As part of our commitment to Horncastle, the Town Council set out some measurable objectives in its’ 4-year Strategic Plan. One of these, item 8, was to hold at least three Town Council surgeries per year. Read our full Strategic Plan by following the link below:
Our next surgery is to be held on the 3rd October and will be held in the LIBRARY, to beat the (potential) weather!
Our Council surgery was held on the 1st August 2026 between 9am – 1pm and was attended by the following councillors:
- Cllr Mike Beecham
- Cllr Angela Birchall
- Cllr Stephen Thompson
- Deputy Clerk Amanda Eastwood
| Issue / Concern | Action Taken / Notes |
| State of the river – needs clearing up around the weir. Blanket weed in the river etc. | Responsibility of Environment Agency. |
| The state of the town – dirt on shop window sills and piles of debris around shop entrances. Needs sweeping along High Street. Painting of shop walls etc. | Estates team regularly sweep in the town centre. Shop windows / doorways / walls are the responsibility of the individual shop owners or landlords. |
| Stanhope Road, Linden Road, South Street footpaths are in very poor condition, especially for mobility scooters. | Footpaths are dealt with by Lincolnshire County Council, but passed to Highways Working Group for consideration. |
| Tree behind Carlisle Gardens is getting too big for where it is. | This issue has already been passed to the footpaths team at Lincolnshire County Council. |
| Footpath between Tennyson Gardens and Cemetery in very poor condition. | Footpaths are dealt with by Lincolnshire County Council, but passed to Highways Working Group for consideration. |
| Prospect Street Park – the ground is all rutted and needs levelling, as a trip hazard. Also suggests a sign on the Tesco side of the bridge advising that there is a play park there. | Estates Team have been advised and will look at the ground, as soon as weather conditions allow (too dry / hard at the moment). Signage suggestion to be considered by the Estates Committee, will need permissions from ELDC. |
| Paint has been left on the cobbles from property renovation. “Market Place” signage above the Good Spud shop has been painted over. | Paint on the cobbles will wear away with foot traffic. Will talk to the Heritage Officer at ELDC about the signage. |
Our market place surgery was held on the 20th June 2026 between 9am – 1pm and was attended by the following councillors:
- Chair, Cllr Fiona Martin
- Cllr Mike Beecham
- Cllr Angela Birchall
- Cllr Terry Macarthy
| Issue / Concern | Action Taken / Notes |
| Lady that picks up litter every day to be given some flowers and chocolates as a thank you. | There are various volunteers around Horncastle that litter pick, garden etc. so it would not be appropriate to select only one. |
| Incentive to property owners – prize for best renovation – wooden spoon for the worst. | There is currently a shop-front renovation scheme underway with Heritage Lincolnshire. |
| Allotments – weeds growing in the fence line and car park that need dealing with. | Passed to our Estates Team. |
| Car parking on the wild flower area alongside Rose Cottage on Lincoln Road | Nuisance parking can be reported to Lincolnshire County Council: https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/parking/parking-enforcement |
| Van parked on the pavement next to QEGS. Man very rude. | Nuisance parking can be reported to Lincolnshire County Council: https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/parking/parking-enforcement |
| Path overgrown from Lincoln Road to Baggley Drive | Grass cutting contractors have reported staffing issues, but have confirmed attendance in Horncastle week commencing 22nd June. |
| Lincoln Road, near Rose Cottage, footpath too narrow, forcing people onto the road. | Footpaths are dealt with by Lincolnshire County Council. |
| Path between Mill Lane and Bain Valley Park – is it ever going to open? | Currently being investigated. |
