Wilts & Berks Canal Trust blasts Chippenham river plans

In mid-April, the Environment Agency revealed plans to scrap the ageing radial gate and weir on the River Avon in Chippenham, which has become a “major safety concern.”

This comes after the gate got stuck in October, ahead of Storm Ciaran, nearly causing a “serious environmental incident” and sparking fears the structure poses a flood risk.

The preferred solution to reduce the risk of flooding in Chippenham town centre will see the gate replaced with a series of low rock weirs to control water levels.

But this has drawn criticism from the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust, and some residents, over fears it will lower water levels on the River Avon in Chippenham.

This would sink the trust’s long-standing plan to restore the Chippenham arm of the Wilts and Berks Canal, linking it to the River Avon.

Sketch showing the potential channel improvements alongside St Mary's Street. (Image: Environment Agency)

The trust says this would prevent narrowboats joining the river, preventing significant economic benefits for the town.

Speaking at the annual Chippenham Town Meeting, trust member Chris Barry voiced objections to the plans.

He said: “Clearly these proposals would make the prospect of bringing narrowboats down into Chippenham centre completely impossible.

“We are very concerned about the water levels, and we feel the proposed water level is unacceptably low.”

Andy Wallis, the Environment Agency’s project lead, replied that even under the current system he does not believe there is a possibility of narrowboats being given consent to come down the river through Chippenham.

He added: “What we’re doing would stop narrowboats coming into the centre but I don’t think they’d be able to currently.

“Having done two drop-in sessions… it (the project) is very well received already and people are really engaging.”

The gate from above (Image: Environment Agency)

Residents at the meeting were divided over the proposal, with some echoing concerns over water levels and others labelling visual and accessibility improvements to the riverfront “amazing.”

The Environment Agency had previously considered plans to replace the gate with a similar structure but says this would be unlikely to gain planning consent.

The current proposals also include improved fishing platforms, better walkways downstream past Gladstone Road and stepped seating near the Olympiad.

The work would cost between £15 and £20 million, with most of the funding already secured through a DEFRA flood defence grant.

A public consultation on this scheme is currently running alongside a consultation on the Chippenham Avon Project, a broader masterplan for the regeneration of the riverfront through the town centre.