Shop gutters in Wisbech High Street set for annual clean

Work to help restore historic buildings on Wisbech High Street will take to the skies once again this week when the Wisbech High Street Project’s annual Gutter Clean event takes place.

With help from Turners Contracting Ltd, a cherry picker will be used to access the front of High Street buildings and to remove overgrown vegetation and obstructions from the gullies and parapets on Friday, November 27.

It will be the third year the work has been carried out through Fenland District Council’s Wisbech High Street Project, at no charge to property owners.

The work is being undertaken to coincide with the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) National Gutters Day, a light-hearted reminder for everyone to spare 10 minutes to make a simple check on the condition of any property they care for. Looking out for cracks, breakages, and blockages from debris, including earth, twigs, leaves and bird’s nests, can save people from having to spend a great deal of money at a later date.

Cllr Chris Seaton, the Council’s Portfolio Holder for Social Mobility and Heritage, said: “Overgrown vegetation in gutters and downpipes can have a negative impact on the condition of buildings. By regularly clearing them, issues such as damp and brickwork deterioration can be avoided, and it ensures that historic buildings can be better maintained.

“I’m delighted that we have been able to carry out this work through the Wisbech High Street Project using funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Townscape Heritage scheme.

“One year we found a whole crop of potatoes growing in a gutter above one shop! I wonder if anything unusual will be discovered this year!”

• The project has attempted to contact all Wisbech High Street property owners about the Gutter Clean event as their permission is needed to access their gutters and parapets on the day. However, with a number of shops closed due to lockdown it has not been possible to reach everyone. If you own a High Street property and wish to include your building, contact Taleyna Fletcher, the Council’s Townscape Heritage Officer, on: 01354 622210 or email tfletcher@fenland.gov.uk