Fringe Box

Socialize

Twitter

Confusion Over Who Must Pay For Repairs to Collapsed Weir

Published on: 4 Nov, 2019
Updated on: 4 Nov, 2019

Swingbridge 2 left high and dry on the riverbank by Shalford Meadow. It is one of the Swingbridge community boats owned and operated by the Surrey Care Trust.

Amid fears that the low water-level in River Wey navigation south of Guildford caused by Saturday’s weir collapse could damage the banks and wildlife, confusion has arisen over who must pay for the repairs.

The Dragon understands the National Trust, which owns the navigation, considers Guildford Borough Council owns Millmead’s “Tumbling Bay” weir, so has the responsibility for repair costs.

But council leader Caroline Reeves (Lib Dem, Friary & St Nicolas), asked to confirm that GBC owned the weir, avoided the question today (November 4).

She said: “We will continue to work closely with the National Trust and the Environment Agency to mitigate the impact of the collapse.

“Remedial works will begin as soon as possible following our collaborative initial assessments. Public safety and ensuring services are delivered to the public are our top priorities and we will work together to ensure the situation is resolved and the towpath access restored as soon as possible.

“We hope the water levels in the navigation can be returned to normal as quickly as possible and limit any damage to the riverbanks and wildlife.”

Those involved believe repairs could take months but some temporary work to return the water-levels to normal might be possible as might an interim footway for those who use the towpath.

Between Milllmead and St Catherine’s locks, the water-level has dropped by three to four feet, leaving the banks exposed. Revetments have already been weakened because of the absence of the normal water pressure pushing towards the bank.

Water level has equalised by the collapsed weir.

View from the river bed. An exposed mud/sandbank at the old Ferry crossing in St Catherine’s. Has the river ever been so low in living memory?

Another mudbank revealed.

Sightseers were out in some numbers on Sunday afternoon to survey the damage.

One of several old bikes revealed showing that some still use the river as a rubbish tip.

This weir opposite the rowing club is still operating. It appears to have been set wide open to relieve pressure on the navigation.

Barriers prevent access to the collapsed weir bridge. Photo Dominic Cosgrove.

Share This Post

Responses to Confusion Over Who Must Pay For Repairs to Collapsed Weir

  1. Jim Allen Reply

    November 5, 2019 at 12:00 am

    This report is incredible. Surely the National Trust is responsible for the Navigation, the Environment Agency is responsible for the “uncanalised” or natural river sections and the riparian owner is responsible for the banks?

    The final comment about bank collapse is also truly unbelievable. I have been saying for at least two years that you can’t let the water level drop else the banks will collapse. But running the river at higher speed and now the lower water level before any flood arrives is doing exactly that. It will cause severe erosion.

    Why do people not listen and act on known information?

  2. Bibhas Neogi Reply

    November 5, 2019 at 5:47 am

    I expect the National Trust knows all about puddle clay construction but just in case modern engineers are unaware of the consequences of letting puddle clay drying out, I quote a friend of mine who is knowledgeable about conservation.

    Having seen the photos, he has pointed out – “I think I see a puddled clay construction. Don’t let the bed dry out! If cracks form in the clay-silt, when the river is re-established, the cracks will open up and you will lose the Victorian banks. These were constructed normally from puddled clay, a waterproofing technology that is all but lost on modern engineers but one that if maintained lasts 200 years. If puddled clay is allowed to dry out, it may be impossible to rebuild without impossibly large amounts of money to reinforce the banks with concrete.”

    • V F Locatelli Reply

      November 6, 2019 at 1:38 pm

      There is no need to be concerned about puddled clay drying out. The river is a natural river; the raised water levels, which are maintained by the weirs, are for navigation purposes only not to support natural banks.

      The water in the river channel is retained naturally without the addition of puddled clay, a technology which is still employed where appropriate and widely understood. When the Wey was made navigable it was done without the use of puddled clay, but the whys and wherefores are too long-winded to go into here.

  3. Sue Warner Reply

    November 5, 2019 at 7:50 pm

    Quelle surprise! No one wants to pay. The repairs will take months because they will argue back and forth.

    No hope of the requested archaeological investigations because they have no money. But money can be found for hare-brained schemes that no-one wants.

Leave a Comment

Please see our comments policy. All comments are moderated and may take time to appear.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *