Lodes - more good news from the EA

Campaigners fighting to save historic Fenland pike fisheries received a fresh boost today when the Environment Agency declared: "We won't abandon the Lodes..."

Pike anglers across the UK signed an online petition after the PAC joined retired councillor Geoffrey Woolard's campaign to stop Cambridgeshire's ancient lodes being lowered, when it emerged their future was under review.

There were fears the National Trust's plans to buy up farmland to extend its Wicken Fen reserve, north of Cambridge, would have dire consequences for Reach, Burwell and Swaffham lodes, which are believed to date back to Roman times.

Many pike anglers learned their craft on these ancient waterways, like Ian Moules, pictured above with a fine lodes twenty. The lodes remain popular with a wide range of anglers , along with dog walkers, boaters and bird watchers.

The PAC set about publicising the issues as widely as possible. As the campaign was taken up by the local and regional press, the trust held a briefing for journalists at which it insisted its Wicken Vision did not require the lodes to be lowered.

Anger erupted after Prime Minister Gordon Brown's office responded to the online petition, saying the trust's plans would dictate the way the lodes were managed after all.

But the trust hit back, saying the statement from 10 Downing Street was "unhelpful at best".

Then the PAC was leaked documents confirming that the Environment Agency intended to maintain the lodes because of the outcry over the threats some of the options on the table posed to them.

Today EA Lodes project manager Jonathan Fearnley said: "'We have investigated a number of possible options for the future of the Lodes, and have taken into account the views of all interested parties including parish, district and county council, other key stakeholders and the public.

"There were eight options considered, and each was subject to a full technical, economic and environmental assessment.

"The preferred option is to maintain the lodes at their current levels, providing maintenance as and when it is required. However, if changes in land use alter the risk of embankment failure, it will be necessary to consider other options, such as carrying out advance works to the banks to reduce their risk of failure."

The lodes are artificial river channels that carry water across the low lying fens to the north of Cambridge to the River Cam. Centuries of drainage has caused the land surrounding them to sink.

As the land has sunk, the lodes have been retained at their original level by bank raising so they can continue to drain into the River Cam and be used for navigation. The water level in the lodes is now up to 3m above the surrounding ground level in places.

Mr Fearnley added: "One of the benefits of our preferred option is that it provides a cost-effective and flexible approach, which can take into account future land use changes in the area, and should not have any significant environmental effects.

"For now, reactive maintenance is the best maintenance option for the Lodes, but we will review the strategy every five years to make sure that the most appropriate management regime is being followed."

What you can do...

I you haven't already signed the petition, please add your name in support by clicking here.

A copy of the EA's final consultation document is available if you click here.

Comments can be sent to: Jonathan Fearnley, Project Manager, Environment Agency, Bromholme Lane, Brampton, Huntingdon PE28 4NA.

We won't destroy the Lodes, trust pledges

National Trust officials have hit back at claims plans to extend a nature reserve in the Fens could threaten historic waterways.

But the option of lowering the Cambridgeshire Lodes is still one of a number of options being considered by the Environment Agency, which manages the waters.

Public consultation over the plans is expected later this year.

More here and here.

PAC takes lodes campaign to Fenland Fair

PAC members have been flying the flag for the Don't Ditch Our Lodes campaign at the Fenland Country Fair at Stow Cum Quy on Sunday and Monday.

They were using an enormous and specially blown-up version of the 'Don't Ditch Our Lodes!' campaign picture and were handing out 'Don't Ditch Our Lodes!' badges and car stickers, kindly provided by local councillor Allen Alderson.

They were also handing out leaflets explaining the the 'Don't Ditch Our Lodes!' on-line E-Petition, which now has many hundreds of signatures, including 20 members of East Cambridgeshire District Council, 7 Cambridgeshire County Councillors, the Leader of South Cambridgeshire District Council, many Parish Councillors, the Chairman and several members of the Swaffham Internal Drainage Board, and Member of Parliament, Mr James Paice.

Denis Moules, PAC liaison officer for the Anglian Region, said: "We successfully fought this issue 30 years ago. The Cambridgeshire Lodes hold specimen fish of all species and are ideal waters on which to teach youngsters.

"These small waters have special memories for many of us and must not be destroyed. I urge all anglers to support this cause by signing the 'Don't Ditch Our Lodes!' on-line E-Petition to No.10 Downing Street."

Campaigner Geoffrey Woollard said: "The Pike Anglers are among our finest supporters and are working extremely hard: we mustn't let them down."

Thousands of people attended the two-day Fenland Country Fair in its 28th year.

The online petition can be found here.

Officials aware of fears for lodes

Environment Agency officials are being made aware of the strength of opinion against plans to reduce water levels in Cambridgeshire's ancient lodes.

More than 800 pike anglers, walkers, boaters and conservationists have signed an online petition to save the inique waterways.

It was launched after leaked scoping papers showed consultants were looking at plans to lower levels in the lodes as one of a number of options to help creaste a new wetland at Wicken Fen, north of Cambridge.

Similar plans - which would have destroyed the lodes as fisheries - were defeated 30 years ago.
Today retired county councillor Geoffry Woolard, who fought to preserve the lodes in the late 1970s, received an e-mail from Graham Boakes - a project manager with consultants Halcrow, who are carrying out feasibility studies on behalf of the Environment Agency.

"I can confirm that we are aware of the E-Petition and the overwhelming opinion that the lodes should be maintained as they are at present," he writes.

"This has been taken account of in the first draft of the Strategy Report and Strategic Environmental Appraisal Report both of which will be issued to the Environment Agency today.

