk should be left open until we have the roads that are closed reopened.

“It is getting busier in the farming world at this time of year, and large lorries and fast tractors will make other roads very dangerous at the speeds they now travel at.”

He also said it would be ‘very dangerous’ for the parents with pushchairs and those who use mobility scooters.

Stinders Homes was granted planning permission in August to build 70 homes on land off Lime Walk by South Holland District Council’s planning committee. These plans were originally lodged in 2022, but the developer was asked to make a number of changes.

The county council has confirmed that it has reviewed the impact on the surrounding area and that a diversion route will be sufficient.

Ashley Behan, Streetworks and permitting manager, said: "A developer is undertaking the Lime Walk closure to undertake highway works in association with the housing development to take place.

“These works will include collaborative working to install a sewer connection, a new access and works by Anglian Water to provide a clean water service to the development.

“LCC has worked with the developer to ensure as much as possible takes place during this closure, which will reduce the overall disruption for local residents.

“It is appreciated that closures in rural areas cause disruption to residents and businesses, especially where there are limited suitable alternative routes.

“During the Lime Walk closure, the signed diversion route will be via Daniels Gate and Little London, however, traffic can continue along Daniels Gate to the junction of Park Road if desired.

"It was considered that there are sufficient alternative routes in place for traffic that would normally use these routes, and that the volume of traffic that normally uses Lime Walk could be catered for on the available alternative routes.”

LCC has also ensured that neither the closure nor the diversion route conflicts with each other, adding that “there are several routes local traffic can take which avoid the junction with the A17 from Lowgate”.