How important are the Railways to Sleaford?
I got quite a fright when I heard the news of the radio this morning that a Rail Company was being taken over by the Government. I was probably over reacting as I didn’t quite understand who runs what.
So I looked it up. I use the route to London and into Surrey, through the London Underground occasionally, as do many more. Sleaford comes within the franchise run by East Midlands trains: the news was about East Coast Rail owned by National Express! National Express (sounds like postal service) has been providing the services from London to Peterborough, and Grantham, which link to Sleaford when travelling to the London. Due to financial problems, including the credit crunch making us use second rather than first (not me I can’t afford first), they are to be temporarily Nationalized. This may or may not have implications for our region: Lincoln for instance appear to be a bit worried.
Still it did bring home the importance to Sleaford of having rail links.
If more Freight is delivered through the rail network and maybe Sleaford itself, with longer trains, then it seems vitally important that Sleaford can cope. All does not appear well nationally: Threat to Transport Plans!
Now back to the ongoing saga of the regeneration of SE Sleaford!
Published Date:
01/07/2009
Modified Date:
02/07/2009
Michael Jackson: Dangerous Tour
The news of the death of Michael Jackson brought back memories of seeing his Wembley performance in July 1992. The World Tour was called Dangerous! I gather quite a few went from this part of Lincolnshire including Sleaford.
My daughter had already been the night before (one of the front rows lot) and I went the second night with a group and saw quite a spectacle. Think what you like of him but his shows, unless cancelled, were spectacular.
I suppose his death will be investigated and the reasons poured over in great detail. In some ways the reasons may be similar to the early death of Elvis. The need to keep at the top puts so much pressure on them that eventually they crack - and take whatever is available to keep going. We shall see!
Postnote: Thre ahve been a spate of releases on Youtube since his death - here is one if you can pick it up : Give into me!
Published Date:
26/06/2009
Modified Date:
28/06/2009
Lincolnshire Show 2009: hot day out from Sleaford
As it was such a nice day I went to the 125th Lincolnshire Show and Show ground (Thursday) on a beautiful sunny day with my family. The local BBC Weather girl was there on the Radio Lincolnshire stand to tell us all about the good weather. A day for loads of sun cream protection and a hat on my head.
The showground was packed so we eventually left before the rush hour so that I could get back to Sleaford in time for Tea. The main attraction was the visit by Princess Anne to open the £6M self-sustaining Epic Centre.
Luckily we managed to get chairs to sit on under the trees!
Here is a sample of the photos available.
Published Date:
25/06/2009
Modified Date:
26/06/2009
JohnC Blog Sleaford
Published Date:
20/06/2009
Modified Date:
20/06/2009
Decent Parks and decent behaviour in Sleaford
Setting Open Space Standards
A design thingy?
One interesting aspect of the Boston Road Recreation Ground link road debate, as part of the regeneration plan for Sleaford, was the issue of having better access to help prevent Anti-Social Behaviour. These problems seem commonplace in society generally and often drink/drug related.
Personally I can go along with that argument. I keep being told that ASB is going on but I am not sure by how much. One thing that seemed to get lost in the re-generation debate was that good designs of open spaces, not just ‘Swings and Roundabouts’, have a value in themselves in helping to make open spaces attractive and interesting.
One idea discussed, a few years ago in relation to say Boston Road, was to try and achieve the Green Flag award.
This topic was discussed at the start of a review of our open spaces. The refurbishment (play equipment) of our Open Spaces on Boston Road, George Street, Lincoln Road and Meadowfield started around that time and since: and I do recollect the Police Inspector providing booklets “What would you do with this Space?” and “Decent Parks? Decent Behaviour?”
Anyway I hope this aspect can be brought back into focus: with Town and District involvement. It’s the 'design thingy' I presume as one would say!
Published Date:
14/06/2009
Modified Date:
14/06/2009
And the Election winner is ....
... the Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) web results service!
This gets better every time there is a County or District election. The quality of the graphics is first class and getting better.
For more detailed analysis of the Sleaford area go to: Sleaford or Sleaford West & Leasingham or Sleaford Rural South. From there, or the Home page for example, you can click anywhere in Lincolnshire.
For the European Elections then perhaps the BBC is the best place to go.
I must admit that I awaited the results on TV assuming, from assurances given, that they would be soon rather than later. By the time they were announced i had fallen asleep. So I went to bed and read about it the next morning instead - much easier on the system.
Anyway one last thought: how did the polsters "do" in the European elections - for the UK? Here is a summary - hope it is of interest. Pollster accuracy!
Published Date:
08/06/2009
Modified Date:
08/06/2009
Birth of a Roundabout: will Sleaford conceive more
June 3rd 2009
Over the last few months I have been keeping a regular Blog running on the development of the new mini-roundabout on the Lincoln Road near the main Holdingham Roundabout and MacDonalds. See Holdingham Blog.
Not only am I interested as a resident but, having lived in Bracknell for many years, roundabouts there are a way of life. Even the Met Office, where I worked, had one named after it (the Met Office Rounabout).
The reason that June 3rd
has been chosen
as it is the original completion date |
The new completion date I presume is a few weeks away. |
Judging by the developments likely in Sleaford it will not be the last. There are plusses and minuses to them and I have to admit I have warmed to this one as I have watched it being built. By the way it has ended up, I am told, three times as big as intended because of the tree being preserved in the middle. That is to the good, as far as I am concerned, as it gets traffic away from Holdingham Lane and will slow it down.
I am hoping, against hope probably, that it might encourage motorists to use the bypasses around town and may slow traffic using the Lincoln Road to within the 30mph that should be used.
Let's hope so anyway.
Published Date:
03/06/2009
Modified Date:
03/06/2009
Almost Gridlock!
I walked into Sleaford this afternoon of 22nd May 2009 at about 4.15pm.
The traffic was almost at a standstill all the way down the Lincoln Road, both sides, through Southgate and onto the Boston and Grantham roads. It was still there at 5.30pm.
One main reason I believe relates to the traffic report below. However the mini roundabout works on the Lincoln Road, and the fact that it was Friday afternoon, did not help.
A17; Sleaford
both ways at A153, East Road, Sleaford |
closed
A17 Lincolnshire - Slip roads closed both ways at the A15 junction in Sleaford, because of roadworks.
Last updated: 20th May 2009 at 14:57, started: 20th May 2009 |
Roll on the day when these roadworks are complete.
Published Date:
22/05/2009
Modified Date:
23/05/2009