The Lincolnshire Bird Club

Hi Geoff.
I was at Northcoates Point only last week.
The new fence is a simple 3 strand wire fence and is in place from at least the 5 bar gate/stile at Northcoates point towards Horseshoe Point car park. I have not walked all the way to Horseshoe point from Northcoates either since the fence was installed but It goes as far as I could see through my binoculars and i was informed by an irate cyclist covered in tar from the gate he climbed over, that it did go all the
way to Horseshoe carpark.

I can confirm the fence is not on the foreshore. It is adjacent to the sea wall on the seaward side, I didn't take much notice how far it went North towards Tetney but will be their next week and will report back.

_________________
Regards.
Del.

To err is human. To really louse things up takes a computer

Thanks Derick. Just gathering our thoughts on this at the moment as we've had all sorts of comments from pilots using the airfield, to someone from Welbeck Estates, who bought the land from the MoD. When I get a moment, I'll move all this to another forum and add photos etc. plus details of further developments.

Keep the reports coming!

Thanks

Geoff

Just spoken to the the secretary of Humber Wildfowlers and he informs me that the gates have been erected by the environment agency as part of the bank improvement scheme. The wildfowlers have not stopped or intend to stop anyone using the bank. The EA however have H & S to consider and I assume this is why these gates have been put in during the work.

One thing I would like to point out though that the land on the seaward side is not open access and as such people should in theory have landowners permission to walk within these areas.

In fact the Wildfowlers are a nice bunch of chaps who are quite approachable.

Well, that's interesting. I know that the coastguards have demanded the wildfowlers give them access as the bank is their only way of getting down to the 'beach' area. It was the coastguards that told us the wildfowlers had locked the gates.

There is some confusion at the moment as the whole area is fenced off by the contractors while sea defence work is carried out. This is supposed to end next month.

So as not to clog up this forum, can all future posts be sent to:

northcoates@grimsbylouthramblers.org.uk

All the postings and other information can be viewed at:

http://www.grimsbylouthramblers.org.uk/northcoates.html

Thanks to all who have contributed.

Geoff

I've read this thread from the start - why should posts be sent to the ramblers?? - surely the appropriate statutory body is Lincolnshire County Council and the domain of their Highways Officer.

Hi Guys.
I spoke to an EA rep. near Northcoates yesterday. he confirmed what Peter says. The gates and barriers have been put in place for health and safety reasons. he also mentioned that the work would likely go on beyond 2012.

_________________
Regards.
Del.

To err is human. To really louse things up takes a computer

Stuart, I wish you luck with LCC. The point is that it is NOT a public right of way, so they are not interested. The Ramblers have got involved as they have received numerous complaints from regular users of this path who think it is a public footpath. They are looking at the best way forward to get the path reopened for all users, birders, ramblers, dog walkers etc.

Peter, If you have the name and address of the Humber Wildfowlers secretary, I'd be pleased to have it.

If anyone cares to look at: http://www.humberwildfowlers.org and scroll down the page, they will see photos of HWC members fitting the gate at the Northcoates end. Nothing to do with the EA, who are working at the southern end.

Also, at:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/nige-d-smi ... snews.html

it is stated "...there is a lock code to get through the gate at the range. Please contact the Secretary for this code before visiting the marsh." Perhaps the secretary will give the lock code to all LBC members who want to walk the bank.

10 Sept.
Walked up from Tetney Lock to Northcoates Point this morning. Brice Construction have fenced off the sea bank path from Northcoates Point in the same way that's been done at Horseshoe Point. Work to end mid-October. Just beyond their high fence is the original Wildfowlers gate and fence. Nothing has changed there since I last visited 18 months ago. There is a combination padlock on the constructors gate, but not the number I was given.

However, just been told (by someone with access) that there is barbed wire and goose fat over the next gate along the path, so perhaps we'll have to wait for the contractors to leave before looking at this again.

Geoff

By email from Terry West

merlinantiques@hotmail.com

I have been following the thread concerning Horseshoe Point with some interest. Not surpringly there seems to be a lot of confusion. I live nearby, in N. Cotes, and the situation has caused a lot of anger among local residents, many of whom use this area on a regular basis for walking, dog walking, etc. One in particular has been very active in trying to gain info. and has passed on her discoveries. She rang East Lindsey Council (this area has nothing to do with Lincs County Council, as stated By S. Britton). They told her it was nothing to do with them and the saltmarsh here was owned by MOD. The MOD stated that they sold the area to the Wildfowler's Club 22 years ago (not this summer as has been stated). The work on the bank is being carried out by Birse Civils, on behalf of the EA. They have erected the metal barriers preventing passage beyond the car park and stretching a short way along the bank. The wire and post stock fencing that stretches from there as far as the eye can see, as well as the section that runs down onto the saltmarsh, with accompanying "greased" metal gate, was put in place by the Humber & North Lincs Wildfowlers Clubs and has nothing at all to do with the EA or Health & Safety. They have also put up signs at the metal gate stating their ownership and that the land is "Private". All of this was done at the same time as the EA barriers were erected, probably to use this as a "smokescreen" and hoping it would go unnoticed until the bank work was finished. Getting info. about the exact extent of the land they own is proving difficult and it is by no means certain that it includes any part of the bank. I spoke to John Walker recently and he mentioned that, as this is a SSSI, the club should have obtained permits from Natural England before place any fencing or signs. This they failed to do but I was given the impression that, although NE were annoyed, they do not intend to take any action. Perhaps it would be worth taking to J. Walker as he seems to be well aware of the situation and could probably give a clearer indication of exactly what they own. As a matter of interest it is actually quite easy to find a way round the barriers on the landward side and people still seem to be using the path along the bank as no work there has actually started. Apparently this has been held up by some dispute between Birse Civils and some of their sub contractors. I hope this information may be of some use and help to clarify the situation as far as has been possible so far. I hope that LBC members will continue to pursue this rather than just leave it to the Ramblers' Association as this is obviously a matter of some concern to birders in Lincs., especially as large winter roosts of Brent Geese, Golden Plovers, Lapwings and many other species will soon be using this spot and we should all be wary of measures taken that will make monitoring shooting here very difficult.

If doors need opening--- Why not seek the help of the Lincolnshire MP Edward Leigh, he is a rambler, and most important he was the person who got the bill through the house of commons and into law of Public Footpaths, he is man who could open doors especially when it is the MOD
Mike Surr

This, received today from Graham Crompton-Howe, the HWC chairman

The fencing off of the area is not us it is the Environment Agency who are planning to dig a new much larger ditch at the back of the bank and increase the width and height of the existing. In order to do this they have to fence off the works for Health & Safety reasons as it is a working site.
Probably will take a couple of months. It is an inconvenience for us also as the work disturbs the birds. The good news is that when the work is finished the Heras Fencing will be removed and people can resume their walking etc.
Can you please tell those who contacted you what is actually happening?

I can see distant pigs flying. However, we'll wait and see!

Geoff

Having liaised with Graham Crompton Howe over many years I can assure all lincs bird club members that he is a straight forward and genuine person. What he has said is what will be. In reality the wildfowlers could have been much more obstructive over the 22 years that they have owned the marsh. And as it's their land maybe people should be as accomodating as they have been?