South Fen Road

The most neglected road in the Bourne area must be the South Fen Road which runs for three miles from Cherryholt Road to the south of the town out into the South Fen with a sharp left turn into Tongue End once over the bridge that spans the River Glen while the road in the other direction leads on to Langtoft, Baston and beyond.

It is straight but narrow and the surface uneven, riddled with pot holes, furrows and eroding patches that reduce the speed of the wary but endangers life for those who ignore the hazards and drive faster than the conditions permit. There is also the constant threat of passing lorries from the waste disposal yard at the far end which always appear to be taking up much of the road and forcing one on to the verge until they have passed. Yet Lincolnshire County Council does nothing to remedy the problem despite this being a well used road by all sections of the public.

The land on either side is among the most fertile in Britain, rich, black fen soil that produces a variety of crops that thrive in these conditions including cereals, potatoes and sugar beet. It is also low lying and has suffered in the past from disastrous flooding, particularly in 1880 and 1910, although improved drainage since then has largely eliminated serious inundation. There are few buildings except some light industry at the Bourne end although there are one or two bungalows inhabited by farm workers and a large number of barns and storage buildings, some dating back to the 19th century although later additions are mainly metal storage containers adapted to take farm machinery and implements.

The grass verges are similarly neglected and often a dumping ground for unwanted household rubbish, jettisoned clandestinely at night for someone else to clear up but as this is a lonely road rarely attended by the authorities, it is likely to remain there for weeks creating an eyesore for the countryside.

The outlook for this road is not therefore good but the benefit is that a drive along it at any time of the year will enable you see the activities of the farming year from spring through to winter, whether it is planting, spraying, harvesting or ploughing, all can be found here.

WRITTEN JUNE 2009