River scheme will impact Chippenham 'for generations'

On Tuesday, May 28, consultations on Wiltshire Council’s Chippenham Avon Plan and a parallel scheme proposed by the Environment Agency came to an end.

The Environment Agency plans to remove the ageing weir and river gate on the river Avon, near the town centre.

Meanwhile the council has proposed a wider masterplan to provide better flood mitigation, improve the public realm through the town centre, and provide a focal point for the town.

During a six-week consultation period, many residents voiced fears over the impact of the plans on the river.

READ MORE: £20m masterplan to replace Chippenham 'liability' revealed

The radial gate (Image: Environment Agency)

The main area of concern is the plan to replace the current radial gate with a series of low rock weirs, which people believe will lower water levels.

This has drawn criticism from those living near the river, and the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust, over fears leisure activities on the water will be hindered.

In a full council meeting, Cllr Liz Alstrom said: “There has been an awful lot of concern about these plans and how much the water is going to drop by.

“There are serious environmental concerns regarding the existing biodiversity so the swans, the fish and the other wildlife that is present.

“There are also considerable concerns that with climate change and the likely hotter and drier summers, it will be turned, if it’s lowered, into a dry stinking ditch and there will be rats and flies.”

Town councillors urged both Wiltshire Council and the Environment Agency to take these views into account.

Cllr Matthew Short said: “The residents on St Mary Street have been very concerned about changes to water levels.

“If I didn’t reflect that I wouldn’t be representing them… they (Wiltshire Council and the Environment Agency) need to continue to work with them.”

SEE ALSO: Wilts & Berks Canal Trust blasts Chippenham river plans

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

Council members said a lack of clarity over the impact of the proposals is increasing “anxiety” amongst residents.

Cllr Nick Murry added: “People in Monkton Park don’t understand how far the river will drop, and it’s different in different places.

“They don’t understand how that’s going to be achieved and what the rock weirs will look like, there’s a lot of anxiety.”

Councillors emphasised the importance of the Environment Agency and Wiltshire Council taking into account the full range of views expressed during the public consultation before moving forward.

Cllr David Poole said: “We’re talking about major changes to the river, we’ve got a major opportunity to improve the river.

“I can understand why the people of Chippenham are rather concerned, if we get this wrong this could cause problems for generations to come.

“We cannot afford to get this wrong and we’ve got to take it slowly and look into it in great detail.”

READ ALSO: River Avon transformation plans could boost Chippenham

The Environment Agency has explained the removal of the radial gate is necessary to prevent flood risk because the deteriorating structure has become a major “liability.”

Wiltshire Council’s proposals for the regeneration of the riverfront include improved fishing platforms, better walkways downstream past Gladstone Road and stepped seating near the Olympiad.

These elements of the plans have received support.

Cllr Nic Puntis previously said he hoped any changes would make use of the “underutilised” river.

He said: “It’s just a bank of water, you don’t see a lot going on in the river at all.

“We have an opportunity now to make that safely more accessible and if we see more people using it that will attract people and businesses to the town.

“The whole point of it is to make it more accessible and maybe give people the opportunity to paddle in there and clean it up a little bit.”