Vegetation clearance work at Bottesford Beck is well underway – as the council has clarified that work was not carried out by the Environment Agency on the beck in 2022.
The state of part of the beck and its adjacent bridleway, from Ashby Lakeside to Holme Lane, was highlighted by residents earlier this autumn. The part by Ashby Lakeside was even described as ‘neglected’.
As part of its response to the concern expressed, a North Lincolnshire Council spokesperson indicated the Environment Agency carried out work on the beck to clear reeds two years ago. But the Environment Agency has stated in an information request response since it did no work on the beck in 2022.
In the Environmental Information Regulation (EIR) response, seen by Grimsby Live, it is stated: “We did not undertake any desilting or weed removal on Bottesford Beck in 2022.”
The council spokesperson has clarified it was an error to state the Environment Agency worked on the beck in 2022. However, North Lincolnshire Council cut the channels through the beck that year, from Holme Lane to Messingham Road.
Maintenance works began last month by the Environment Agency to vegetation encroaching the beck’s adjacent bridleway. It is the start of a two year programme of improvements, which was announced by the council. The council has stated previously clearance of the beck itself, and any reports of pollution, are the Environment Agency’s responsibility.
Labour’s Ashby Lakeside Ward Cllr Max Bell believes the fact the council did the beck work in 2022 shows it can maintain the beck itself. “This imaginary Environment Agency work in 2022, was the Conservative-run North Lincolnshire Council’s key defence against residents’ righteous accusations of the Bottesford Beck having been neglected. This sets a key precedent on proving that the council can, and must, properly maintain the actual beck itself.
“Especially as they have now admitted that none of this work took place east of Holme Lane. They claim that their maintenance plan is for the whole beck. Yet North Lincolnshire Council only working on this small section, is exactly why the condition of the beck has significantly deteriorated.
(Image: David Haber/scunthorpelive)
“Residents deserve better,” argued Cllr Max Bell, who has expressed interest before in possible Local Nature Reserve (LNR) designation for part of the beck. The Conservatives’ group leader was contacted for comment.
Works this autumn began with grass cutting and removing in-channel vegetation and weeds. As confirmed in the Environment Agency’s EIR response, this winter’s maintenance is focused on the section between Ashby Ville and Holme Lane – the area that residents had raised concerns about the state of.
Next year, there will be a focus on Holme Lane to Messingham Road area of the beck. The EIR response also states the Bottesford Beck area is a low flood risk. This means to follow government funding rules, the Environment Agency carries out intermittent rather than annual maintenance of the beck.
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Original artice: https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/all-about/scunthorpe