| Replace planters on Market Place to stop people parking in the pedestrianised area | ELDC Markets Team requested that these were removed as they interfered with the setting up of the markets. Nuisance parking can be reported to Lincolnshire County Council: https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/parking/parking-enforcement |
| State of the public toilets, very grubby, some not working, need refurbishment. | The toilets belong to ELDC and this complaint has been passed to them. However, we are aware that the toilets are undergoing major refurbishment works in July. |
| Plinths either side of the weir (near swimming pool) completely overgrown with vegetation. Regular maintenance is essential to prevent further flooding in town. | This is an area looked after the EA, passed to them. |
| Tennyson Gardens – the pavements are breaking up due to cars/vans parking on verges. | Pavements are a Lincolnshire County Council matter and need to be reported to Highways. Nuisance parking can be reported to Lincolnshire County Council: https://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/parking/parking-enforcement |
| Louth Road verges are in a terrible condition – weeds and areas with nothing on. | Grass cutting contractors have reported staffing issues, but have confirmed attendance in Horncastle week commencing 22nd June. |
| Low Toynton Road – potholes – no smart phone to report to Fix My Street. | Already reported on fixmystreet.com: https://www.fixmystreet.com/report/9639089 |
Our next market place surgery will be held on Saturday 4th October 2025 – weather permitting! CANCELLED
Our market place surgery was held on the 2nd August 2025 between 9am – 1pm and was attended by the following councillors:
- Chair, Cllr Mike Beecham
- Cllr Fiona Martin
- Cllr Angela Birchall
- Cllr Terry Macarthy
- Cllr Jo Stone
| Issue / Concern | Action Taken / Notes |
| Call Connect – limiting service. | Unfortunately we are unable to dictate their operating hours, or even make suggestions. |
| Suggestion for a fun, colourful litter bin in the new recreation area. | This suggestion has been put forward to the Recreation Area working group. |
| Bench by the river, near the cricket ground has been damaged | Reported to our Estates Team. |
| Drains blocked at the corner of Stanhope Road / Louth Road | Reported on Fix My Street: https://www.fixmystreet.com/P/EJGeVXATBmwDBYqDZw Update received 11/09/25: Thank you for your report. We’ve inspected and acknowledge that this gully is blocked, but because it is not causing a serious highway safety or property flooding issue and other gullies in the vicinity are operating well, we will not be ordering work at this time. Thank you for reporting this matter. State changed to: No further action |
| Tennyson Gardens – parking on grass verges, hedges sticking out so no-one can get past on the pavement. Complained to Platform Housing and LCC and they keep passing the buck from one to the other. | The hedges were reported on Fix My Street https://fixmystreet.lincolnshire.gov.uk/report/7694802, and we received a reply from LCC on the 8th July: In this instance we don’t intend on taking immediate action. Because our current resources are extremely limited we have to focus our enforcement on matters of a significant danger or nuisance to road users. We can, however, continue to monitor the site during our routine inspections and will review the situation. Thank you for reporting this matter. |
| Cobbles along the edge of the Market Place, in front of shops and Post Office – overgrown with weeds & grass | Reported to our Estates Team. |
| Resident feels that the pedestrianised area is a waste of public space, as the shops feel unable (in the main) to put chairs and tables out as traffic still tries to squeeze past. | All traffic incidents should be reported to the police, even if they don’t cause an accident, as it is illegal to drive in a pedestrianised area. |
Our second Market Place Surgery was due to take place on Thursday 5th June 2025 but was cancelled. Our next surgery will be held on Saturday 2nd August from 9am – 1pm.
