The Lincolnshire Bird Club

I've been told that at a recent East Lindsey planning meeting, the planners threw out the Environment Agency's application to close the path along the sea bank where the breach is to be made. The following is the message as I received it:

"At the planning meeting yesterday ELDC rejected the deletion and the stopping up of the footpath s proposed by the Environment Agency. The EA man was visibly upset, they thought they had it in the bag, having colluded with the Highways authority and even getting Natural England on side.
N.Somercotes Parish have opposed it all along.
I hope they don't decide to challenge the decision. Surely it's cheaper just to make a bridge, or run a culvert beneath the sea bank."

Cheers

Geoff

Hi Geoff

This is very interesting news which I gather is likely to delay the breach for the time being pending resolution of the issue.

The only reference I can find on the web is the briefing material for an ELDC meeting on 13 September. Could that be the one your report refers to? Strange that the news has not been reported anywhere else.

I objected to the breach without a footbridge at the time of the original planning application and hadn't realised a separate process was required giving a second bite at the cherry for a bridge. In my view the scheme would be much enhanced as an amenity for birders, ramblers and other site users if it is possible to do a round circuit walk of the whole site. If we make a fuss now and show the N Somercotes PC some support perhaps we might still have an effect. From your experience of footpath matters Geoff, what would be the best way to do that?

Phil the proposed footpath along the new bund is as compensation for the current path being closed, if it is not closed then its unlikely a footpath will be established along the new bund so a circular walk is not a certainty.
John.

If that's the case that would be a mean spirited attitude on the part of the Environment Agency.

It's public funds that are paying for this work so the public should have a reasonable degree of access.

I'm finding it very difficult to get information on ELDC's meetings. I was sent this information by a local resident who presumably was present at the 18 October meeting. There is nothing on their web site, although dates of meetings etc are supposed to be found in their 'online documents library'. I'll contact them and ask for the location on their web site.

The Ramblers have been very slow in responding to this path closure, which, because of the Government's commitment to a round-Britain coastal path (that I don't think will ever happen) should never have been allowed to get this far. If this decision is appealed, then I will be able to get hold of the various bits of legislation that could form part of an objection to be sent to the Planning Inspectorate in Bristol.

As I understand it, the carrot of a circular walk would not be a possibility without a bridge or culvert, as the new path along the bund joins the original path above the proposed breach.

I'll keep you informed by private email.

Geoff

At the planning meeting of 18 October when the plan to stop-up of the path was rejected, the EA representatives were overheard by a reporter to say that they would get the decision reversed on a technicality. The EA have now sent ELDC a letter asking for a number of inconsistencies and anomalies that occurred at the meeting to be explained. I have a copy of that letter that I can email if anyone is interested.

Just send me a PM.

Geoff

I understand that they (the keystone cops) are now not going to knock that great hole in that perfectly good sea defence at Pye's, they are simply going to open the sluice and let the sea in. Well done 'Pike', I was waiting to see who would come up with that idea first.