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BW dredging pledge

11th Oct 2005

This autumn, British Waterways is investing £70,000 to dredge Gloucester Docks and over half a million to dredge sections of the Kennet & Avon Canal.

The engineering works will remove silt that builds up on the canal bed and obstructs navigation over time and is an important benefit for the thousands of boaters and visitors to the waterway each year. It is also environmentally important for the wildlife that flourishes in and around the waterway.

Dredging at the Docks began in September and the investment will help to open up the Docks for freight traffic and waterside businesses. In November, the work will begin on the K&A and it is expected to open up access to visitor moorings along the busiest sections of the canal.

Along the K&A, there will be a number of lock gates replaced and general repairs taking place to improve the canal for boaters.

The dredging works are the latest in a series of improvements to the Docks. At the end of October, Llanthony Bridge will be having a complete replacement of its electrical and mechanical systems in order to provide reliable and safe operation in the long term.

Eliza Botham, service manager for British Waterways commented: “This dredging is part of our commitment to improve the service for boaters and business units within the Docks. Boats are central to the waterways and are an attraction for the many thousands of visitors who use the canal towpath each year for walking, running, cycling and fishing or simply enjoying this wonderful 200 year old waterway network.”

Both the Docks and the Kennet & Avon Canal will remain open throughout the dredging works.

The investment in dredging at the Docks and along the canal is part of a British Waterways’ national programme of works to bring significant improvements to its boating customers’ experiences of the waterway network. Throughout 2005/06 British Waterways is spending £7m on dredging across its 2,000 miles of canal and rivers throughout Britain.

Last updated: 22/10/2008