AFTER SIGNIFICANT BUILD-UP of silt in Gloucester Docks, dredging is to start.
£4 millions dredging programme
This is part of a £4 million dredging programme on both Gloucester Docks and the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal.
That hopefully will restore navigation depths and address significant silt build-up.
This work is the second phase of a recovery dredging following exceptionally dry summers in 2025 and 2026, when silt entered the docks as water was pumped from the Severn to operate the canal, support shipping at Sharpness and maintain supplies for Bristol Water.
Canal & River Trust has been able to increase its planned investment, with the latest programme doubling from £2 million to £4 million. This is plus the 2025 programme which removed 37,000 tonnes of silt at a cost of £2.5 million.
Land & Water
The dredging is being carried out by contractors Land & Water, with the dredged material being transported by hopper barges to a disposal site at Parkend, where it will be prepared for beneficial use on agricultural land.
However, navigation through Gloucester Docks will remain temporarily closed while dredging is undertaken but will reopen once sufficient depths have been restored.