Today I visited Lydney Harbour to learn more about the work the Environment Agency (EA) is doing in safeguarding and enhancing this much-loved facility.
I, like many of you, have been visiting the harbour for years, and it is so nice to see the improvements that have been made. The Hips Harbourside café has been a fantastic addition and I really enjoyed the coffee and cake.
The EA, worked with the Lydney Coastal Communities Team, as part of the “Destination Lydney Harbour” project which resulted in a number of improvements at the site.
In the last financial year, the EA has invested in excess of £1 million into the Harbour, which has included the refurbishment of the outer sea gates.
As the local MP, I have had a number of people write to me regarding the temporary blocking off of the piers to members of the public. As background to this, in consultation with public safety experts, it was found that the piers presented a high-risk environment to members of the public. Anyone who has been near the piers during periods of bad weather will be able to appreciate the risk.
Due to the increased spending and improvements over the recent years, Lydney Harbour has seen an increase in visitors. This is great news but does unfortunately increase the public safety risk. As a result, the EA has put up temporary fencing while a long-term solution is found.
I understand concerns people have over the sight and location of this fencing. As an explanation, the fencing has had to be made more robust due to people moving what was there beforehand. Understandably, this has generated some concern and uncertainty.
The EA held a meeting on 24th November with a number of stakeholders and community representatives. The aim of this meeting was to reassure the public that no decisions had been made and that the fence is temporary until a long-term solution is found. The work to find a solution is underway, and the EA will hold further engagement sessions in the new year.
As the local MP, but also as someone who enjoys visiting the harbour, I will be following progress on this closely and working with stakeholders to ensure the site remains safe and accessible. I know that local County Councillor Alan Preest, is also encouraging the EA to seek a common-sense solution.