Residents Demand Urgent Cleanup of Polluted River Witham in Lincoln

As of November 14th, 2025, residents living near the River Witham in central Lincoln are calling for urgent action to clean up the polluted waterway. A 100-yard stretch of the river at Stamp End is currently littered with dead geese, discarded bottles, and abandoned household furniture, creating what locals describe as an "open sewer" for several weeks now.

Jan Howell, a resident, laments the dramatic change, saying the area was once "beautiful and a pleasure to come down here and walk along the banks," but now she avoids the site altogether. Locals like Stef Bishop have been documenting the issue, taking photographs of the dead birds to "keep a record" of the harm being done.

The Environment Agency acknowledges the concerns, attributing the build-up of weed and debris to the river's naturally slow-flowing nature. However, residents remain worried about the impact on local wildlife, including swans and ducks feeding in the area. With a thick crust of algae and rubbish, some fear the water could be toxic.

As the wetter winter weather approaches, the agency anticipates an improvement in the coming weeks. But residents say the persistent littering and fly-tipping issues need a "complete change in behavior" to truly resolve the problem along the River Witham.