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• Bude Canal Dredging

  

  

  Cormac have been appointed as contractor to carry out the dredging of Bude Canal. The project will restore a water depth that is safe and useable for water-based activities, restore the ability of the canal to convey flood water rapidly, helping to reduce the risk of flooding in the town of Bude, and it will maintain suitable habitat for the fish stock in the canal. During the operation we will also be carrying out repairs to the embankment. 

  Comprehensive Ecological Impact assessments have been carried out and special, bio secure measures put in place, in order to protect the canal and minimise disturbance to the canal's wildlife and native species. The scheme has received Protected Sites Assent from Natural England and the Environment Agency, who we continue to work closely with. 

  Taking place over the winter period, it is anticipated that works will complete towards the end of April 2024. During that time, approximately two thirds of the Crescent Carpark will be closed. The carpark will house a dredging pontoon and processing area to store the over 3,000 cubic metres of dredged materials expected, while it dries down sufficiently for removal and recycling. 

  As you would expect, the sections of the canal and towpath that we are working on will need to be closed whilst the project is underway, to protect both the general public and the workforce. Signage, guarding and buoy markers will be in place to advise you and keep you safe, and footpath diversions will be in place as appropriate. 

  The dredging programme is being carried out in phases and is making good progress. Heavy plant and equipment has been mobilised to site, the silt storage bund constructed and dredging is underway in the Harbour and Upper Basin. Embankment repairs, which will including pile driving, will follow on from this phase. Traditional piling can be quite noisy work,so we have adopted a method  using a vibrating driver, which we expect will reduce the noise. However we do apologise in advance for any disruption this causes. Every effort will be made to keep disturbance to a minimum and we are grateful to everyone nearby for their patience and understanding. 

  The next phase, from the Upper Basin inland to Truscott's Bridge will follow this, with the remaining section of between Truscott's Bridge and County Road Bridge thereafter. 

   

  Larger Live Project 21 March 2024