The council is facing an urgent situation regarding the rapid erosion of New Cut’s riverbank
Erosion along the New Cut – screen grab from Bristol City Council drone footage(Image: Bristol City Council/ YouTube)
Bristol Live readers have expressed shock over the anticipated cost of tackling riverbank erosion along the New Cut. Bristol City Council is looking to set aside another £8.2m for repairs along the waterway, which comes on top of £10.5 million already spent or committed for such works. Still, this sum is anticipated to be only a stop-gap measure ahead of longer-term investment.
Three new locations along the river have been pinpointed as “emergency sites”, representing a “very substantial risk” should they collapse. These spots add to a list of 11 locations previously identified as being most at risk.
The new danger areas span the river wall stretch from Vauxhall Bridge to Bristol Metal Spraying, the Co-Op Wall just eastwards of Vauxhall Bridge, and the rocky embankments close to Gaol Ferry Bridge. Recent inspections indicate pressing work is necessary along Commercial Road and that further funding will be essential for more extensive repairs.
Estimates suggest the repair bill for these newly identified sectors could reach nearly £38.6m, according to the new council report, with construction anticipated to commence in the 2026-27 financial year. It follows earlier stabilisation efforts along the ‘Chocolate Path’ years ago, which cost £12m and resulted in a lengthy closure.
One reader, J1ty2, writes: “Do the eternally unaccountable, zero foresight and embarrassingly inexperienced senior officers managing the docks not realise that they have the largest event space in the city yet they allow only one or two events a year to take place using it all. It’s about time new managers are appointed to make significant sums of money to pay for these repairs.
“The docks continues to be a dormitory for boat and cash saving boat residents and it’s about time a complete change is required. Come on, you have the ability to make this happen and the brains, start thinking and make the docks great again please. Faced with the current management dullards you have no chance until they go.”
TheBeater believes: “Rapid erosion = many of years of natural erosion and no one monitoring it. It would be better if they stopped trying to pretend its only just happened.”
Thecookedsock writes: “The Environment Agency (EA) holds joint responsibility over stabilizing key river banks and walls. But as we know, after 14 years of Tory incompetence and Tory austerity, flood protection has been left in a dire state (same as all other public services after 14 years of Tory incompetence/austerity).”
Asmodeus replies: “Doesn’t look as though there will be much improvement under Labour. Perhaps the £5.5 billion of welfare savings promised, reduced to £0, might have assisted.”
Junius joins in with: “So, in terms of extra funding needed, which the local authority does not have, the question is what can be done through the EA and DEFRA under the government’s June spending review, which overall cut DEFRAs budget by 0.7 per cent but allowed for a small capital investment increase for flood defences- that is nationally, of course.”
Grockel1 feels: “Looks like BCC had heads in sand like Barton House issues again. I seem to remember things only got done when the Portway collapsed into the river and the bank had to be rebuilt.”
BMushroom adds: “The cash strapped council must be fuming at the previous administrations lack of prudent financial management.”
Martgtst says: “As usual lack of maintaining and now its to late bristol city council. Oh that can wait we can do some cycle lanes and bus gates oh and ulez and graffiti not to mention let’s cause chaos by doing traffic free neighbourhoods one word NEGLIGENCE.”
Gerryc62 comments: “If Green/LibDem/Labour spent council tax payers money on critical infrastructure instead of loony Cycle Lanes, LTN’s and Un-Livable Neighbourhoods then we wouldn’t be in this mess.”
Othermeinnit says: “None of this is news, the bit opposite Coop has had fencing up for years, and everyone has been watching the hole by Gaol Ferry getting bigger for the past decade. The real issue is whether they can fix it without cutting down the several acres of mature woodland that line Coronation Road full of all sorts of wildlife.”
The council report warned that rapid erosion along the New Cut could threaten lives if the riverbank is not repaired in time. Its transport and connectivity committee chairman Ed Plowden said in a recent statement: “Some of our New Cut river walls are more than 200 years old, and they haven’t been maintained properly over that time because of lack of resources and investment going back many years.”
Further long-term investment will be needed to secure the riverbank for decades to come, with the report calling for regional and central governments to step in to provide financial support.
Do you feel that £18.7m is reasonable for a short-term fix? Comment below or HERE to join in the conversation.