A £20m masterplan has been revealed for a radial gate on the River Avon, described as one of the “biggest liabilities in the South West" after a “near catastrophic” incident last year.
The sluice gate in Chippenham looks set to be replaced after it stopped working alongside plans to boost accessibility to the river and enhance the environment.
The proposals include improved fishing platforms, information boards and walking trails, such as better walkways downstream past Gladstone Road.
It also includes stepped seating down to the river and a lower path both downstream of Chippenham Town Bridge and near the Olympiad leisure centre.
In October 2023, the Environment Agency reported that the sluice gate near Gladstone Road in Chippenham had become stuck.
The Environment Agency and Wiltshire Council have now spoken further about the incident, which almost led to the demolishment of the gate in an attempt to solve the issue before Storm Ciaran hit the town.
A “huge tree stump” became lodged underneath the gate and led to an “emergency situation” for the surrounding area that was becoming “increasingly worse.”
The structure was built in the late sixties to reduce the risk of flooding but has deteriorated in recent years.
Although workers managed to force it open, successfully preventing a “serious environmental incident” on this occasion, Wiltshire Council has estimated that the gate has between five and 10 remaining years of life.
The pressure is on to find a solution before then, with England seeing record amounts of rainfall in recent months.
A public consultation is underway on a proposal led by the Environment Agency which could see the gate replaced with smaller weirs down the river.
The project falls under the wider Chippenham One Plan, and Wiltshire Council will be running a parallel consultation on the development of a Chippenham Avon Project masterplan.
Discussing the proposals on Monday, February 15, a member of the project team explained that rock cascades would control water levels whilst allowing the safe passage of fish and kayaks.
In some areas, the re-naturalisation of the river would create an ecological buffer zone between the river and agricultural land.
As well as addressing the “major operational and safety concerns” over the current gate, the plans should boost the accessibility of the river and enhance the local environment.
The proposals include improved fishing platforms, information boards and walking trails, such as better walkways downstream past Gladstone Road.
They also mention the opportunity to create stepped seating down to the river and a lower path both downstream of Chippenham Town Bridge and near the Olympiad leisure centre.
According to the council, residents can have a big impact on the appearance of such amenities should they participate in the consultation.
The leader of Wiltshire Council Richard Clewer compared the project to the Salisbury River Park Project and said that the flood issues must be resolved.
Wiltshire Council has said the work would cost between £15 and £20 million, with the majority of the funding already secured through a DEFRA flood defence grant.
The public consultations will run until 5pm on Tuesday, May 28.
During this six-week period, residents can answer questionnaires online to voice their opinions about the Environment Agency proposal and the Chippenham Avon Project.
Joint public events will be held from 2pm to 7pm at the council’s Monkton Park office (April 19), and the Town Hall (April 22 and May 8).
A webinar will also be held on April 17 via Microsoft Teams and people can register interest by emailing communications@wiltshire.gov.uk.
Hard copies of the questionnaires can be found at Michelle Donelan’s office, the council’s Monkton Park office, the town council reception, the library, Chippenham Community Eco Hub, and The Olympiad.
The consultation responses will be analysed to form a revised masterplan.
Once this masterplan has been approved, it will carry “significant weight” in future planning applications for the area.
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