Observations of a Coach
Driver
We use very modern and superb motor vehicles.
The technology in them is amazing. The improvement is marvellous
in 40 years.
But in that time the road system has not had the investment
and development to meet the modern demands.
After driving a coach for Cropley Coaches of Fosdyke during
recent years in England, Wales, Scotland and over the English
Channel into France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, Poland,
The Czech Republic, Austria and Spain I see that our roads are
years behind other countries.
As soon as I drive out of England the roads are better, but
when I get across the channel it so much more relaxing and can
plan estimated arrival times more accurately.
Lincolnshire is the worst county that I drive in and I have
lived there all my life. Many roads are in deplorable condition
and I see them getting worse every time I drive along them.
We have very little dual carriageway road and the largest mix
of slow to faster moving vehicles all trying to use the roads
at the same time.
There is very little chance to overtake safely. Even some existing
wider roads are being made single file by planting concrete
kerbs and bollards in the middle of the road. Is that safer?
This week commencing 3rd October 2005 there are two cars and
a caravan upside down along side these bollards on the A16 to
Spalding.
Then one has to stay in line behind the slowest vehicle in
front of the queue building up behind.
The roads are continually breaking up and then being patched
instead of doing the job right and relaying a new wider surface.
The new A1073 Spalding to Peterborough road should be dual
carriageway. I have not seen that it will be.
The A17 Newark to Kings Lynn should also be dual carriageway.
It must almost carry as much traffic as the A1 between Newark
and Peterborough.
Other counties have developed dual carriageway roads. Why not
Lincolnshire?
Junctions with roundabouts could be made wider on the approach
and exits with left filter lanes where possible.
Bypasses should be built round major towns which should have
been done years ago.
Boston is in desperate need of one because of the geographical
features of the River Witham, Bargate drain, North and South
Forty Foot drains and the railway in and out of the town.
Now despite our efforts and the people of Boston asking for
a bypass plans are now published for an Eastern and Southern
bypass for Lincoln.
I have not heard of a survey and census being conducted, before
these plans were announced.
There is a saying in Boston:
"What Lincoln wants, Lincoln gets. What Boston needs,
Lincoln forgets."
I think that is very true.
Now I hear on Wednesday 5th October that the new A1073 cannot
go ahead because of the lack of government funding. This road
has been shown on many road maps as under construction for the
last 2 years. There was a Public Inquiry into this road during
November 2005.
What has happened to the money which was going to pay for this
road? It will not cost less by putting it off for a few years.
Why can’t the money be borrowed a get the road built now?
Why is there no major investment in Lincolnshire?
The roads need to be built first. It takes a long time to get
to the A1 at Peterborough, Stamford, Grantham, Newark or the
M180 near Scunthorpe.
This is where the national network starts.
Lincolnshire is not on the Highways Agency maps except for
the new dual carriageway A46 Newark to Lincoln.
Where is all the money going which is collected from all the
road users in taxes?
As I see it the A1073 and the Boston bypass money will be going
into the Eastern and Southern bypasses for Lincoln.
I never get held up for long whenever I drive into Lincoln.
Ted Brooks
7 October 2005
