Lincoln finally gets A1 brown signs
Lincoln will finally have its own brown signs at two junctions along the A1, directing visitors to the city’s heritage sites.
The new signs will be erected over the coming days at two junctions at Newark and Markham Moor near Tuxford.
The signs were pushed for by a joint campaign by Lincoln MP Karl McCartney, Lincoln BIG and local businesses.
Lincoln BIG, with the help of Karl McCartney, took the case for Lincoln brown signs to Westminster, and managed to win approval for the signs third time round.
Lincoln BIG also have a £60,000 funding package ready to pay for the signs.
A mockup of the signs that will go along the A1. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Brown signs are tourist signs along roads provided to help visitors on the last stage of their journey get to a tourist destination, that may also be difficult to find.
Lincoln’s winning argument was that it is a significant historic city, plus it is home to one of four surviving copies of the Magna Carta.
Funding was secured from a number of partners, with the County Council paying for half of the funding, and contributions from Lincoln Cathedral, Lincolnshire Co-op, City of Lincoln Council, Bishop Grosseteste University, the University of Lincoln, Lincolnshire Economic Action Partnership, Investors in Lincoln and Lincoln BIG.
Lincoln MP Karl McCartney at the presentation at Lincoln Cathedral. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Lincoln MP Karl McCartney said: “As a significant historic Cathedral and county city and as home of one of just four surviving original copies of the Magna Carta, I have long felt that having some ‘tourist’ brown signs pointing travellers on the A1 towards Lincoln is of crucial importance to our tourist and visitor industry.
“With the longstanding help and support of Lincoln BIG, Lincolnshire County Council, Lincoln Cathedral, Greater Lincolnshire LEP, the University of Lincoln, local businesses and others, and with the help of Conservative Ministers at the Department for Transport, together we have finally, after much bureaucratic delay, made A1 located brown signs to Lincoln finally become a reality.”
Lincoln BIG chief executive Matt Corrigan thanking everyone involved to make the brown signs for Lincoln a reality. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Lincoln BIG chief executive Matt Corrigan said: “It’s been a long and difficult journey but we are absolutely delighted that we have finally arrived at the day when the brown signs will go up.
“The signs underline Lincoln’s status as an important tourism destination, and the need to direct people here safely by the best route.
“We certainly would not have got to this point without the support of Karl McCartney and the many people and organisations, who both supported the campaign and donated money to pay for the work.
“It demonstrates how much can be achieved if the city stands together and presents a united front.
“The brown signs will play a vital part in the ongoing efforts to grow Lincoln’s vital tourism economy, which is key to creating jobs, growing prosperity and putting the city on the map.”
