Bailgate work project completed

Lincoln’s most historic street has a new look after four months of work, and both shoppers and business owners are impressed.

Nearly 50,000 stones have been taken up and relaid in the Bailgate area to improve its appearance and make the road safer.

Lincolnshire County Council have now completed the final stage of the £1.7million project, with all restrictions lifted.

The new stones should hopefully require little maintenance for the next two decades, and replace the notoriously bumpy drive with a much smoother experience. 

Geoff Gilbert, who uses a wheelchair, said: “It looks better than last time, I’m glad they’ve done a good job. 

“The cobbles were getting very bumpy – I did the Santa Run in my chair and that was horrendous.”

Some businesses had complained about the disruption during the work, but several told the Local Democracy Reporting Service they were happy with the result. 

Jayne Wigham, the owner of Mansions Antiques, said: “It’s much crisper and fresher than last time they were all relaid, and a whole lot better than the tarmac pothole-filling we had. 

“Local people have commented how smooth it is compared to before. 

“It’s been lovely not having traffic using the Bailgate as a cut-through constantly, and better for the conservation area. It would be great if there was a compromise where part of the street could be pedestrianised.”

Steve Kettleby, who runs House of Cards, said: “People have been saying it looks much smarter – the feedback’s been very positive.

“It’s a bit quieter than normal at this time of year. We don’t know whether that’s due to it taking time to get back to normal, or people spending less with everything going on in the world. 

“Hopefully we have a good summer so people can enjoy it.”

Chris Campbell said: “It’s great to look at, and I think it should be turned into a pedestrian area so we could really enjoy it. 

“The cafes could have more seating outside and it would attract more tourists, bringing more money in – everyone benefits.”

Councillor David East, the council’s executive member for highways, described the resurfacing project as “a massive feat requiring thousands of workforce hours to complete”.

“The scheme’s aim was to modernise the infrastructure here while carefully preserving the area’s unique character and heritage, ensuring Bailgate continues to thrive for years to come,” he said.

“By lifting and relaying the stone blocks onto a stronger base, we’ve created a safer, much more durable surface while maintaining the area’s heritage character. 

“The new surface is also more robust, meaning the need for maintenance over the next twenty years is now significantly reduced.”