Public have their say on multi-million pound river plans

Plans to replace an ageing river gate and weir with a rock weir could help prevent a town from flooding in the future.

More than 100 people attended the final public drop-in event for the Chippenham Avon Project at the town hall on Wednesday evening.

The Environment Agency and Wiltshire Council believe the proposals will increase biodiversity and accessibility to the river for the public.

The plans were welcomed by many and shunned by some who are concerned that the project will lead to the River Avon being reduced to a "dribble" through the town.

The £15M project will be funded mostly by central government and is set for completion in 2026.

The ageing river gate in Chippenham was installed in the 1960's.

In October the gate became stuck prior to Storm Ciaran placing the town centre at risk of flooding.

The situation was resolved and the gate closed but the experience prompted action to renovate the town's waterway.

'Future generation'

After Storm Ciaran the Environment Agency, the Town Council and Wiltshire Council came together to resolve the problem.

Andy Wallis from the Environment Agency is leading the project, he said: "We worked with all parties.

"(We asked ourselves) do we really want that liability, yes we could possibly do something that fixes it for now.

"But that just pushes the liability to a future generation."

The planned rock weirs will be "entirely passable to fish and mammals" said Mr Wallis which will enhance the river health across the habitat.

He said he's most excited by "improving access" to the river by making it more shallow so that children, canoeists and paddle boarders can get in and out of the river safely.

Local resident, Ian Liddell

Plans to lower water levels have not been universally welcomed.

Local resident, Ian Liddell, is concerned that lowered water levels will reduce the Avon to a "dribble" through the town and will threaten the river's bream shoals.

James Geoghegan's garden backs onto the river

James Geoghegan's garden backs onto the river he said it will no longer be possible to launch boats because of the reduced water levels.

He said: "It will be a big change to us and one we're not looking forward to."

The plans include the removal of the existing gate and weir

The Wilts & Berks Canal Trust have also expressed concerns that the plans will exclude their hopes to extend boat trips into Chippenham Town Centre during the town's annual festivals.

Project lead, Mr Wallis, said that he still believes this can be achieved, he said: "In terms of having a craft going up during the river festival, folk festival.

"I think there's ways to still enable that to happen.

"It might be over a slightly shorter reach but I think we can still enable that to happen.

"It's a compromise on some aspects, it always has to be, but overall we're making sure it's an enhancement."

Councillor Nick Botterill said this project is an opportunity to create a vibrant, biodiverse river for the town's future

The public consultation period on the project ends 28 May.

Until this date people can have their say by completing a questionnaire available through the Wiltshire Council website.

Councillor Nick Botterill said:

"It's your town, it's your future, come and have your say."