This is phase 3 of the Environment Agency's action plan for cleaning the Lud and for flood relief in Louth. The area is Ramsgate Road. I was a little surprised at how nice it all looks when opened up to public view:

North side of Ramsgate looking south east to the old railway bridge.



From the crown of the old railway bridge looking west up the Lud.



From the crown of the railway bridge looking east to Crown Mills Park.
This is what a chalk stream should look like in winter; crystal clear and no silt.



From the bridge at Crown Mills Park Road looking west to the old railway bridge.

If you want to see any of the above four pictures in context on a map, click on a picture and follow the links to map (Yahoo)or Ramsgate Road, Louth (Google/Delicious).

I think I should make it clear from the outset that I am involved with both the Louth Navigation Trust, whose principal aim is the full restoration of the canal from Louth to Tetney and I am also a member of Meridian Lincs, who are the old Market Town Initiative group for Louth as well as the steering group for 20/20 Vision, The Louth Town Plan, who are aiming to put forward a vision for Louth in 2020. The views I express here are my own and do not necessarily represent the views of either group.

One of the first things I would like to see is those stretches of the Lud that border roads opened up to the public. Too little of our river is accessible to the public and this would be an ideal opportunity to create a few walkways we could all enjoy in the Ramsgate Road area of Louth. The development of Spout Yard in the west of the town has shown how popular these walkways can be and the opening of the Ramsgate Road stretches would create a nice balance to the town. The creation of public access would also ensure that these sections of the Lud were kept in a state of good repair and that the river was properly cleaned and rubbish regularly removed, thus lessening any future risk of flooding.

If you agree with these proposals you need to get your views heard by Louth Town Council, by emailing your views to the Town Clerk or by contacting Meridian Lincs and asking that your views be considered in the Town Plan. The other route is to email your views to the ELDC councillor. Who represents your ward. Enough public response should ensure at least a public airing and proper consideration by Louth Town Council and the Environment Agency. It is our river.