WORK has been carried out by the Environment Agency to refurbish the outer sea gates at Lydney Harbour and to remove silt to enable safe passage for boats.

The next stage of the project focuses on the piers, which were closed due to safety concerns.

The Environment Agency plans to replace the current temporary green mesh fencing with new pedestrian fencing, similar to that what has been installed elsewhere on the site, improving access to more of the piers.

Work to repair the site surfacing and restore harbour fixtures to improve access for Lydney Yacht Club will also take place.

The Environment Agency will be consulting the Forest Council and Historic England to agree the design and obtain the required permissions.

The exact positioning of the fencing will be determined once Scheduled Monument Consent has been obtained. Construction is expected to start next Spring.

In the coming months, additional pontoons will be installed to improve access for boat owners in the inner harbour, there will be new signage to keep the public informed and repairs made to one of the bridges.

The Environment Agency met the Harbour’s Community Leaders’ Group on January 27 to provide an update and to discuss the forthcoming work.

Martin Quine, the Environment Agency’s Place Manager for Gloucestershire said: “I’d like to thank the Community Leaders’ Group and the public for their patience and continuing interest in the future of Lydney Harbour.

“We fully appreciate how important Lydney Harbour is to all those who use and visit it.

“Our main objective remains to establish a facility that not only meets the existing health and safety standards but also brings a sustainable and prosperous future.   

“A dedicated email inbox has also been set up for any questions from the public. The address is [email protected].”