“Probably one for capnDave, but as I understand it, at Weston Island the river splits with a navigable channel to the north with a lock on it for boats to get up and down, and on the south channel a weir and sluice gate, (similar to at Pulteney Bridge but without the pretty horseshoe weir). My guess is that some rubbish will pile up against the closed lock gates, and will be released when boats go through - probably not much of an issue at this time of the year. On the other channel it will build up against the sluice barrier, and also a certain amount will get becalmed in the still water behind it. When the river rises, the water starts going through that sluice gate and will wash out anything trapped there. I would be very surprised if when this is likely to happen, there is time to spend a couple of hours skimming off all the rubbish first as the point of these weirs etc is to control the water flow and prevent a repeat of the pre 1970's (?) flooding in the centre of Bath. With all the snow particularly the heavier falls further upstream on the Avon, I would expect high flows over the last 48 hours leading to rubbish getting washed downstream. Of course if people didn't use the river and its banks as a rubbish dump there would only be natural materials like dead leaves and wood to wash down. Also higher river levels tend to wash down materials that were previously just above the waterlevel on the banks.

Cue CapnDave to put me in my place with the real answer!”

“Just to add - this picture - http://tinyurl.com/7fnogwn shows the rubbish in behind the sluice gate on a calm low flow day. There will be more topside of the barrier (sluice gate) on the right. In this picture nothing is coming via the sluice gate as its all going over the weir, but when the river is in flood, it will start using the "blocked" part which is when the rubbish gets washed out.”

“I agree Dave_Weston. It is the public that are to blame for the rubbish in the first place. However the amount of rubbish that is currently floating down through Saltford is heart-breaking and I just can't understand why anyone would open up these gates and let it happen without trying to net it first.”

“Dave Weston You've summed it up nicely. Since the demise of the NRA (National Rivers Authority) and the subsequent splitting of responsibility of rivers betwixt the EA and BW it's just become a shambles.

After the major flood of October 2000 and the subsidence of the flood river levels most of the river bank trees and overgrowth resembled a plastic carrier bag waste dump. People just don't give a damn about our river environment.

To my mind the best way to solve the problem is to bring a responsible lifestyle back to the river. Commercial boating activity that can address the drastic reduction in navigable watercourse and the disgusting state of the riverbank vistas.

Read the River Corridor Report, it's all there.”

“In terms of opening the gates I suspect that this is done remotely these days so there isn't anyone on site to fish the rubbish out.

As the good captain says if we considered the river through Bath as a valuable asset rather than an open sewer, there might be enough interest, to drag together the finance to employ a river warden to keep the rubbish down and maintenance standards up, so that when the sluices are operated, there isn't 6 months worth of rubbish accumulated to suddenly head for Saltford. I must admit I've lived in Bath for most of the last 40 years and never really considered until the current interest in it, how poorly the river presents with the tiny exception of the west bank at Parade Gardens and the weir area around Pulteney Bridge.”

“Actually Dave_Weston the West bank of Parade Gardens is disgraceful. Overgrown weed encrusted grassed bank on a rock base that is crumbling and breaking up. This is the entrance focal length to one of the most photographed scenes in the world, the Pulteney Bridge and Weir. We should all be really embarrassed.

Go stand on the bows of my boat just in front of North Parade Bridge and take in the vista. A truly glorious bridge and weir topped off over the bridge with 1970s or whatever Podium tat, and alongside a concrete island replica of a Victorian Black Battle Wagon supporting one of the ugliest radial gate's ever devised by mankind which in turn is surmounted by a grey steel fabricated Alcatraz lookout post.

This magnificent World Heritage vista then culminates in the enchanting riverside boundary of our Rec. A crumbling pile of rotting wooden vertical slats overlooking a grassed embankment devoid in the main of anything slightly resembling green, carpeting a few ex pub benches and tables spread betwixt a few overflowing litter bins. Follow this down and one encounters a truly magnificent flight of steps leading to an inspiring piece of architecture, the sports centre fit only for a mammoth concrete crunching machine.

