Call to action to save Burgh le Marsh Windmill

Lincolnshire County Council has decided to offload Dobson's Mill to save money as part of its heritage site policy and wants someone to take it on.

The authority claims the changes will ensure the county's heritage is protected for future generations - but, according to the volunteers at Burgh-le-Marsh windmill who run it, without the public’s support it will close.

Two public meetings were called on Wednesday which saw the meeting room above the cafe bursting with supporters.

The five-sailed working windmill has been looked after by the village's Heritage Group, which was instrumental in initiating the last major repairs to keep it working in 2014.

Since then the group has increased its activities substantially, bringing more tourists to the village, who enjoy its cafe and cakes made with flour ground in the mill.

The group has also upgraded the outbuildings' interiors to make them more welcoming and provide more information about the village.

Malcolm Ringsell, the treasurer of Burgh Le Marsh Heritage Centre and communtiy site manager, said he was delighted with the turnout to the meetings.

He explained: "We are seeking the support of the community to help keep the windmill as a working windmill because the county council have decided to remove funding for repairs..

“In the past they have been around £10,000 a year but one of the major repairs was around £250,000.

“We need to set up a steering action group to look at ways we can raise funds.

“One of the problems at the moment is our volunteers are not getting any younger. Mavis Stone who bakes our cakes and volunteers in the cafe is 92, for instance.

“Without the public's support the mill will most likely close and eventually be lost to the village.”

Representing Lincolnshire County Council at the meeting was James Sharples, a member of the cultural management team.

“Windmills are not part of the county council’s priorities for heritage in the future.

“We would love to see the Burgh le Marsh community able to take on the running of the windmill.

“However, the reality is, unless the community can come up with a viable proposition, difficult decisions about the windmill’s future will have to be made.

“That could mean, for instance, if there is a problem with a sail it may have to be removed rather than repaired.

”The public meeting is a call to action to explore what can be done."

Among the members of the public at the meeting was Catherine Wilson, who used to work for Lincolnshire County Council.

"I was working for the county council when windmills became part of it heritage programme," she said. "Every one in the county is unique. That's why we have to save them.

"We never had enough money, but we did manage to get Dobson's Mill working again.

"It would be tragic if the mill was decommissioned but it's really heartening to see so many people turn out for the meeting."

One of the oldest volunteers - 92-year-old Mavis Stone, had been taking the names of the people attending the public meeting and makes cakes for the cafe, which is open on Sunday afternoons during the winter.

She said: "I think it's diabolical that the mill is threatened. It's been a landmark in Biurgh le Marsh for 30 years and is part of the county's heritage.

"It's the only windmill in the county in its original state and we need to keep it going for future generations."

The public can register support by visiting www.heritageburghlemarsh.co.uk

They can also hand in their details at the Granary Tearooms on a Sunday afternoon or post them in a letter box in Mill Yard.