The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
A conservation charity has been criticised by the 91-year-old ex-Chief Observer of an underground bunker at Holbeach for “neglecting” the site.
Frank Sauntson, who is chairman of the Holbeach branch of the Royal Observer Corps Association, is angry that the site has been allowed to get into a rough state.
He said in a letter to Heritage Lincolnshire: “You have let us down and the people of Lincolnshire down by allowing such a monument to the Corps to go to ruin.”
Mr Sauntson, of Holbeach, says when the bunker was handed over to Heritage Lincolnshire it was in “pristine” condition, with all the hatches painted and the fencing in good order.
He told the charity: “Over the years you seem to have totally neglected the site and let it go to ruin. The grass is overgrown, fencing broken, gates rusting and the majority of paint has now peeled off the air vents and wood rotted away.”
Most bunkers – which were developed as part of a defence system – were given back to landowners from whom the Ministry of Defence had rented the land, and many were removed to enable additional farmland. However, when the Holbeach bunker in Washway Road was returned to farmer and son Eric and Nicholas Lane, they were keen to see this bit of history preserved and asked ROCA if it would like to have the bunker.
As members were growing older, Mr Sauntson arranged for Heritage Lincolnshire to take ownership and preserve it properly.
Heritage Lincolnshire says work on improving the site is in hand but has been delayed as the necessary specialist paint is no longer manufactured
In response to The Voice asking for a public response to the letter, project officer (education and outreach) Dr Ian Marshman said: “Heritage Lincolnshire has managed the Royal Observer Corps Monitoring Post at Holbeach since the landowner donated it to us in 2000, and we have undertaken regular maintenance work at the site during this period. The post was opened in 1964 and was used by local ROC volunteers to monitor in case of nuclear attack throughout the Cold War, before being decommissioned in 1991.
“Since the post came into our care we have worked closely with retired members of the ROC, including Mr Sauntson in order to maintain the site and present it to visitors. This has included an oral history project working with students from Bishop Grosseteste University, guided tours for local groups, and an annual open day each year as part of our Lincolnshire Heritage Open Days festival each September. This year over 100 people have visited the post during these events and been able to learn about the important contribution ROC volunteers made to protect the nation during the Cold War.
“As a charity, Heritage Lincolnshire receives no funding to maintain the site at Holbeach and all maintenance work requires fundraising before it can take place. We are extremely grateful to our members, supporters and visitors who have already made donations to help us preserve the site at Holbeach.
“This year we have been developing a maintenance project for the site and have now acquired almost all of the necessary materials to complete this. Unfortunately the start of work on site has been delayed because the paint originally used on the exterior of the post is no longer manufactured. We are working with a historic paint specialist in order to source an appropriate modern alternative that will ensure the site is better protected. Once this issue is resolved we will be working with local volunteers to repaint the site and then restore external fittings.
“We would like to thank Mr Sauntson for his 60 years dedicated service to the Holbeach post, both as a Chief Observer for the ROC, and sharing his stories with visitors at each and every open day since it came into our care.
“Anyone interested in volunteering with the post’s maintenance or wishing to make a donation in support of preserving this important part of our county’s recent heritage can call us on 01529 461 499 or email htladmin@heritagelincolnshire.org”
- The history and facts about the bunker can be found on YouTube by searching ‘Holbeach bunker’.
