Via http://www.westbriton.co.uk/work-begins-in-preparation-of-reintroducing-...

Work begins in preparation for reintroducing sluicing to Hayle

Photo by Lauren Bambury, assistant harbour master

Mechanical dredging has started in Hayle Estuary

Work to create deeper and safer navigation channels in and out of Hayle's harbour will be taking place this week.

Parts of the estuary will be mechanically dredged in preparation for reintroducing sluicing in Hayle.

The practice of sluicing, which was discontinued in Hayle in the 1970s, helps reduce the build-up of sand and keep channels open.

Community engagement officer for Hayle Harbour, Gary Cartmell, said: "We are going to be dredging in the estuary with a mechanical digger to remove the peaks in preparation of our test trials on the sluices.

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"We have new sluices next to Asda and we are starting to prepare to test them. There have not been sluices in Hayle since the 1970s so this is a great step forward."

The sluice gates were installed in Hayle in 2014, which was the first phase of restoring sluicing to the harbour.

The water control gates were a replica of the pair originally put in place in 1789.The original gates in Hayle were used for more than 100 years before they fell into disrepair and were found buried below ground near Hayle Harbour office.

They now form part of a display on the King George V Memorial Walk.

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Hayle Harbour master, Peter Haddock, said: "Hayle Harbour Authority is really pleased to be able to start work on mechanical dredging in the estuary to support the imminent reintroduction of the sluicing.

"We have been waiting on parts for the sluices and now they have arrived we can work on the sluice-related dredging to improve and maintain the navigational channel for the benefit of both commercial and leisure harbour users."

The work will take place over the course of the week, which will remove sand and the compressed areas of the estuary, making it easier for the sluices to disturb the sand.

Councillor Graham Coad, said: "I am delighted to hear the harbour authority is taking steps towards making the navigation channels in and out of Hayle Harbour safer for our fishermen and boat users.

"The sand removed will not be sold but will be used or stored somewhere else around Hayle."