"These reports will be reviewed by the Environment Agency over the next few weeks and, following this, the final draft will be prepared to be used for consultation with statutory consultees and local interest groups, including Parish Councils."

******CLICK HERE if you haven't already signerd up...

Save Our Lodes petition tops 700

An online petition to save Cambridgeshire's historic lodes chalked up its 700th signature today.

Leaked EA documents contain plans to lower water levels as part of proposals to create a new wetland.

But pike anglers, walkers, boaters and conservationists are opposing the scheme.

Retired county councillor Geoffrey Woolard, who fought a succesful campaign against similar plans 30 years ago, is set to meet the National Trust, which is behind the latest move to change the face of thse ancient waterways.

Today he said: "The signature list for the 'Don't Ditch Our Lodes!' on-line E-Petition has made another major milestone with a total of over 700.

"This is further strong evidence of widespread support for maintaining The Cambridgeshire Lodes as they are.

"If you know of others who might like to sign the on-line E-Petition, please copy or forward this message to them."

To add your voice, click here.

Paper features Save Our Lodes campaign

The Save Our Lodes campaign is featured today by the Newmarket Journal newspaper. Click here to read it.

Meanwhile, the online petition calling for these historic waterways to be preserved today stood at 629 signatures. Click here to sign it if you haven't already added your name.

Save our lodes campaigners to meet trust

Campaigners fighting to save Cambridgeshire's ancient lodes are set to meet the National Trust to 'talk through the issues'.

The trust wants to buy up thousands of acres of farmland to create a new wetland north of Cambridge.

But a scoping document from the Environment Agency says water levels in a number of lodes may need to be lowered.

This would transform the lodes into little more than ditches, destroying the unique character of historically-important fisheries.

Almost 600 people have now signed a petition to save them. They include pike anglers, walkers, boaters, councillors and an MP.

Campaigner Geoofrey Woolard said today: "It is also clear that the E-Petition is being noticed by others, as I have received an invitation to meet representatives of The National Trust on August 7 to talk through the issues.

"I have accepted the invitation and shall attend at Wicken at 5 p.m. on that day."

Show you care.... Add your name to the petition.... Click here

Trust slammed over threat to lodes

A campaigner fighting to save Cambridgeshire's ancient lodes says the National Trust is threatening their survival, the Cambridge Evening News reports today.

Retired councillor Geoofrey Woolard told the paper: "If it had not been for the National Trust's plans to buy up and partially flood some 10,000 acres of rich fen land in the Swaffham Internal Drainage Board's area, this issue would not be causing so much concern to so many people."

More here.

Nearly 600 people have now signed an e-petition to save the lodes, which are a histoically important pike fishery as well as being unique waterways dating back to Roman times.

To add your voice, click here.

Council backs save lodes campaign

East Cambridgeshire District Council has voted to back the campaign to save the county's historic lodes.

Anger erupted after plans emerged to lower the levels of the ancient waterways, as part of a massive wetland creation scheme.

But East Cambs councillors have agreed the ancient waterways are "an important historical and recreation feature" and they're calling on the Environment Agency to maintain them in their present form.

More here.

More than 400 people have now signed an online petition - including South East Cambs MP James Paice. You can sign it here.

Don't ditch our lodes, say Cambs pikers

Pike anglers are at the forefront of the fight to save Cambridgeshire's ancient lodes.

The historic waterways, which date back to the Romans, are in a "new" plan by the National Trust to extend the Wetlands of Wicken Fen. This will involve transforming them into internal drainage ditches.

Pike Anglers Club liaison officer Dennis Moules said: "We successfully fought this issue 30 years ago. This is completely unacceptable for all anglers.

"The Lodes hold specimen fish of all species and are ideal waters on which to teach youngsters.

"I urge all anglers to support this cause by signing the online Don't Ditch Our Lodes petition to No.10 Downing Street, by clicking here."

One of those for whom the lodes hold special memories is Ian Moules, who learned to fish on their banks, He is pictured above with a 22lbs pike caught from one of them .

The petition reads simply: "We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to ensure that the Cambridgeshire lodes don't get ditched!"

Dennis added: "Geoffrey Woollard, a retired county and district councillor, is coordinating opposition to this plan, but we need help from as many anglers as possible.

"The Lower Great Ouse and Fenland Fisheries Consultative Committee, on which I serve, are to oppose this at the highest level."

Mr Woolard writes in his introduction: "Some 30 years ago, a successful campaign was waged to save The Cambridgeshire Lodes, ancient canals of probable Roman origin - principally Bottisham, Swaffham Bulbeck, Reach, Burwell and Wicken Lodes - which were threatened by the then authorities.

"A decision was made to maintain and to preserve The Lodes. Such is the situation today: The Lodes have been maintained and preserved.

"But new documents indicate that The Environment Agency has commissioned a ‘scoping report’ costing some £200,000 and that it is looking critically at The Lodes, an option again being that of converting all or some of them into ditches.

"The old campaign slogan - ‘Don’t Ditch Our Lodes!’ - is just as relevant now as it was in the 1970s.

"A new factor is the National Trust’s plans to buy up and partially to flood some 10,000 acres of rich fen land and the Trust says that ‘lowering’ some of The Lodes would be ‘acceptable.’

"Lowering is much the same as ditching. The Swaffham Internal Drainage Board and Swaffham Prior Parish Council support the Lodes being maintained.

"But the Philistines could be triumphant if their opponents are inactive. So, this is a call to those with influence to use it!"