North Lincolnshire Council has committed to continuing to invest in the car park for Alkborough Flats, which has become a popular tourist attraction in recent years.
The council will continue to lease a small area of land adjacent to Whitton Road, Alkborough, where a car park was created in 2011 for visitors.
Alkborough Flats is an exciting project that has two main purposes. The first is to help prevent thousands of homes and businesses from flooding. The second is to provide new inter-tidal habitats.
The river defences next to the Humber were breached in September 2006. Since then, a range of new habitats have started to develop naturally or have been created. The site is a haven for wildlife and a popular area for bird watching, walking, and photography.
Cllr David Rose, cabinet member for Environment and Strategic Planning, said:
“Existing car parking facilities at this site were inadequate prior to 2011. The creation and lease of the car park meant we were able to promote the site as a tourist attraction, which in turn had a positive impact on the local economy.
“Alkborough Flats is a fantastic nature reserve with the potential for the site to be declared as a National Nature Reserve (NNR). If this is confirmed, good car parking facilities will be vital.
“The site represents an important element of the council’s bid to extend the boundary of the Lincolnshire Wolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) into North Lincolnshire.”
Alkborough Flats managed realignment site forms part of the Environment Agency’s Humber Flood Risk Management Strategy. The site is the second largest managed realignment site in Europe and has won several awards for its design and management.
Since 1998, the council have worked in partnership with the Environment Agency, Natural England and Associated British Ports (“the project partners”), to deliver the site. Since the site was breached, the council have worked with the project partners to develop it into a nature reserve. The council manage Alkborough Flats on behalf of the project partners.
