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Maintaining the
Bourne Eau
Workmen began repair work on the Bourne Eau behind Baldock’s Mill in South Street during early July 2008, a project that was
long overdue because of the state of the river along this section. New
metal piles were being driven in to strengthen the bank for a distance of
220 yards (200 metres) and this necessitated closing the footpath for two
weeks although there is a diversion for walkers through the Wellhead
Gardens.
The project was ordered by Bourne United Charities which is responsible
for the Wellhead and the War Memorial Gardens and it is to be hoped that
the work will eventually include the reinstatement of the footpath along
the course of the river from South Street to the meadowland once occupied
by the water cress beds and thence to the park itself. In periods of heavy
rain, water has seeped from the river across the path which has become
neglected and overgrown, muddy in wet weather and dangerous underfoot, and
in view of the number of walkers who regularly choose this route it is
surprising that there has not been a nasty accident.
BUC also needs to look at the state of St Peter’s Pool, our ancient spring
whose origins are lost in the mists of time, yet so badly neglected that
it has for many years been the subject of criticism and has become a poor
advertisement for this town. Algae and weed persist year after year and
one of the row of weeping willows on the eastern side which died several
years ago has only recently been felled but the remaining stump needs to
be removed and a mature tree of reasonable height planted in its place.
All beauty spots need tender loving care
and the trustees have a duty to the community to ensure that those under
their stewardship are regularly maintained for the enjoyment of the people
and as a memorial to those who provided the money to make it all possible
in the first place.
Further work on improving the bank of the
Bourne Eau alongside the War Memorial Gardens in South Street began in
April 2012.
The bank at this point has been deteriorating badly in recent years and
the poor state of the protective boarding along the waterway was exposed
for all to see when it dried up completely during a prolonged dry spell
which began in 2011. The entire section between the South Street car park
entrance and Baldock's Mill is being replaced and the surrounding area
re-grassed. The work is being carried over the next few weeks while water
levels are still low and is expected to cost around £40,000.
The bill will be met by Bourne United Charities which is responsible for
the War Memorial Gardens and the Wellhead Park. Kevin Day, environmental
consultant to BUC, told The Local newspaper (4th November 2011) that the
work would be carried out as sympathetically as possible but some trees
and bushes along the bank would have to be cut back to allow access for
plant and machinery although this will grow back in time.
REVISED SEPTEMBER 2013
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