If you were lucky enough to miss the steps you may well have discovered the spiral staircase. Don't you just love the graffiti and the fresh smell of urine as you ascend. And please take note of the fresh appearance of the glorious display of weeds spewing forth from North Parade Bridge.

Actually, come to think of it, we might just as well leave the river in its present disgusting state. It is much more in keeping with its immediate surroundings.”

“Dave if you want a trip down river just ask.”

“I heartily agree with all that said on here. As I know quite a few people who live on the river or the canal the feeling is widespread. We need a countrywide agency such as British Waterways or The Environment Agency to look at the mess and sort it all out. The people I know who are water dwellers look after their surroundings carefully and I don't know one who thinks littering is ok!

How hard would it be to employ someone who's sole job is to remove rubbish at certain places where it naturally (sic) builds up?

I love Bath and its surrounding countryside.....but the mess? I despair.

World Heritage Site? Tourist rip off possibility more like! And the normal workers on low wages? They can just suffer.”

“If you look at the EA website and search a document called 'Living on the Edge', it spells out the resonsponsibilties of riparian owners to remove rubbish. Unfortunately the EA is rather better at telling others what to do, than doing the right thing itself as the riparian owner of Twerton Sluice.
A little history may help. When the river was controlled by the old Bristol River Authority, the rubbish was skimmmed off at Twerton Sluices every Friday afternoon using a mobile crane. When the NRA was formed in the 1980's they discontinued the practice and sold the crane, and this continued to be the state of affairs when the Environment Agency was created in 1995, and still is so today
I served on the Flood Defence Committee from 1995 to 2005 when it was disbanded under Government legislation. During 1999/2000 when the Twerton sluices were reburbished I requested a trash removal system was installed, I even presented photos of example in Switzerland and other places on the continent. There was never any will to do this, and that is why the mess continues to this day, I also see it going past, and it annoys me!
As an aside, the EA 'trialled' removal of rubbish in 1999, and made such meal of it that it was never going to happen. I still have the photographs.
British Waterways may be the Navigation Authority, but they have no responsibility in this area, and I know in the past they also have made representations to the EA.”

“Actually Alan "Living on the Edge" is an apt name for folk like you and me that have lived or worked the rivers. Between the EA, BW the planners and the Riparian Rights owners it's a wonder we ever got anything done.

Thankfully it germinated an honest rogue culture without which we'd all be looking at a dead sewer. When I think back to my old muckers playing spoof in the Lock keeper or the Jolly Sailor or down at the Lock & Weir tears come to me eyes. Hungarian Mike who could lift a 45 gallon full drum of red from a standing position, Big Royston the booze cruise skipper who laid out eleven coppers in Bristol Docks and could drink twenty five pints of Guinness then announce he was goin on a drinking session. Wobbly Willis the RYA instructor never to go to sea with cos he was seasick in dry dock. Duffy, God bless him who could make steel sing when building a hull.

All now gone and replaced with Health & Safety, EA, BW, LA, RoSPA and of course piles of rubbish which we all used to pick up when doing our everyday bits and pieces.

Oh Well!”

“I live on the edge, I live on the river in a responsible fashion and recycle most of my rubbish in the provision provided by my riparian landlady. I'm sick of seeing rubbish float down the river and bothered by the cumulation of plastic bags around river growth as CapnDave so admirably raisies as a key issue. I note that the River Corridor Group and otber volunteers will be cleaning up some of the bank in Bath centre but B&NES, EA and CRT (BW) each have other responsibilities along the river in B&NES and not just Bath! Maybe they shoud take a stream out of the progressive Welsh Government (note no longer an Assembly) who are offering funding for an apprentice for every £1million spend in construction activity. Why not, CapnDave, should B&NES not demand the same from riverside developments which gain so much prestige (or will given the RCG activities) from our river but, would do well to support river apprentices who understood the moods and Idiosyncrasies of the river and its banks for the benefit of all. The next generation Duffy, Wobbly Willis, Big Royston, Hungarian Mike and our good old CapnDave? What an honour that would be. Sustainable river communities that actually increased the value and footfall of our idylic spots.”