Bude Canal Dredging Operations

Many of you will have seen that works have commenced around the canal to facilitate the dredging operation.

We are very pleased that this long anticipated task is now underway, with a programme to complete this winter. However, we also want to let you know how this will impact the public areas and what you can do to help keep yourself and everyone safe and out of restricted zones so that the operation can run smoothly.

From 6th November a large section of the Crescent Carpark will be closed off to be used to set up the dewatering zone and to build the pontoon from which the dredger will operate.

This section of the carpark will remain closed throughout, and people seeking nearby parking are redirected to Summerleaze or Crooklets carparks please.

Following set-up, the aim is for the canal to be dredged from the remaining inland section down-stream, with dredging of the harbour taking place last in the sequence. Whilst dredging is underway in the different zones, they will be closed to water activity, for reasons of health and safety - it will not be possible to purchase day launches during the closed periods.

We expect that the Upper Basin (leisure zone) will be dredged from about the end of the first week in December, with the harbour zone following on in the period before Christmas.

Throughout the operations silt curtains and floating booms will be installed to both limit silt migration and designate the extent of closures.

We are expecting the car park to be substantially open again by the end of January 2024.