Officials exploring all options for future of windmills but acknowledge they are in urgent need of repair

Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) is reviewing the ownership of Alford Windmill, Burgh le Marsh Windmill (Dobson’s Mill), Heckington Windmill and Lincoln Ellis Mill – with plans to move them into community or third-party ownership.

Members of LCC’s growth scrutiny committee were told that the council’s windmills were in ‘poor condition’ and were in need of urgent repairs.

Officials said this is putting additional pressure on the county council’s finances and officers are developing a plan to try to get third-party organisations to take over the windmills in a bid to reduce costs for the authority.

At a meeting on Tuesday, May 12, Coun Tom Dyer (Conservative – Waddington and Hykeham East) said its ‘in the public interest that these are handled with care’.

“These are part of Lincolnshire’s heritage, it’s part of our culture – and just like the (Lincoln) castle in many ways – it’s important that they are preserved for the future as best as possible,” he added.

“I think this agenda item was spurred by recent media reports for Ellis Mill in Lincoln and ongoing concerns there from local stakeholders that this wasn’t being moved forward.”

Coun Dyer explained that he has requested a timetable of when this strategy will be developed, in light of concerns about the future of Ellis Mill.

Campaigners have urged the county council to make a decision as soon as possible over the future ownership of the mill and say it’s rapidly ‘deteriorating’.

A 2021 survey listed more than £500,000 of work that would be required to preserve the windmill, mainly to the roof and sails.

Coun Dyer asked what was happening with the windmill strategy and when the county council is likely to make a decision on the future ownership arrangements for these windmills.

Mark Eyre, head of strategic asset management and estates, replied: “We have been working on the strategy for the four council-owned windmills.

“It’s taken a lot of involvement from various groups, so we’ve engaged with the various stakeholders associated with each windmill.

“We’ve also done a social media campaign to ascertain levels of interest within communities – get people knowing a bit more about windmills.

“We’ve reached out to third party funders as well to see what opportunities there might be for funding for the works associated with windmills.”

Mr Eyre explained there has been a “historic decline in investment in these windmills”, adding, “They’re in a poor state of condition – which is an aim of the strategy that is being developed.”

He said the council acknowledged it did not need to be running and maintaining windmills as a service, but it is looking at viable ways for operating the windmills in the future and improving their condition, through a strategy which looks at different ownership options.

Recently, residents in Alford voted overwhelmingly for Alford Town Council to take over the ownership of the windmill in a parish poll.

But the county council is still assessing possible ownership options for Alford Windmill – along with the three others – and will make a decision about the future owners at a later date.