Clare River Survey – donations welcomed
Clare Castle Country Park (CCCP) are seeking public support for a significant initiative to maintain and manage the water levels in Clare of the River Stour, the New Cut and the Chilton Stream. This initiative will be led by us as we have responsibility for substantial parts of the rivers upstream of the sluice gates and manage the amenity value of the waterways in the park for residents of and visitors to Clare. We strongly believe that there will also be a benefit to the wider community of Clare.
CCCP has been working with Clare Town Council, several other riparian owners and the owners of the sluice gates (the ‘Working Group’), because of the concerns about the very low water and flow levels in the river, caused by two key factors:
- The very low levels of rainfall through the winter, spring and summer of 2024/25
- The continually raised (open) state of the sluice gates by the confluence of the New Cut and Chilton Stream.
The reason for the continually raised state of the sluice gates is because of their owners’ concerns that the abutments are at a serious risk of collapse and that this risk is increased when the river levels are maintained at a higher level. As a matter of history, the New Cut was created in the 14th century and the river system around Clare has been maintained in a broadly similar situation since that time, with the New Cut providing the primary flow of the River Stour through Clare.
A large number of concerns around this have been raised to the country park, the town council, the owners of the sluice gates, the Environment Agency, our local MP and simply between residents and visitors to Clare who have observed the issue.
Concerns raised have included loss of areas of banks through cracking and erosion, dead fish, collapse of some riverside trees into the river, the almost complete drying out of the old River Stour course around the Priory and Priory Farm, and the possibility that some of these may lead to longer term consequences on the river system in and around Clare.
Last year when the Working Group was convened, we collectively agreed the following objectives.
- To not increase the risk of the occurrence or extent of flooding to property in Clare that could be impacted by either the way the sluice gates are managed or from their loss or removal.
- To retain the New Cut and lower reaches of the Chilton Stream in a state that maintains their health, both in terms of the aquatic life and the banks.
- To achieve harmony and ensure that the group and the community more widely understand the value of the river system, and whether the sluice gates and their effective management contribute to it.
To date, the Group has gathered information including from the EA through Freedom of Information requests. We now understand the water flow rates including how they are impacted by the EOTETS (Ely Ouse to Essex Transfer Scheme that boosts the supplies in south Essex reservoirs and uses the River Stour as a conduit), extreme weather (e.g. Storms Babet and Ciaran), the EA’s current position on repair and maintenance of the sluice gates, and what agencies may take an interest in supporting future work to maintain or improve the river systems.
A key gap in our knowledge, to enable us to proceed further is to get an authoritative assessment of the impact of the sluice gates remaining open, including to bank integrity, flood risk and ecology. For these reasons we need to commission a hydrological and ecological survey of the river system impacted by the sluice gates.
We have asked for the survey to consider both a river system with the sluice gates being operated as they have been historically, and one where the sluice gates are permanently open or even removed. From these it will report back on the risks or possibly the benefits, including for both flooding and general environmental and ecological factors.
The survey will benefit the Country Park, other riparian owners, the sluice gate owners and residents and visitors to Clare, and will enable us to decide what is the right future for the river system and the sluice gates, and in turn give us clarity on the actions we need to take going forward.
Clare Castle Country Park has agreed to lead the work as it has the parts of the river system most immediately impacted by the sluice gates and a very large section of the overall river/riverbank in Clare, which it manages for the wider public benefit.
As a riparian owner, we believe that we must investigate what the impact will be and then in turn what actions, if any, will need to be taken to get bodies such as the Environment Agency actively involved in finding a long term solution.
We have received quotations for the necessary survey work to cover the whole river system impacted by the sluice gates, and this totals just under £7,000. Our selected contractor has a very strong history and reputation in undertaking this work, including work for National Trust, Environment Agency and on many large and small civil engineering projects.
To date, money has been pledged by Clare Castle Country Park Trust from our reserves, by Clare Town Council and by the owners of the sluice gates. So far we have £4,000.
To this end, we are seeking donations to help us fund the £3,000 gap we currently have to fund the study.
If we are fortunate enough to raise any funds that exceed the target required, the trustees of the park commit to only using them for activities that relate to the river. This could include:
- further study work, if it is required, or
- work to improve the riverbanks
- planting or landscaping around the river that could improve biodiversity or reduce localised flood impacts
- improving access to the rivers,
- providing further educational information about the river system, either ecological or historical
It is important to emphasise that no money is being raised for any repair of the abutments to the sluice gates. We believe that public bodies have responsibilities in this area and it is necessary to build evidence to ensure their engagement.
If you would like to support us, please do so through the below link to our campaign page at CAF Donate, and if you are a UK taxpayer, we strongly encourage you to complete the GiftAid declaration to enable us to enhance your donation.
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