Our first Market Place Surgery of 2025 took place on Saturday 5th April 2025, between 9am – 1pm, and was attended by the following Councillors:
- Chair, Cllr Matt Wilkinson
- Cllr Owen Wilkinson
- Cllr Mike Beecham
- Cllr Mick Rogan
- Cllr Terry Macarthy
- Cllr Jo Stone
| Issue / Concern | Action Taken / Notes |
| Why have the allotments gone up so much in price? | Letter to sent to allotment holder |
| Are volunteering opportunites on Facebook? | Yes – when we have a clear up day, or planting etc., it is advertised on Facebook as well as in Horncastle Matters and on our noticeboards around town. |
| Stanhope Road footpath – it is very difficult for wheelchair users, as the camber causes the chair to pull to the side. Linden Way nearly as bad. | Passed to Highways Working Group |
| Can we have light at Tesco Road bridge? | Passed to Highways Working Group |
| Issues with derelict buildings around the market place – 6 Market Place and old Stanley’s shop | The buildings are being monitored by ELDC and at present they do not note any issues. Landlord has complied with ELDC requests to date. |
| Potholes on Mareham Road and also Hameringham to Horncastle | Passed to Highways Working Group |
| State of the road through town centre and Hemingby Lane. Needs resurfacing. | Passed to Highways Working Group |
Our fourth and last surgery of the year was held on Saturday 5th October 2024, and was attended by the following Councillors:
- Chair, Cllr Matt Wilkinson
- Cllr Mike Beecham
- Cllr Alison Carter
- Cllr Angela Birchall
- Cllr Terry Macarthy
| Issue / Concern | Action Taken / Notes |
| Parking bays on Wharf Road – large potholes which fill with water and are difficult to avoid stepping into when getting out of the car. | Passed to Highways Working Group |
| Blocked drains at the corner of Stanhope Road / Louth Road, Lancaster Avenue | Passed to Highways Working Group |
| Flooding on the road by The Becks, Linden Road – gullies blocked with causes gardens to flood – happens every time that there is heavy rainfall. | Passed to Highways Working Group |
| Public pathway up to garden centre along the A158 Lincoln Road is badly overgrown and almost impassable with a mobility scooter | Passed to Highways Working Group |
| Trees overgrown on the walkway at the back of Thomas Gibson Drive need trimming. | Passed to Highways Working Group |
| Outside no 7 Louth Road not resurfaced due to vehicle being parked there when work was done. Will this area be resurfaced? | Passed to Highways Working Group |
| Traffic travelling too fast along Mareham Road. Can there be speed bumps? | Passed to Highways Working Group |
| Parking on Mareham Road around Bargate Lane is dangerous, and exit of ELDC hub. When will double yellow lines be installed? | Passed to Highways Working Group |
| Footpath next to Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School – parking on footpath, using power tools on footpath, selling beds from footpath (property next to school gates) | Passed to Highways Working Group |
| Street lighting on footpath through Prospect Street recreation area. Can HTC use power | HTC are looking at installing electricity to the site. |
| Fly tipping around Hamerton Lane – bins always left out on corner of A158. Pile of rubbish in bin store, needs sorting. | Reported to ELDC 07/10/24 – asked to send reminder letter to residents of Hamerton Lane about putting their bins away on collection days. |
| The town toilets are dirty! | ELDC cleansing team clean the toilets daily, just before they are locked for the night. |
| The cubicle locks in the public toilets are stiff and need replacing. | Passed to ELDC cleansing team |
| Weeds around Foundry Street | Passed to Estates Team |
| Path to Tesco not suitable for purpose | |
| Drains all blocked | Reported to LCC / Anglian Water |
| Prospect Street – sweep roads and paths | Reported to ELDC Cleansing Team |
Our third surgery of the year was held on Saturday 3rd August 2024, and was attended by the following Councillors:
- County Cllr William Gray
- Town Clerk Amanda Bushell
- Cllr Mike Beecham
- Cllr Fiona Martin MBE
- Cllr Angela Birchall
| Issue / Concern | Action Taken / Notes |
| Issues with the path @ Stonewell Row – been reported to Fix My Street several times but nothing has been done. | Unable to find report(s) on FixMyStreet. Reported on FixMyStreet: https://www.fixmystreet.com/report/6318291: There is a Forward Planning Brief for slurry sealing works which will take place in due course. |
