A series of improvements have been announced for canal users in Gloucester following a boat rally and campaign.
Fund Gloucester’s Waterways held the rally last September wth nearly 100 boats in attedance.
Following a series of meetings and discussions, both The Canal & River Trust and Fund Gloucester’s Waterways have announced:
Winter Dredging – The planned winter suction dredging has been completed between Gloucester Lock and Monks Meadow. With dredging by barge mounted digger, the floating visitor pontoons in front of North Quay, and beside Llanthony bridge “Bakers Quay” have been cleared of recent silt. The west and east quays have also been dredged, in preparation for the Tall Ships Festival at the end of May Bank Holiday.
So, Gloucester is fully opening this summer with 2022’s unprecedented silting issues finally overcome.
Summer Opening of the Canal and Locks – Following lobbying then CRT have announced that the Gloucester & Sharpness bridges and river locks are to be fully open this summer for 7 days per week from 1 April to 31st October – opening times are 08.00 to 18:00. This has been achieved through increased central CRT funding and recruitment of Volunteer Bridge Rangers, currently 32 volunteers. The Trust are still seeking more volunteers to assist with bridge operation.
Fund Gloucester’s Waterways spokesman, Colin Brooks says” we are delighted to have had very useful meetings with CRT’s Gloucester Team and in putting the boater’s
viewpoint forward on the key issues caused by some of CRT’s plans. The outcome is improvement for all boaters visiting Gloucester this summer”.
Winter opening of the Canal – Currently CRT have no plans to fully reopen the canal over Winter to 7-day opening – However, CRT may reconsider the decision if more bridge
volunteers are recruited with the possibility of increasing winter opening for the canal, even if some days are for shorter opening hours!
Improved boater communications – between CRT and boat users regarding any limited restrictions on the canal will be notified via the existing phone & email alerts, eg if individual bridges close suddenly eg a loss of power.
Canal & River Trust Waterways Museum – From 16th March then the National Waterways Museum in Gloucester Docks will now be fully opened at weekends – open Wednesday to Sundays.
Boater Facilities in Gloucester Docks – CRT have advised FGW that they have included for upgrading the electrical bollards on the West Quay in the Main Basin before 31st March –
which is good news. Pump Out facilities are now contactless payments, rather than the old card system, making use easier. FGW are currently preparing a proposal for toilet block upgrade with external funding for CRT’s consideration – hopefully more details soon.
Ongoing funding campaign – Gloucester Tall Ships Festival – the IWA and FGW are planning to run a joint National Fund Britain’s Waterways campaign stall during the Tall
Ships Festival – to raise awareness of cuts in central government funding.