Business plan could pave the way along wetland corridor

CONSULTANTS are being commissioned to prepare a business case for the next phase of the Boston to Peterborough Wetland Corridor.

It will ‘revisit’ the report and costings carried out by WS Atkins in 2003 for the Fenland Waterways Link, members of the Lincolnshire branch of the Inland Waterways Association heard during their recent ‘virtual AGM’ held via Zoom.

The update was given by IWA East Midlands chairman David Pullen, who said they were moving forward with the planning phase and it was looking hopeful this would include the rivers Welland and Nene.

“We are working with Lincolnshire County Council, the Environment Agency and Water Resources East (including Anglian Water and Affinity Water) and the consultants to make a business case for that part of the project. When that report is published it should give us a good steer as to the way forward,” he said.

David explained that the water companies are required to renew their Water Resource Management Plan on a five-yearly basis. In 2019 Anglian Water and Affinity Water unveiled their draft plan (WRMP19) for the next 25 years, which includes a ‘massive’ above-ground reservoir in south Lincolnshire.

By 2025 it has to have carried out consultations and have the plans in place to build the reservoir and the water supplies to it. This is expected to be sited to the south-west of Spalding between the rivers Glen and Welland.

The new reservoir project is supported by the South Lincolnshire Water Partnership which includes IWA, the Black Sluice and Welland & Deepings Internal Drainage Boards, Lincolnshire County Council, the Environment Agency’s water resources department, Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, the National Farmers’ Union and a group of fenland farmers.

Water transfer

“The Wetland Corridor would not go through the reservoir, the channels that will feed it are what we are interested in,” David continued.

Part of the proposal is to link the Black Sluice (South Forty-Foot) Drain to the River Glen and bring water through from the River Witham to fill the reservoir. This will be by open channel transfer rather than pipeline which is of more benefit to fishing, boating, wildlife and the environment.

The reservoir could be fed from two directions with water also coming from the south via the rivers Nene and Welland.

Members were also able to hear an address by IWA national chairman Paul Rodgers during the meeting which David described as ‘very challenging and interesting’ and, as it was on a Thursday evening, included a five-minute break for members to participate in the weekly ‘clap’ for the NHS and key workers.

Although the number of people connecting was slightly disappointing compared with other branches which had seen more participation from members who would not normally have attended a meeting, it resulted in two new committee members.

At the first committee meeting, branch officers will be elected. It is expected that outgoing chairman Dave Carnell will remain on the committee, concentrating on the county’s northern waterways including the River Ancholme and the Louth Navigation.

It is expected that he will be succeeded by David Pullen, whose emphasis will be on the south, with the River Witham connecting both of their areas.

PHOTO: JANET RICHARDSON Water could be transferred from the River Witham near Langrick Bridge to the South Forty-Foot Drain.

PHOTO: RODNEY BURTON/ WIKIMEDIA COMMONS The South Forty-Foot drain near Swineshead.

PHOTO: DAVID PULLEN Near the River Welland’s present head of navigation at Peakirk, only about 1½ miles from the north-eastern boundary of Peterborough.

PHOTO: DAVID PULLEN A slipway on to the River Welland at Crowland.