Dire warnings over future of New Cut

More than 1000 men dug the New Cut between 1804 and 1809 as part of the creation of the Floating Harbour. It remains tidal allowing the harbour – the original course of the River Avon – to remain at a constant level.

Contrary to local legend, it was English and Irish navvies employed to dig the channel rather than captured French Napoleonic War prisoners, with their handiwork still able to be admired today.

But 211 years after it was completed, the New Cut is showing its age and there are dire warnings from the people who know it best that without serious repair work, further bank slippages could not just endanger roads and footpaths but even neighbouring properties.

Experienced members of Friends of the Avon New Cut (FrANC) warn of dire consequences due to the “stubborn refusal” of Bristol City Council to take preventative action.

The council say that a lack of maintenance for many decades and means that “the city is now picking up responsibility for the historic failures to act”.

The latest damage to the New Cut walls can be seen close to the former gatehouse of Bristol’s New Gaol, built in 1816, that has recently been reopened as a new entrance to Wapping Wharf. The prison continued in use until 1883 with regular public executions on top of the gatehouse until 1845 – photo: Martin Booth

Gaol Ferry Bridge was built in the 1930s to replace the ferry that crossed the New Cut here. At low tide, you can still see the ramps and steps leading to the ferry stops on both sides of the water – photo: Martin Booth

In a statement emailed to Bristol24/7, long time FrANC committee member, Ed Hall, wrote in capital letters that “ACTION IS NEEDED NOW” to prevent serious consequences.

He explained that when the New Cut was first dug out, parts went through hard rock and some parts were dug through relatively soft ground.

This excavated material was piled up on the south side of the New Cut, which is why Coronation Road is so much higher than Cumberland Road.

Some areas needed sound stone walling to prevent formerly swampy sides from collapsing into the New Cut and the areas around following it, with the bank collapse of the chocolate path by the caravan site on Cumberland Road in January 2020 exposing this soft soil, “hence the slide into the cut”.

Hall said: “The collapsing stone work by the Old Gaol entrance is almost certainly similar. It will most certainly get worse as the surging and ebbing tides wash away the material behind the disintegrating masonry.

“I have also noticed that the masonry almost under Gaol Ferry Bridge under the old ferry access steps also has signs of collapse. It is only a ‘few’ stones at the moment as it was on the Gaol side a few years or so ago.”

He said that the bank collapse halfway along Coronation Road “is threatening the stacked up cut dug out material here. At some point I expect the collapse to extend up to the road and eventually all the way across the road.”

“All this is down to a complete lack of maintenance and stubborn refusal to take preventative action when these problems first arise.

“The collapse of the Cumberland Road was not attended to other than to cut access to the public from the area and the chocolate path. It could only get worse and it has.

“The small hole in the masonry by the old Gaol was reported by FrANC years ago and nothing was done and, as expected, it has got far worse.

“The collapse of the banks along Coronation Road was noted and all that was done was to erect Harris fencing along the pavement to prevent public access.

“Whilst the cut filling up with collapsing walls is not the end of the world as the amazing tides in this area will just wash the stuff away as the daily tides ebb, the same cannot be said for the surrounding areas.

“Without a doubt parts of Cumberland Road and Coronation Road will wash away and start the washing away of adjoining areas.”

The chocolate path was built alongside the New Cut when the Bristol Harbour Railway linked Ashton Bridge with Wapping Wharf in 1906 – photo: Martin Booth

FrANC vice chair, Tess Green, said: “FrANC has been concerned about the state of the Cut – banks and bridges – for some time and we know that the council commissioned a survey of the Cut banks more than two years ago but they have not yet given us access to the report from this survey.

“Since the first slip on the Coronation Road side, there have been several on the north bank – the serious slip near the Underfall and lately one near Bedminster Bridge.

“This is inevitable as the Cut was built 211 years ago and it has not had regular maintenance since, merely reactive repairs when damage becomes very obvious.

“We have tried to get Bristol City Council to take action to repair the banks and bridges over many years. (FrANC was formed to protect the Cut among other reasons).

“If nothing is done further bank slippages could result in damage to water mains, roads, fences and ultimately property near the Cut.”

More commonly known as the banana bridge, Langton Street footbridge was installed in 1883. It was used first as a temporary bridge at Bedminster whilst a new one was built. Then two barges were brought underneath it and, as the tide in the New Cut rose, these lifted it clear of its base. The barges were then towed upstream and repositioned so that the bridge settled into its new position as the tide ebbed – photo: Martin Booth

In a statement, a Bristol City Council spokesperson said: “The New Cut is monitored regularly and where there are areas of concern we ensure structural engineers visit the area to assess the overall condition of structures and the embankment.

“Further investigations are being planned in to ensure we have a current picture of the area at all times. Public safety will always guide this work and where action is required we will step in to act.

“As with the Western Harbour area, there has been a lack of maintenance for many decades and the city is now picking up responsibility for the historic failures to act.

“Work continues on the £9m reinstatement of the river wall along Cumberland Road with the necessary piling nearly all in place to support the next phase of the repairs.

“This work will provide some improved flood defences along a 110 metre stretch of the New Cut as well as stabilising the area for all transport use and remains on course to be completed by the summer of 2022.

“Our flood strategy going before Cabinet in March also aims to future-proof Bristol and neighbouring authorities, improve walking and cycling routes in the city, and unlock development opportunities by reducing the flood risk in the city.”

Vauxhall footbridge was built in 1900 and was designed to swing to allow masted vessels past, although it hasn’t swung since 1936 – photo: Martin Booth

Vauxhall bridge also featured in the opening scene of the first episode of Skins – photo: Martin Booth

Main photo: The New Cut running alongside York Road, whose Victorian buildings were due to be demolished as part of a 1960s road scheme but remained derelict until the 1990s when they were restored. Photo: Martin Booth

With thanks to www.bristolfloatingharbour.org.uk for the facts and figures in the photo captions

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