News
Some photos from the CAC archive
Including Hubert Ashman fishing in Monkton Park and Bob Taylor with a net of bream from below town bridge, probably both in the early 1990s, with the others old pics of the river back to the late 19th century.
Both gentlemen were long term active members during their lifetimes with Hubert holding a position in the Club for many years. Bob was a keen match angler and so we have the Bob Taylor trophy in tribute to him which is fished for each year.
More pics from the past supplied by Vince Cater
Chippenham Radial gate replacement Have your say before the 6th June Deadline
A copy of the EA newsletter about the radial gate replacement project in Chippenham is pasted below. It is really important that anglers put forward their views to the EA project team to ensure our sport is properly represented. Option 2 in particular will have a huge negative impact on fishing on the town stretches back up to Sea Cadets.
Chippenham River Improvement Project EA Newsletter April 2023
Replacement of Chippenham radial gate and river corridor improvement
The Chippenham radial gate and weir is nearing the end of its working life. The Environment Agency are looking to work in collaboration with other organisations and landowners to look at options for replacing the gate and improving the River Avon through Chippenham.
Following major flooding in 1960, the river channel through the town centre was significantly modified, generally making it wider and deeper. This included the construction of the Chippenham Gate (radial sluice gate with weir and fish pass). Chippenham Gate was constructed at the same time as several other sluice gates on the River Avon, including Twerton and Pulteney gates in Bath.
The purpose of the radial gate is to retain upstream water levels during low and medium flows whilst enabling high flows to pass through the structure, preventing an increase in flood risk. The water level is retained at an artificial level upstream for amenity purposes, there is not a flood risk benefit from retaining this water level.
The radial gate has however become increasingly unreliable and is nearing the end of its working life. With the gate in its current condition, there is a risk that the structure could fail. The gate opens currently due to water levels lifting floats within chambers alongside the gate, there are no motors to allow it to be manually operated. If the gate was to fail to open during high flows this would lead to a large increase in flood risk to both residential and non-residential properties in Chippenham.
Whilst the gate could just be replaced with a newer structure there is the opportunity to provide additional benefits over a wider area within Chippenham.
Looking at the Options…Please attached photos.
The draft plans for the replacement of the gate and the wider river corridor, are being developed in collaboration with stakeholders and landowners. As part of this opportunities are being investigated to improve the river upstream of the gate, to provide a watercourse that is more natural, whilst still ensuring the same level of flood protection can be provided. It may also be possible to improve the ecological and amenity value of the river. This will create benefits for the town, and wildlife along the river creating a more natural environment to enjoy in Chippenham.
The project team are looking to identify a preferred option in summer 2023; produce outline designs by end of 2023; and create detailed designs in 2024.
They hope the construction of the project will be in 2025/26.
Have your say!
We are very pleased to be able to join with our other partners on the Chippenham One Plan consultation. This consultation is to help inform a Chippenham Town Centre Masterplan to help boost the local economy, enhance the environment and celebrate the town’s heritage. Creating a River Park is a key part of the Masterplan, and replacing/removing the existing sluice gate and weir form a key component of this.
As part of this consultation we will be presenting to the town council and other stakeholder groups, and members of the project team will also be available at the public drop in events, which are:
Thursday 27th April – 18:00 to 19:00 – online webinar(joining details TBC)
Thursday 11th May – 9:00 to 18:00 – Borough Parade
Saturday 13th May – 9:00 to 13:00 – Olympiad leisure centre
Friday 19th May – 9:30 to 14:00 – Chippenham Library
Please do let us know your thoughts on our options, or other factors we should be considering, by either coming to meet us in person, responding to the main public consultation, or emailing us directly. The main consultation closes on 6th June.
You can visit: www.wiltshire.gov.uk/ChippenhamOnePlan or scan the QR code in the photos
As the project progresses we will be keen to hear you views, we will be looking to hold some engagement events to share updates of the project and to undertake public consultation.
If you would like more information on the project or if you know of anyone that would like to receive these newsletters please contact: chippenham@environment-agency.gov.uk
