Dock repair 'may not be completed until 2026'

The sea gate at Glasson Dock has been in need of repair for more than a year

Business, flood defence, port and canal organisations connected to a troubled dock have said repairs to its broken sea gate may not be completed until 2026.

Glasson Dock near Lancaster has had problems for more than a year, affecting boat and ship movements, flood defences and the control of high tides and water levels.

In a joint statement, Lancaster Port Commission, the Environment Agency, the Canal & River Trust and marina owners Aquavista said they were "working hard" to progress the situation "as swiftly as possible", but work was needed to create a water-tight enclosure called a cofferdam.

"We anticipate that the cofferdam will be in place by autumn 2025 and removed before spring 2026, to ensure that the impact on sailing in 2025-26 is reduced," they added.

Glasson Dock is part of a hub connecting the Irish Sea, Morecambe Bay, the River Lune estuary, Glasson Marina and the Lancaster Canal.

The long-running situation has raised concerns including about local port and transport jobs, responsibilities and accountability of different organisations, how the repair costs will be met, flood risks, tourism and fish life.

'Significant interval'

In the statement, the organisations apologised for the "impact to the community, particularly during the sailing season , and for the time taken to provide this update".

"Please be assured that our four organisations have been working hard to progress this as swiftly as possible, by identifying the funding to support the significant investment required to reinstate the navigation and carry out repairs," they said.

"The dock gate needs to be removed for inspection and repair.

"Once removed, navigation will be restored."

They said further inspection and possible repairs were "also required to the dock basin where the gate attaches".

"This can only be carried out in a dry working area, which requires a cofferdam to be constructed," they said.

They said it would take time to "design, fabricate and install" the cofferdam, which meant there would be "a significant interval" between removing the gate and erecting the dam.

They added that contractors would be "instructed and are expected on site within weeks, with the gate to be removed within six weeks".

"We anticipate that the cofferdam will be in place by autumn 2025 and removed before spring 2026, to ensure that the impact on sailing in 2025-26 is reduced."