'No hope' for windmill as volunteer group disbands

Doug Robinson said it was "extremely disappointing" the windmill had no funding

A volunteer group which had spent years campaigning for funding towards the restoration of a Lincolnshire windmill has disbanded after the "fight for its future was futile".

Doug Robinson from the Alford Windmill Trust said he had experienced a "difficult and challenging" few months after £1.2m of government funding was withdrawn by East Lindsey District Council (ELDC).

Councillor Graham Marsh from ELDC said some money was still available to fund the outbuildings at the site but the authority needed "a level of guarantee" the county council would fund the repairs of the windmill.

Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) said it was looking at "different options" for the windmills it owns.

Alford Windmill, pictured in 2018 before it suffered damage, is a grade I listed Building

According to Mr Robinson, the windmill trust started four years ago and aimed to manage the windmill and outbuildings as a "thriving tourist attraction".

ELDC had promised money for a new café, visitor centre and shop after the authority successfully received £1.2m of levelling up funding.

The money had been allocated from an £8m government grant for the Lincolnshire Wolds Culture and Heritage Programme.

In December 2024 funding was withdrawn by ELDC.

District Councillor Graham Marsh said funding was reallocated to Alford Manor House as the grant had to be spent by September 2026.

Marsh said it became "quite clear" restoration work for the outbuildings at the site could not be completed in time.

According to Marsh, £800,000 was still available to fund work on the outbuildings but the district council needed "level of guarantee" of funding from Lincolnshire County Council to repair the windmill.

"Without a working windmill there, there is no prospect of that being a viable site," he said.

In a joint statement, Councillor Natalie Oliver, LCC's portfolio holder for culture, and Councillor Liam Kelly, the authority's portfolio holder for property, said: "As a new leadership team, we've come into the council with a fresh pair of eyes and have asked officers to present the different options and costs associated with the various windmills owned by the county council.

"Protecting our heritage assets is important, as is making sure we are using taxpayers' money to the best effect. We'll be considering the options for windmills at a meeting later in the year."

'No hope'

Mr Robinson said the trust had explored "every avenue".

"We've got to a stage that we can do no more," he said.

"There's no funding, there seems to be no hope."

Mr Robinson said although the trust had disbanded, their doors were still open.

"Alford is about the windmill, everyone talks about the windmill," he said.

"We just hope the councils will come back to us with really good news."

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