Closure of Stamford Town Bridge

Closure of Stamford Town Bridge

1) What mitigation measures are being considered for local businesses?

2) Will any financial support be available to those impacted?

1. Lincolnshire County Council are doing our best to make public aware that Stamford and its businesses are fully accessible during the works. This includes:

• Doing our absolute best to carry the scheme out as quickly and efficiently as possible
• Maintaining safe access to all businesses during the entire course of works. Any temporary works if required for maintaining the access will be done.
• Setting up ‘Business Open as Usual’ boards.
• Implementing two signed pedestrian diversion routes.
• Implementing signed vehicle diversion route which utilises roads of an equal standard to that road which is closed. We are also maintaining a shorter additional diversion route utilizing the B roads which would be of benefit to residents/businesses.
• Additional information on the standard diversion signage to indicate which routes provide access to the Cattlemarket and Wharf Road car parks. This will help ensure that road users are aware that these key parking facilities remain available during the closure period to access the businesses of Stamford and can choose the most appropriate diversion route—North or South—accordingly .
• Details of the road closure and diversion routes are published on Causeway one. Network and at www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/roadworks, which integrates with Google Maps and Waze the two most widely used satellite navigation apps. This ensures that key routing information is available to the public through commonly used navigation tools to access Stamford.
• In addition, we are trying to explore the opportunity of using promotional activity through widely used social media platforms. This will help raise awareness of the continued access to the businesses and car parks in Stamford during the closure period, especially among those passing through or visiting Stamford.
• Appointing a dedicated Public Liaison Officer (PLO) for the scheme to ensure that concerns of businesses/residents are being heard and timely responded.

2. Under the Highways Act 1980, the County Council, as the relevant Highway Authority, has a statutory duty to maintain the highway.  The County Council has no power to grant compensation for financial loss incurred through the introduction of traffic restrictions made necessary by road works, except where bodily injury or property damage is sustained as a result of the County Council’s negligence.  In law, the County Council cannot be liable for a nuisance attributable to the exercise by it of a statutory duty in the absence of negligence.