May issue - Magazine - Page 13
Glenside
News
GlensideNews@mail.com
COMMUNITY
Letters to the Editor
BIG STINK IN LITTLE BYTHAM
Dear Editor,
This is a shout out to all the strollers, joggers and dog
walkers who use the lovely footpath alongside the river
in Little Bytham. The path goes next to the outfall pipe
from the sewage treatment works on the Little Bytham
to Castle Bytham road.
A few weeks ago the pipe was discharging what it
absolutely should not! You couldn't fail to notice it. It
stank and the foam mound looked like a kid's bubble
bath. The water had a slick and was going cloudy.
We cannot let this continue!
To put it in context, our river is an example of a
'chalk stream'. This unique and biodiverse British
habitat exists nowhere else in the world. Indeed, there is
a move to have the chalk streams of Lincolnshire,
Hampshire and Suffolk declared World Heritage Sites.
That is how important our river is environmentally.
I have reported it to Anglian Water several times. I
have also reported it to the Environment Agency, East
Mercia Rivers Trust and, as I wrote this letter, was
going to report to our MP, who in her last newsletter
mentioned the ongoing problem here.
The reaction from Anglian Water is always very
good, quick and efficient, and each time they have
promptly sent men to look at the problem. They then
CASTLE BYTHAM YOUTH CLUB
Are you aged between 9 and 14?
Then come along to the Castle Bytham Youth Club
Our next mee ng is on
Friday 26 June 2026 from 7:00 – 8:30pm
at the Castle Bytham Village Hall
WE THEN HAVE A BREAK FOR SUMMER
MEETING AGAIN ON 25 SEPTEMBER
Costs are just £2.00 per child, tuck shop items are £1
So come along and chill with your mates, create
some new friendships and keep up with those
who are now at secondary school.
Parents/Carers please make sure you complete the
Contact and Health Form before leaving your child
for the first me.
If you have any ques ons, or would like to complete
and return the form by email, please contact us at:
quickly get back to me and report the issue as fixed.
Clearly, however, the workers are only being issued
with a first aid kit containing a few plasters, when this
is a deep wound that needs stitching. And like all
wounds it needs pressure. Please, please, I cannot be
there all the time to apply the pressure. Lots of you use
the path daily, so please report it when you see and
smell it. The number to ring is
03457 145 145
That number is also displayed on the sign on the
pumping station at the end of Sheepdyke Lane.
Reporting is a very quick call, and the questions are not
difficult, but you will have to give them your name and
contact details.
Our river is very small, the volume of water is not
great and as the summer continues it will decline in
quality even more. If we leave the situation as it is, by
mid-summer we will have a dead stinking ditch rather
than a lovely chalk stream.
Parish Councilors: can you get involved? And if
there are some of you who use social media (I don't) is
there a way of passing on the message? At present that
stretch of the river is used by otters and kingfishers, to
say nothing of the small fish and invertebrates. Once the
wildlife in the river is destroyed it will take years to get
it back, if we ever do.
Jackie Murray, Little Bytham
BRIC A BRAC WANTED!
St James' Church will once
again be having a Bric a Brac
stall on Sunday 21 June at
the Castle Bytham Midsummer
Festival and we are looking for
donations of suitable items for the stall.
All proceeds will go towards the
upkeep of the church.
If you have any suitable items
please contact Andy and Jane
Winnard on 07761 061044
or email adwinnard@aol.com
to arrange delivery or collection
castlebythamyouthclub1@gmail.com
Sharron, Lisa and Luci
Castle Bytham Youth Club
Mob: 07746 594024 (Sharron)
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