Meetings in July and August between the Environment Agency and Sutton Harbour Group and harbour users recognised that the scheduled £3m of maintenance work needed to happen to replace worn underwater lock gate cills and other key maintenance items.
The discussions yielded many helpful comments, including the need for the work to be put back to allow for more conversation about ways to mitigate impact. The Environment Agency and Sutton Harbour Group agree with the feedback received and are grateful to all who have expressed interest in this project.
No new date has been set, but the works will commence in 2023. Further engagement is now planned with working groups currently being established representing the fishing fleet and berth holders. These groups will provide the opportunity to inform the project in finding an optimum time and supplemental alternative arrangements to facilitate the carrying out of the essential work.
Further feedback gained from the meetings to date will also be considered. The schedule for the working sessions and rescheduling of the stakeholder meetings previously announced will be published in due course.
The maintenance work involves replacing worn underwater lock gate cills, to ensure the locks can continue to reduce flood risk and provide commercial and amenity benefit to Plymouth. Funding for the works is allocated and the works must be completed no later than April 2024 to maintain the harbour’s integrity, reduce any risks of further damage from delaying the repairs, and provide essential flood protection.