A PANEL WAS RECENTLY HELD to discuss the problems concerning excess silt at Gloucester Docks.
That is causing major disruption to navigation and waterfront businesses.
50,000 cubic metre of silt
It is estimated that around 50,000 cubic metres of silt entered the Docks during 2025, that is around ten times the normal annual amount.
Silt ingress is mainly due to water being pumped from the Severn into the docks, that caused a public briefing on 5th March at Llanthony Secunda Priory to find a solution.
The meeting was well attended with various business people and boaters who moor in the docks and a representative of Canal & River Trust, Gloucester MP Alex McIntyre and waterway stakeholders to discuss the issue and hear about possible ways to solve the problem of too much silt.
Environmental regulations
The problem arose over the years after the introduction of new environmental regulations and changes in dredging practices.
Canal & River Trust told of new dredging investment for a recovery dredging programme for Gloucester Docks, and confirmed that £2.8 million has already been spent on recovery dredging during the current financial year.
And a further £2 million has been allocated for dredging works during the next financial year, with the meeting told that Gloucester will account for around one third of the trust's national dredging budget during the recovery period and that future dredging budgets for the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal will need to increase beyond historic levels.
The trust also pointed out that operational discussions have begun with Bristol Water to examine how pumping and abstraction operations can be coordinated to reduce the amount of silt entering the docks.Gloucester docks was closed to boaters from September 2025 to the end of February 2026 whilst the dredging was taking place.
Gloucester docks was closed to boaters from September 2025 to the end of February 2026 whilst the dredging was taking place.