Lincolnshire

In my last contribution I referred to conflicting statements regarding the transfer of of EA`s navigations to CRT. Thankfully there are further developments in that the Minister has instructed Defra to consult further with CRT to reach acceptable agreements on some issues, to take the amalgamation forward.

Sleaford Navigation Trust. Congratulations to those who spent many hours preparing the LEADER funding bid for Project South Kyme moorings. The funding has now been received and a contractor appointed and the work was due to start early in June. Monies from Gregg`s Community Fund has allowed the purchase of aquatic plant plugs to be installed in the coir roll bank protection in Sleaford and South Kyme. See our picture from Mel Sowerby. above.

Boston Barrier works have now commenced in earnest. Regular navigation warning notices are being issued advising of areas where beam dredging is taking place. This involves a heavy metal beam being dragged along the bed on outgoing tides, disturbing the silt, which is then washed away as the tide goes out. Other notices warn of jacked-up legged barge working platforms in the water.

A warning notice has been issued that the mooring pontoon at the Black Sluice Pumping station, now returned to its usual station, is not suitable for all states of the tide and has to be used for short periods either side of high tides for boats to gain access to the South Forty Foot lock (Fenland Link).

At the Brayford Trust, Drake’s dredging equipment has arrived in the Pool to commence work. Due to problems with the owners of the proposed dredging disposal site, I understand the spoils are now to be taken, by road, to Whisby Pits west of Lincoln. Our pictures, above and right, are courtesy of “The Lincolnite” and Lewis Foster.

Fens Waterways Link (FWL) Chris Howes, IWA Eastern Region and Peterborough Branch chairman, Dave Carnell and David Pullen are representing IWA in discussions with the Environment Agency and Lincolnshire County Council on how to move FWL forward. An economic study into the benefits of the new waterway link is a vital step in gaining support and funding, and LCC are now ready to commission this study. The project will now concentrate on the Boston to Peterborough section. South Holland District Council business development department are very supportive and will be a key partner. Destinations such as Spalding, Crowland, Surfleet and Peakirk, currently disconnected apart from the tidal connection, will benefit economically as will Boston and Peterborough. We are planning to publicly re-launch the revised project at the IWA Festival of Water at St Neots, 25-27 August 2018.

To support and promote the revised Fenland Waterways Link project, in the longer term, we are investigating the feasibility of hosting a trail-boat rally in the south Lincolnshire area, possibly at Crowland on the river Welland, where there is an excellent slipway which gives access to 15 miles of river navigation between Spalding and Peakirk. It is envisaged that this will be a joint event between Lincolnshire and Peterborough IWA Branches. Dave Carnell

Fresh Scope for Louth Navigation

Louth Navigation Trust have drawn up a document outlining their vision for developing the waterway. This was discussed at a meeting chaired by Victoria Atkins MP with former Waterways Minister Sir Robert Atkins and representatives of local Councils in early June. Some land ownership questions remain, in particular affecting the installation of tidal pontoon moorings at Tetney and also the relocation of a Phillips Oil Refinery crude oil pipeline that crosses the navigation just above water level.

Louth Navigation was part of the general expansion of a canal network in the 1700s. It was opened in 1770, connecting the town’s merchants to the rest of country via the Humber Estuary and the sea. Economic prosperity followed from trading, using craft able to carry up to 120 tons. This continued until railway and improved road connections took traffic away in the later 1800s. The canal remained, though little used, until 1920 when a serious flood of the River Lud devastated much of the town and the Riverhead loading basin. The enterprise was wound up, the land and buildings sold, and the canal formally closed in 1924. It remained as a part of the drainage system of the area.

Since 1986 the Louth Navigation Trust (LNT) has worked to bring the main Riverhead Warehouse, and eventually the canal itself, into action again as a local community benefit. This was supported in principle by Groundwork Lincolnshire, Lincolnshire County Council, East Lindsey District Council, Louth Town Council, Anglian Water. and the IWA. A substantial feasibility study was done by consultants Faber Maunsell of Peterborough in 2004/5, and since then much work has been done by LNT volunteers to survey; maintain where possible; and to limit dereliction by time, weather and further floods of the River. This flooding has been moderated by new retaining ponds upstream from the town, built under contract to Environment Agency (see our report in Aegre of March 2016, page 18). In some places possible maintenance is limited by uncertain land ownership.

However major the problems facing restoration may seem, a valuable step forward to a solution was taken on June 1st, when the meeting of interested parties was held at the Navigation Warehouse. The aim was to seek the establishment of a “Louth Navigation Community Restoration Project Group” to progress the work. This

would also include a multi-user path along the canal towpath connecting into the Sustrans Danelaw project. ELDC is already looking at a path route extending from the East Lindsey coastline along the Louth Navigation and then connecting with the Water Rail Way on the Witham (potentially via the disused GNR Louth to Bardney train line). Access for pedestrian, cycle, equestrian and disabled users would bring multiple economic, well-being and tourist benefits.

Subsequently LNT have prepared a draft partnership document, which those present at the meeting, and other relevant bodies, will be invited to support. These would include:

● Louth Navigation Trust

● Environment Agency

● Anglian Water

● Lindsey Marsh Drainage Board

● Lincolnshire County Council

● East Lindsey District Council

● Louth Town Council

● Canal & River Trust

● Inland Waterways Association

Actions will also be taken to try to resolve the Phillips66 pipeline question, also involving Merton College Oxford, who own some associated land.

Picture courtesy of Louth Leader and James Silcocks.

Entropy Prevails at Louth

Hardly had the angling season opened on June 16th when fish in one of the upper pounds of the Louth Navigation were left struggling in mud.

For some time (years) the pound above Keddington Lock has been maintained at a low but reasonable level by the remains of the lock structure, wooden patching to the cill, and gabions placed by EA some years ago to replace and support the lock walls. A reasonable level was required in order to supply an abstraction point a few yards above the lock, used to feed the down-stream course of the River Lud and a water-mill at Alvingham. The ad-hoc structures fulfilled their purpose, although damaged by serious flooding in 2007 and by lesser flows at other times of heavy rainfall. However seepage around the left of the lock gradually scoured away earth and clay, leading to collapse of some of the gabions and a pipe from a field drain.

Then, uncorrected and during a period of dry weather, the scouring finally worked down to the level of the bed of the pound above, accelerating the flow rate and leaving the canal looking more like the river bed. Remedial action is plainly difficult. The immediate surroundings have no vehicular access, and the ownership of the bank seems unclear.

What does seem clear is that if left to run, the scouring will eventually encroach on the remaining gabions and wall remnants, which support a well-used footbridge over the lock.

Our pictures, courtesy of LNT, show, on this page the cill from the foot-bridge ( just visible at the top left the abstraction point); on the back page top, the scene in 2016; back page centre, the flow out into the lock chamber adjacent to the collapsed field drain; and below, the bottom of the pound above the lock. Not quite white water interesting for kayaks, but give it a bit of rainfall?

At the time of writing, we do not have further news. Possibly check the LNT web-site at http://www.louthcanal.org.uk/