Week beginning August 5th 2002

Members of Paull Parish Council have been shown round the rapidly-progressing managed retreat of the sea wall and flood defences, currently taking place along the Humber bank just to the south of the village. They were taken on a tour of the whole site to see just how far the contractors have got with the scheme and were pleased to see that, in spite of recent poor weather conditions, work is continuing apace and most of the earthworks are now in place. A number of revisions to the original plans were pointed out, the most important being the access route to the lighthouses at Thorngumbald Clough, originally scheduled to be along the river front from the car park at High Paull and now re-routed across the fields from Thorngumbald Road.
With the start of the school holidays there has naturally been an increase in the number of visitors to Paull and the contractors are particularly concerned with the number of people who are ignoring the path closure notices, crossing the fences and trespassing onto the site, even while heavy machinery is obviously in use and large earth-moving vehicles are moving around. Some of these intruders, asked to leave and having had the dangers pointed out, have even argued that as it is right of way they have the right to go there and have refused to leave, so it would seem appropriate to reaffirm that the river-edge path IS officially closed – the legal notice of temporary closure was issued as long ago April 8th by the East Riding of Yorkshire Council. This notice is effective for six months (taking it to October 6th) and it will undoubtedly be renewed for a further six months. The contractors have assured the Parish Council that the new re-routed footpath and right of way will be re-opened in the summer of 2003; in addition there will be a small public car park on the site of the present site offices, along Thorngumbald Road, which will give direct and easy access further along the embankment.

There are still some tickets available for the talk “Deprivations in the Desert!” being held in the Town Hall, Hedon, at 2-30pm on Friday, 9th August. The Mayoress of Hedon is hosting the afternoon at which the guest speaker is Hazel Armstrong, who will recall some of her fascinating and humorous experiences when travelling in the Gobi Desert. The short talk will be followed by Afternoon Tea, so it promises to be a most entertaining afternoon. Tickets are £3 and are available from the Town Hall or from “Sungate,” Church Lane, Hedon. Telephone 01482 891050.

A new exhibition is taking place in Hedon Museum, starting on Saturday August 3rd. It will feature a display of textiles created by A-level students at South Holderness Technology College, Preston. The Museum is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays, from 10am until 4pm, admission is free and refreshments are available.

On August 10th and 11th Fort Paull will have a wonderful weekend with something a little different from its usual military re-enactments, with an exhibition of falconry and exciting displays of birds of prey. The museum itself will of course still be open, with displays of militaria throughout the ages, and there is a children’s play area and a licensed restaurant and tea room, making it a suitable day out for all the family.