River plans receive mixed reviews at final public presentation event

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

More than 100 people attended the final public launch 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 public accessibility to the river.

The plans have been welcomed by many and shunned by some who are concerned the project will reduce the River Avon to a ‘dribble’ through the town.

The £15 million project will be mostly funded by central government and is due to be completed in 2026.

Chippenham’s aging river gate was installed in the 1960s.

In October, the gate remained locked before Storm Ciaran put the city center at risk of flooding.

The situation was resolved and the gate closed, but the experience prompted action to renovate the city’s waterway.

After Storm Ciaran, the Environment Agency, the City Council and Wiltshire Council came together to tackle the problem.

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

“(We asked ourselves) if we really want that liability, yes, we could do something to fix it for now.

“But that just pushes the onus to a future generation.”

The planned rock landings will be “entirely acceptable to fish and mammals”, Mr Wallis said, which will improve the health of the river throughout the habitat.

He said he’s most excited about “improving access” to the river by making it shallower so children, canoeists and paddle boarders can get in and out of the river safely.

Plans to lower the water level have not been universally welcomed.

Local resident Ian Liddell is concerned that low water levels will reduce the River Avon to a “dribble” through the town and threaten the river’s bream beds.

James Geoghegan’s garden faces the river, said it will no longer be possible to launch boats due to low water levels.

He said: “It’s going to be a big change for us and one we’re not looking forward to.”

Wilts & Berks Canal Trust have also expressed concern that the plans will rule out their hopes of expanding boat trips into Chippenham town center during the town’s annual festivals.

Project leader Mr Wallis said he still believed it could be achieved, he said: “In terms of a boat going up during the river festival, the folk festival.

“I think there are ways to continue to allow that to happen.

“It might be over a slightly shorter range, but I think we can still allow that to happen.

“It’s a compromise on some aspects, it always has to be, but overall we make sure it’s an improvement.”

The public consultation period on the project ends on May 28.

Until then, people can have their say by completing a survey available on Wiltshire Council’s website.

Councilor Nick Botterill said:

“It’s your city, it’s your future, come and have your say.”