Our group is concerned not just with the wellbeing and attractiveness of the Marsh proper, but also with local towns and adjoining parts of the Wolds. The following is a personal view from DR PETER HUKE of the Friends of Hubbard's Hills, a group set up to preserve the beauty and amenity value of this popular open space on the edge of Louth.

Hubbard’s Hills under threat

Hubbard’s Hills was formed some 40,000 years ago when the melt water from the ice sheets cut a valley through the chalk ridge. It left a steep sided valley with a flat bottom and the river Lud flowing through.

Its natural beauty has attracted visitors through the centuries. In 1907, the trustees of the estate of August Pahud decided to buy it and donate it to the people of Louth to use as a public park and pleasure ground. The trustees developed the area into an Edwardian pleasure garden, with lake, leading on to a country park. It was a requirement of the conveyance that "the natural beauty of the property and its rural character is to be forever maintained".

Louth Borough Council  maintained the property until 1974, when the responsibilities of maintenance were taken over by East Lindsey District Council (ELDC) under the 1972 Local Government Act. In the 1990s, the park began to fall into disrepair through lack of maintenance.

Residents set up a Regeneration Group. ELDC took control and commissioned consultants at a cost of £50,000 to make their recommendations. Through inadequate management, the project came in over budget, and its radical proposals were considered by many to be inappropriate. ELDC have failed to complete the proposal.

In January 2008, without any prior discussion with district, town councillors and local groups, ELDC stated that they were no longer prepared to maintain an asset that they did not own. They said that it would be handed over in good order through a properly managed process over a period of three years. Three months later all expenditure was terminated, apart from grass cutting and litter clearance for one year only. They neglected to advise Louth Town Council of this decision until August. They now say that their assistance will extend to advice on obtaining grants! Louth Town Council found themselves as they were in 1974, with no skills, labour/resources or funding. They set up a working group to advise on the way forward. Legal advice on ELDC’s action was sought. The conclusion was that the considerable expenditure of public money could not be justified in fighting a difficult case.

Whilst this has been taking place, the Hills have received no attention. Local groups, the Friends of Hubbard’s Hills and Louth Heritage Group have been campaigning to protect the Hills for several years. They are now very concerned that the Hills are falling into further decline. A recent report by The Friends of Hubbard’s Hills identifies many areas where action is needed to correct problems caused by poor maintenance by ELDC. Work to correct this will cost hundreds of thousands of pounds. As well as finding this money, funds will have to be found to cover the day-to-day maintenance. Many believe that it is unreasonable for Louth Town Council to shoulder this burden alone.

Hubbard’s Hills is an amenity loved by not only local people, but by people all over the world.

It must not be allowed to fall victim to neglect. It needs the resolve of interested parties to work together to ensure that it is restored to its former glory before it is too late.

Dr Peter Huke

24 September 2008

THE LMPG VIEW - It is understandable that ELDC should feel the need to economise, and the principle of local people taking responsibility for their own amenities is an admirable one. In any case, Louth Town Council has no choice but to assume the burden if ELDC wishes to give it up. But ELDCs' decision seems by all accounts to have been taken without the necessary period of preparation. ELDC could arguably have disengaged more gradually, and offered help with finding replacement funding earlier. The imbroglio has left Louth TC in a very awkward position - not just financial, but administrative. And even if the management can be devolved to a separate body like the erstwhile Regeneration Group mentioned by Dr Huke, then there is the problem of finding capable people who are willing to get actively involved with managing the park.

LMPG committee members are now actively involved in helping LTC to locate new funding from statutory bodies - while perhaps they could also consider using the park as a concert space or fair venue in the summer to raise funds. We urge visitors to this site to contact Dr Huke (p.a.huke@talk21.com) and get involved.