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Consultation on the Chippenham Avon Project

Public consultation on the Chippenham Avon Project 
Tuesday 16 April to 5pm Tuesday 28 May 2024

The Chippenham One Plan, the new Town Centre Masterplan for Chippenham, focuses on several key projects that would boost the economy and support the vibrancy and sustainability of the town centre. One of the projects identified involves improving the River Avon which runs through Chippenham. Local residents and businesses were invited to give their views on two related projects during a six-week public consultation which ran from 16 April until 5pm on 28 May 2024. 

A proposed scheme being led by the Environment Agency, involves the removal of the aging radial gate and weir in Chippenham and replacement with smaller weirs to enhance the amenity and ecological value of the river, along with additional enhancements to the river throughout the town. To find out more about their consultation, please visit Environment Agency: Chippenham Avon Project (opens new window).

To support this new scheme, Wiltshire Council ran in parallel a consultation on the development of a Chippenham Avon Project Masterplan to provide better flood mitigation, improve the public realm through the town centre and to provide a focal point for the town.

The Environment Agency and Wiltshire Council teamed up so both public consultations ran from 16 April until 5pm on 28 May 2024.

The consultation questionnaire gave an overview of each project and what we are proposing to do and local people were encouraged to read this before completing the questionnaire. Feedback would help create the detailed design of the Environment Agency's project and influence a revised masterplan for Wiltshire Council's project. A copy of the Consultation Feedback Report will be published later in the year.

Hard copies of the leaflet/questionnaires were available from

  • Wiltshire Council's Monkton Park office reception
  • Chippenham Town Council reception
  • Chippenham Library
  • Chippenham Community Eco Hub
  • The Olympiad

Online public webinar

The joint live webinar was broadcast via Microsoft Teams on 17 April 2024 at 6pm. Unfortunately there is no recording of the webinar. There was insufficient time to answer all the questions raised so these are answered below:

Question 1: What is the rationale for the proposed water depths vs say +0.5 m throughout which would have greater amenity? What depth options were considered?

With fixed height weirs we need to ensure that firstly they do not increase flood risk, and secondly, they can be passable to fish. This controls the maximum height of the weirs. The proposal includes for the maximum water depth that can be provided without increasing flood risk or limiting fish passage.

Question 2: What will be the water depth at the top end of reach 5? - during testing this reach became effectively unusable by paddleboard and kayak

At the top end of reach 5, by the old railway bridge the water levels will be relatively unchanged from how they are currently, but that was also the case during the test. Within reach 4 they will generally be around 1-1.5m, but there are areas where, due to the natural rock riffles in the channel, the depth will be lower. In the test water levels were generally dropped to a lower level than is proposed in this option, but this isn't the case so much in reach 4 near the sailing club as the levels were controlled by the downstream rock riffle.

Question 3: What do you expect the 'drop' across the rock weirs to be? Given the mentions of partages will the weirs be passable when paddling upstream?

We are intending the drop over the rock weirs to be around 1m. We are keen to work with the canoe club to look at ways to make paddling over these weirs possible, and certainly when paddling downstream. The scheme will also ensure there is suitable access and egress into and out of the channel both upstream and downstream of any weirs.

Question 4: How do you anticipate improving the water quality of the river so it can be safely used for leisure activities?

This project cannot solve all water quality issues within this river, but it will provide a degree of betterment over the existing situation. This will mainly be done through the removal of existing debris, increased oxygenation of the water due to faster flow and areas of more turbulence, and a greater amount of in channel and river bank planting which will act as a natural filter to pollutants. We are also looking to work with other organisations on opportunities to improve any outfalls into the river.

Question 5: The Wiltshire Swindon & Oxfordshire Canal Partnership has for the past 15 years planned to bring the advantages of an operational waterway to the river by creating a new route of the Wilts & Berks Canal Chippenham branch to Monkton Park by using the currently navigable river. Any significant loss of the currently retained water level would prevent this scheme being deliverable so the Partnership is keen to seek assurances that any EA proposals would not affect these plans for the recreational use of the river by boats, canoes, paddleboards and other water craft. What has been shown tonight with an additional weir and dropped water levels will make boating to Monkton Park not possible.

As noted in the webinar, the proposed scheme may not support motorised boat access to Monkton Park. The scheme will support better access to the water and continued recreational access for water craft, which are likely to vary according to the particular reach in question. This will be informed by the scheme design that emerges following the consultation process.  

Question 6: Parks are important for tranquillity, these proposals will create areas without peace and quiet and spoil the amenity for many people, especially in Monkton Park.

The proposals provide for areas that will be tranquil as well as others that will support vibrancy through enhancing access to the river and its amenity benefits. The purpose of the consultation is to seek people's views on the emerging ideas to help inform how these aspects can be best balanced in the interests of the whole community.     

Public events

During the six-week period, joint public events were held to ensure local people could discuss the proposals in greater detail, ask any questions they may have and share their views. These public drop-in events were held at:

  • Wiltshire Council's office in Monkton Park in the reception area on 19 April 2024 from 2pm to 7pm
  • Town Hall in the High Street, Chippenham on 22 April 2024 from 2pm to 7pm
  • Town Hall in the High Street, Chippenham on 8 May 2024 from 2pm to 7pm

To view the details of the Environment Agency's public consultation and the feedback received:

Environment Agency: Chippenham Avon Project (opens new window)

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