Watersport centre and lido amongst harbourside proposals

A consultation on rejuvenating the harbourside over the next 20 years has been launched

A watersports centre and lido are amongst proposals aimed at "rejuvenating" a city's harbourside.

The plans are part of Bristol City Council's Harbour Place Shaping Strategy (HPSS), and residents are being asked for their views as part of a consultation running until 4 November.

Under the proposals, commuter ferries and new moorings could also be launched. There is also a vision to transform Wapping Wharf "into Bristol’s equivalent to London’s South Bank".

Chair of the economy and skills committee, Andrew Brown, said the council hopes to "make sure Bristol has a thriving and accessible destination".

More than 100 interventions and projects are proposed within the consultation report that could be delivered over a period of 20 years.

To boost Wapping Wharf's appeal, the plans suggest closing Prince Street Bridge to all traffic and running a ferry connection from Museum Square to the Amphitheatre.

Two large floating platforms covered in 500 native plants have recently been launched at the harbour

New moorings could be opened along the harbour, including spaces for historic ships.

Baltic Wharf could be used for a watersports centre, with Underfall Yard and Avon Quay being rejuvenated for "harbour-related industries and crafts".

The consultation report states that a lido at the harbourside would "drive visitors and income to the surrounding area".

'Vision shared'

Mr Brown, who is also chair of the Harbour Committee, added: “The Harbour Place Shaping Strategy provides us with an opportunity to guide and coordinate future development of the areas around the harbour and the water space itself.

“We want to create a strategy that will encourage residents, businesses and our communities to work together to rejuvenate our historic harbourside and make sure Bristol has a thriving and accessible destination that can be enjoyed by our city’s growing population and an increasing number of visitors.

"This is why it’s so important for us to hear from each of these key groups on what you think about the long-term vision for Bristol Harbour and the principles that will guide the approach to future development.

"Our vision needs to be a shared one and will only be achieved by working together.”