News / underfall yard
£1.25m for ‘urgent’ repairs to Floating Harbour
Bristol City Council is set to spend up to £1.25m on maintenance at Underfall Yard as part of a major investment in the historic Floating Harbour.
The funds will be allocated for “urgent repairs” to sluices, which are vital to the operation of the harbour and flood defence in the city by controlling the water level.
Much of the sluice infrastructure is more than 100 years old, with the last major refurbishment carried out in the 1990s when the paddles were replaced. The council says “urgent work” is now needed to refurbish the sluices.
is needed now More than ever
Cabinet members will be asked to approve the funds at a meeting on December 14, and to give authorisation for a funding bid to the Environment Agency for the maximum amount available from the Flood Defence Grant in Aid fund.
The £1.25m follows cabinet approval of £2.5m in extra funding agreed in March this year for the protection of infrastructure and historical assets around Floating Harbour and River Avon New Cut.
The proposed investment is one of several projects in and around the harbour that seek to repair an “ageing infrastructure”.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, mayor Marvin Rees emphasised the need to ensure the historic Floating Harbour meets the needs of a 21st century city and responds to the challenges and opportunities faced.
“Investing in the Underfall Yard sluices is long overdue,” said Rees.
“This investment is just part of our plans to make the harbour and the areas around it fit for the future. By protecting and improving this vital piece of infrastructure, we can ensure the harbour is enjoyed by residents and visitors for generations to come.”
A recent inspection of the sluices found at least half a million pounds of repairs are needed, but the council says this was just a visual inspection that did not examine different long-term solutions or carry out further investigations. It is expected that further works would cost significantly more, with part of the funding coming from a reallocation of the capital budget.
John Buttivant, coastal engineer for the Environment Agency, said: “The proposed refurbishment of the Underfall sluices will help to maintain the current levels of flood protection for people and property in Bristol.
“Future climate change is predicted to increase the risk of flooding due to changes in rainfall and increasing sea levels, underlining the importance of our continued partnership work with Bristol City Council”.
An outline business case for the Bristol Avon Flood Strategy is being progressed in 2022. This seeks to protect Bristol and surrounding areas from future risk of flooding.
Main photo by Martin Booth
Read more: Bristol’s Floating Harbour over the years
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