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'Milestone' for Salisbury city centre flood defence project

Wiltshire Council The River Avon's channel in Salisbury, with flowing water and a small rock weirWiltshire Council
Rock weirs installed in the new channel aim to allow migrating fish to travel easily along the river

Water has been released back into a river channel in an "important milestone" for a £35m project.

A channel of the River Avon next to Salisbury's Central Car Park has been closed off since summer 2022 for the Salisbury River Park Project.

As part of the scheme to reduce flood risk, the channel has been widened and a new weir has been built.

The collaboration between Environment Agency, Wiltshire Council and Salisbury City Council will also help wildlife.

They said the work will reduce the flood risk to more than 350 homes and businesses, and will provide better facilities for walking and cycling, alongside better biodiversity.

Wiltshire Council Aerial view of the River Avon flowing next to Salisbury's Central Car Park. Surrounds look like a building site.Wiltshire Council
The next phase of work on the project will include landscaping in the area

The project has created some challenges as during the work diggers unearthed the city's old outdoor swimming pool. and a century-old landfill site beneath the central car park.

More than 1,000 fish also had to be safely moved to a nearby watercourse when the channel was closed for works.

The project includes the addition of rock weirs which will allow fish to travel more easily along that part of the river.

A gate which had previously been in place there had acted as a barrier to migrating fish.

Andy Wallis, from the Environment Agency, said he would "look forward to seeing how this channel establishes".

Project lead Andy Wallis on the building site
The Environment Agency's Andy Wallis called the re-opening of the channel an "important milestone"

Salisbury Mayor Atiqul Hoque said he is excited for the end result.

"Salisbury is lucky to be home to a range of wildlife and habitats and it is important that we can protect and nurture them," he said.

"I look forward to seeing fish back in this area of the river and just in time for the migration season," added Mr Hoque.

Wiltshire Council hopes the project will also encourage more people to visit the city centre.

The next stage will involve landscaping, planting and another new stream channel being connected.

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