Vital and Viable Louth

Active Travel Fund – survey closes this weekend!

Lincolnshire County Council has been awarded £799,900 from Tranche 2 of the (Emergency) Active Travel Fund. As part of this fund they are proposing a range of schemes for market towns around the county to encourage walking and cycling. The proposed scheme for Louth would see three measures implemented:

The total closure of Cornmarket to all motor traffic and the removal of all on-street parking. This would apply from the junctions of Mercer Row to Market Place and would provide dedicated space for pedestrians and cyclists, as well as creating outdoor opportunities for traders and hospitality.

The closures of Burnt Hill Lane at the junction of Queen Street, and the closure of Aswell Street at the junction of Kidgate. This would provide an improved north/south link for pedestrians and cyclists in a safe traffic free environment.

The restriction of parking on Mercer Row from the junction with Upgate to the junction with Market Place. This would provide the opportunity to improve the area for pedestrian and cyclist flow.

A 20mph speed limit is also proposed to complement the above measures. All closures and provision will be implemented by using high quality temporary infrastructure such as traffic planters. The scheme will initially be temporary for between a year and 18 months. After this time a decision will be made after further engagement with local residents and organisations whether to maintain it, or elements of it.

Complete the survey here: www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/directory-record/66026/active-travel-fund-community-engagement

Louth Art Trail

We are working with Lincolnshire Community and Voluntary Service to establish a community working group to celebrate and care for Louth's public art. Organisations and individuals with an interest in the town's cultural and visual landscape are invited to a meeting on June 10^th at 7.30pm.

The Louth Art Trail was completed 21 years ago, the result of a pioneering project to create a unique visitor attraction celebrating the heritage, culture and landscape of Louth. The original project was initiated by Louth Town Council, supported by East Lindsey District and Lincolnshire County Councils with funding from the National Lottery through the Arts Council of England and the European Regional Development Fund. The trail was developed in collaboration with public art agency, Commissions East.

The premise of the original trail was to encourage people to 'discover art through Louth and Louth through art' and comprised of pieces celebrating the River Lud, the Greenwich Meridian and the town's green spaces.

Over the last 21 years the town has taken ownership of the art works. They have dressed them up in hats and scarves, picnicked on them, photographed them, and more recently lobbied to save them. The condition of the leaf sculptures in Westgate Fields has prompted the need to consider the decommissioning of part of the Art Trail, this is your chance to play a vital role in the future of these pieces.

Please use this link to book your place: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/louth-art-trail-revisited-tickets-152573542573

Bus Station improvements

This spring/summer will see a series of improvement works take place at the bus station. These include a full maintenance programme to repair any broken items and a repaint of all the blue structures. Alongside this we will bring in new seating and new planters. We'll also be providing new welcome signage.

Engine Gate

We have been working with Lincolnshire County Council to get permission to repair the community seating area in Engine Gate. All previous tarmac repairs will be removed and replaced with the original brickwork, full site maintenance and cleaning will also take place this spring.

Café Culture in the Cornmarket

Several businesses in the Cornmarket area had approached us for support to close off the Cornmarket for seating during the summer months. We have connected them with Highways Officers at LCC to help them achieve this through applying for Pavement Licences. We have also been able to use the Government's Reopening the High Street Safely Fund to purchase moveable planters and barriers to help mark out the area, as well as additional tables and chairs, which can be available for future Louth events too. We are in conversations to bring in additional Sunday events to support trading.

Bunting and bollards

We have worked with the Louth Independent Traders to get bunting and flags hung up in the town centre again this year. We have also been able to secure a contract to paint the bollards and some of the street furniture to ensure the town looks welcoming as it reopens to the public.

Please keep in touch:

Lydia Rusling
Assistant Director - Economic Growth

Email: Lydia.Rusling@e-lindsey.gov.uk
Phone: 01507 613463

Samantha Phillips
Economic Development Officer
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Email: Samantha.Phillips@e-lindsey.gov.uk
Phone: 01507 613119

Lisa Collins
Place Manager

Email:Lisa.Collins @e-lindsey.gov.uk
Phone: 01507 601111