Plans unveiled to repair and protect the stones of Bailgate in Lincoln

Bailgate, Lincoln

Lincolnshire County Council is developing plans to improve the road surface along Bailgate in Lincoln to prevent further cracking and shifting of the stones.

The project is set to be reviewed and discussed by the county council’s Highways and Transport Scrutiny Committee on Monday 28 July.

Karen Cassar, assistant director for highways, said: “Yorkstone blocks were initially installed on Bailgate in 2010 to match the area’s historic look as part of a rejuvenation scheme for the area.

“Unfortunately, the flexible sand base that these setts were laid on has started to fail. This has led to some of the blocks moving around, lifting out of place, or breaking over the past fifteen years. 

“We’ve looked at a number of options to fix this problem and our recommendation is to re-lay what we can of the existing stone blocks on a stronger, harder-wearing mortar base. For any setts that are broken, we’d replace them with like-for-like stones, in terms of look and durability.

“If we carry the works out early next year, we would be able to re-use 65%, or roughly 32,000, of the existing stone blocks. Not acting soon would lead to even more blocks failing and the scheme cost increasing.”

Key details

  • Work would start during January 2026 for up to three months, subject to weather.
  • The total cost for the project would be just over £1.7 million.
  • Traffic management details are not yet finalised. However, phased road closures along Bailgate would be needed.
  • All footways would remain open throughout the works with access to businesses and residences maintained.
  • Exact dates and traffic management details would be shared with businesses and the wider public later this year once confirmed.

For more information about the project, visit www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/bailgate

Published: 18th July 2025