The Canal & River Trust has doubled its Gloucester Docks dredging budget to £4m, adding £2m after boats became stranded amid silt build-up. The trust says crews can now dredge more areas to greater depths, amid concerns over effects on boaters, businesses and tourism.
The build-up is being blamed on prolonged dry weather, low river flows and high tides, which contributed to more silt entering from the River Severn. The next phase of dredging is due to begin on 5 October, and the trust also plans measures to reduce silt entering the docks.
David Purchase, owner of On Toast at the docks, called the funding increase “encouraging” but said a long-term plan was needed. He said the past two years had been the worst for his business in his 16 years at the docks.
