Lincolnshire County Council is developing a plan to upgrade the road surface in Red Lion Square to protect the heritage look of the area, and prevent the cracking and shifting of the stones.
Yorkstone setts were initially installed in Red Lion Square in 2007. In recent years, the stone setts have required ongoing maintenance, as vehicles moving through the square cause them to move around, lift out of place, or break.
The county council’s latest plans for the square would see all the current stones replaced with thicker setts, on a stronger base. This would make the surface more robust while maintaining the heritage look.
Dates for the project are yet to be finalised, but work is expected to start sometime next year.
Cllr Richard Davies, executive member for highways on Lincolnshire County Council, said:
“Residents have made it clear to us that the stone sets in Red Lion Square are important to them in preserving the town’s character. However, with vehicle movements causing the stones to crack or lift and creating a trip hazard, it’s clear that something needs to be done to make the road safer and reduce the bill for local taxpayers of ongoing maintenance.
“The option we have come up with will preserve the look of the stone setts, but provide a much stronger base and have thicker stones to deal with the traffic moving through the square.
“Whilst we are still finalising and costing-up the plans, we hope to be able to start work in 2022. Investing in improving the road surface in Red Lion Square now will drastically reduce the risk to pedestrians from raised stones and the need for constant repairs.”
County Council candidate for Stamford East, Kelham Cooke, commented:
“It is fantastic news that Lincolnshire County Council have agreed to a sympathetic repair of Red Lion Square, the replacement of the stone cobbles is welcome news for Stamford. These works will not only help keep shoppers safe and reduce the risk of trips or falls, but they will also preserve our town’s heritage. Stamford is renowned for its picturesque streets and I am pleased that a solution has been found that protects pedestrians whilst maintaining the unique character of the best stone town in the UK!”