| RBL donated tree in Hamerton Gardens is dead – possibly damaged by strimming too close to trunk | Passed to Estates Team |
| Town needs tidying – washing grit bins, sweeping pavements. | Passed to Estates Team |
| Dovecote Alley – needs street name plate | Estates Team to check if name plate is missing – if one is required, then it will be reported to ELDC. |
| Tennyson Gardens – vehicles parking inconsiderately on verges and near the junctions (77 & 100). Possibly solution to add: lay-by. Speeding is an issue. Trouble pulling out of Tennyson Gardens safely. | Passed to Highways Working Group |
| What is being done to stop parking on High Street outside Coop? | Passed to Highways Working Group – to push LCC to take action |
| The footpath from Mareham Hill to Horncastle is too narrow. | This is already on the schedule to be replaced in the 2025/26 financial year |
| Linden Road – have to walk on the road due to residents trees blocking footpaths. | Already reported on Fix My Street: https://www.fixmystreet.com/report/6278767 |
| Old Youth Club premises at Cagthorpe – looks like a junkyard. Can ELDC do anything? Looks like it’s still trading as a business. | Will pass to ELDC to see if anything can be done. |
| Horncastle Market is very disappointing – what can be done to attract more stalls? | Pass comment to ELDC Markets team and asked if there were promotions planned. Comment from ELDC (23.08.24) – a new Markets Manager has recently been appointed and one of their main roles will be promotion of all the markets. |
| Langton Hill the drains at the top are blocked solid. | Already reported on Fix My Street: https://www.fixmystreet.com/report/6296661 |
| Path at side of builders is overgrown. | Already reported on FixMy Street: https://www.fixmystreet.com/report/6292445 |
| Mark Avenue verges are being missed – don’t strim 5-14 | Reported to grass cutting contractor |
| Bowl Alley Lane – cars regularly crossing pavements, parking on verges, blocking driveways. Happening more or less every day during term-time. People ignore residents. | Passed to Highways Working Group |
| Turnbull’s on West Street – HGV access is causing a lot of traffic problems, and for pedestrians. | Passed to Highways Working Group |
| Church Lane slip road by Bar Unico – ivy on footpath | Passed to Estates Team |
| Prospect Street Recreation Area Consultation | Ideas / Comments |
| Seating Area Outdoor gym equipment | Anything to improve it will be welcomed |
| Seating Area | Have quiet seating area away from children’s activities. Something to draw people to the rear. Give people a reason to use the entire area. Nice planting – few more picnic benches. Don’t over complicate it – make it a nice park. |
| Old Victorian bandstand in centre Multipurpose play area More picnic benches | Outdoor concerts – bandstand to be made locally? For able bodies and disabled kids and young adults – learning opportunities |
Our second surgery of the year was held on Saturday 1st June 2024, and was attended by the following Councillors:
- Cllr Mike Beecham
- Mayor, Cllr Matt Wilkinson
- Cllr Owen Wilkinson
- Cllr Jo Stone
- Cllr Angela Birchall
- Cllr Terry Macarthy
Although a lot of people took time to chat to the councillors present, only one issue was raised:
| Issue / Concern | Action Taken / Notes |
| The footpath from Lincoln Road towards Baggeley Drive is no longer being cut and is a mess. | This area is cut by Lincolnshire County Council and they cut it three times a year. |
Our first surgery of the year, was held on Saturday 8th April 2024, and was attended by the following Councillors:
- District Cllr William Gray
- Mayor, Cllr Matt Wilkinson
- Cllr Owen Wilkinson
- Cllr Jo Stone
- Cllr Angela Birchall
- Cllr Terry Macarthy
The following issues were raised at this surgery:
| Issue / Concern | Action Taken / Notes |
| Resident is not online and would like to book a place for the flood meeting. | Registered them for a place and phoned to confirm this had been done. |
| Footpath along the side of the river in Tesco’s car park is constantly very muddy. Could ELDC address this issue? | Reported to ELDC Street Cleansing Team |
| Mark Avenue / Prospect Street – gulleys are full and overflowing | Reported on fixmystreet.com https://www.fixmystreet.com/report/5860155 |