Fishing club fears 'devastation' of river

Swindon Isis Angling Club secretary Nigel Russell (left) and chairman Peter Gilbert have raised concerns about the planned works

A fishing club has warned of the "devastation" that could be caused by works on the river it is based on.

Swindon Isis Angling Club has raised concerns about the Chippenham Avon Project, run by the Environment Agency (EA), which will see an ageing floodgate and weir in Chippenham replaced by smaller weirs further downstream.

The club claims the project will cause a drop in water level seen in similar nearby works, making the area "relatively unfishable".

However, the EA has argued that the scheme will actually allow fish to move more freely, improve the river’s ecology and reduce the local flood risk.

Referring to the nearby Avon Mill Radial Gate, which saw similar works, the club's secretary Nigel Russell said: "The central rapids, in normal conditions now, are about a foot deep, as opposed to being six feet deep.

“And the river is narrowed into a central position so that it’s difficult to get down to it.”

Founded in 1959, the club has lost a third of its membership according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, with elderly and disabled anglers unable to climb down the banks.

Chairman Peter Gilbert said: “Small clubs like ours depend on the membership, that’s our income, that’s how we can run the club.”

The angling club said the water level has dropped significantly in the area

Both men believe the Chippenham Avon Project will have a similar effect and say their attempts at communication with the EA have been “going nowhere”.

Mr Gilbert said: “I don’t think Chippenham realise the devastating effect it will have on the river.”

Mr Russell added: “The river will be about a third of what it was originally.”

The EA explained that urgent safety concerns required Avon Mill Gate to be lifted clear of the water and it now allows local fish populations to freely migrate past the structure, which was previously difficult and impossible for some species, despite the presence of a fish pass.

A consultation on the final option for the Chippenham Avon Project will take place in Spring 2025

Both Wiltshire Council and the EA have insisted upon the urgency of Chippenham Avon Project after a “near catastrophic” incident in 2023, during which it became stuck, and Storm Ciaran threatened to flood the town.

The project falls under the wider Chippenham One Plan, and a six-week public consultation was held earlier this year.

Wiltshire Council has said the work will cost between £15 and £20 million, with the majority of the funding already secured through a government grant.

The EA has acknowledged that water levels will be reduced from the radial gate approximately two kilometres upstream, but have planned mitigation measures to account for these.

A spokesperson for the EA said the current sluice gate was "at the end of its working life" and that replacing it would "improve the situation for fish" as well as reducing flood risk.

They added: “We are listening to all views expressed about the Chippenham Avon Project through consultation, including those from the angling club, and plan to improve accessibility to fishing platforms in response to the reduction of water levels, which is relatively small for the majority of the river through Chippenham.”