What are Internal Drainage Boards?
Drainage Boards are established in low lying areas, the functions and powers of which are defined by the Land Drainage Act 1991. Generally, it is the duty of the Internal Drainage Board to supervise all matters relating to drainage within their area. The Board carries out a regular programme of maintenance and improvements to the watercourses at the same time undertaking their responsibilities to conservation. The Board are responsible for raising the necessary income to cover these works.
The Welland and Deepings IDB
The Welland and Deepings Internal Drainage Board was formed in 1973 by the amalgamation of four adjoining Boards, the Deeping Fen, Spalding and Pinchbeck, the North Welland, the Maxey and the Baston, Langtoft and the Deepings.The Board is an autonomous public body under the direct control of the Board members. The number of members is set out in the constitution of the Board. At present the Board has 17 elected members and 18 members appointed by the local authorities within our area i.e. Boston Borough Council, Peterborough City Council, South Holland District Council and South Kesteven District Council. An election is held every three years. Following the meeting of the Board on 7th September 2006 it has been agreed that the size of the Board should be reduced to 25 members – 12 elected and 13 appointed members. The necessary application has been made to the Environment Agency for approval and will then be forwarded to DEFRA for confirmation.
The Board's area covers approximately 35,000 hectares from Sutterton (near Boston) in the north down to Werrington (near Peterborough) in the south (see map). The Board maintains some 660 km of surface water drains and sewers and has 12 pumping stations and a sluice at the Vernatts, Surfleet Reservoir.
The Board's offices are in Spalding and the depot is on the A151 Pode Hole, opposite the main pumping station.
The Board own the "Pinchbeck Engine Museum" which is situated off the A16 at Pinchbeck. This is open from the 1st April (or Easter if earlier) to the 31st October each year 10am – 4pm. Admission is free. The museum is housed in the former pumping station building and gives a wealth of information on drainage. Visitors will be given a demonstration as to how the Beam engine worked.
The late Des Miles, former Engineer to the Board, recorded some of the Board's history and the following booklets are available at a nominal cost:-
- A History of Deeping Fen and Pode Hole Pumping Station
(To commemorate the official opening of the pumping station on the 16th July 1965) - A History of the Drainage of Bourne South Fen and Thurlby Fen
(To commemorate the official opening of the pumping station on the 2nd September 1976) - A History of the Drainage of North Fen near Peakirk, Peterborough
(To commemorate the official opening of the pumping station on the 22nd September 1977)