Row over future of popular Lincolnshire beauty spot

Hubbard's Hills in Louth is popular with locals and visitors

A Lincolnshire beauty spot is at the centre of a row over its management, sparking fears over how it will be run in the future.

The charity trust running Hubbard's Hills in Louth is to be closed after all its members resigned.

Trust chairman Andrew Leonard said he and the other members "had had enough" after their relationship with Louth Town Council broke down.

The council said the relationship had been a "complex" one and it was planning to run the site itself.

Andrew Leonard, chair of the Hubbard's Hills Trust

Hubbard's Hills is popular for walks and picnics thanks to its woodland, grass areas and the River Lud, which flows through its valley.

It has been open to the public since 1907, having been bought as a memorial, and it belongs to the people of Louth.

In 2009 a charity trust was formed to maintain Hubbard's Hills on behalf of the town council.

But all nine trust members have resigned after the falling out with the council.

"In the past five years it's got worse and worse to the point where we've had enough," said Mr Leonard.

"We've managed it for nearly 15 years and members of the town council think they can do better, so we're going to let them go on and do it."

He said he had concerns about how the council would maintain the site.

"It's a worry because we've almost perfected the art of running it, and now they're going to have to come in and start all over again," he said.

The River Lud flows through Hubbard's Hills

The resignations follow work to maintain the riverbanks last year, which Mr Leonard said cost £170,000 – more than was budgeted. It was funded by the trust and the council.

He said the work was "essential for health and safety reasons" and that the contract with the council allowed it to be carried out.

But minutes for the council showed that members were concerned about the "lack of a business case".

The BBC has made repeated attempts to contact the council.

In a letter to a local newspaper, it said it was planning to run the site from November, when the trust resignations will come into effect.

The council is currently looking at whether to employ extra staff to do the work.

Megan Bruntlett is a young mum from Louth who enjoys visits to the Hills

The BBC spoke to visitors to the Hills, who described it as "stunning", "a haven" and "a local back garden for dog walkers".

Most were unaware of the row or the upcoming change in management.

Megan Bruntlett, a young mum and local primary school teacher, said: "We're really lucky to have this in the town.

"I came here when I was a child and now I bring my own daughter.

"There has to be a solution to this and I really hope it's maintained in the future as it's so important and such a community asset."

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