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Quay to be dredged to stop barges getting stuck

Henry Godfrey-Evans
BBC News, Essex
Matthew Critchell
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Jodie Halford/BBC A white and navy (or black) boat sitting in mud at Hythe Quay. Water and mud stretches into the background and a collection of houses, including St Mary's church, can be seen in the backgroundJodie Halford/BBC
Dredging the quay will give safe access to our historic barges, the council says

Councillors have voted to push ahead with what will be the most significant dredging of an iconic quay in 25 years.

Seagoing ships have sailed down the picturesque Hythe Quay in Maldon, Essex, for more than 1,000 years.

But Maldon District Council said a build up of mud was making it increasingly difficult for boats - including the iconic Thames barges - to pass "safely and effectively".

The strategy and resources committee agreed to proceed with the plan on Thursday night.

A council spokesperson said the quay would be dredged near the "heritage barges" including the barge berths and the pontoon area.

"This will provide continued safe access to the quay for our local historic barges and visiting vessels," they said.

They assured people that the dredging would not affect the world-famous Maldon Mud Race.

Jodie Halford/BBC Two boats in frame, the one in the background significantly larger with a big red sail, water in the bottom half of the picture with a cluster of houses behind it on the top halfJodie Halford/BBC
Barge captain Paul Jeffries says he is "very grateful" to the council for putting together the dredging plan

A smaller scale dredging at the quay took place in 2016 and 2019, but a report written for the council said silt had built up again since then.

"Without some intervention, the current issues will only worsen and will make it increasingly challenging for both the barges and other vessels," the report said.

Richard Siddall, the independent leader at the council, said at Thursday's meeting he wanted there to be an annual budget for dredging to ensure the quay was not "neglected and forgotten".

Officers for the council said £135,000 was needed for the latest dredging project.

PA Media Hundreds of people, many in fancy dress, are running through mud into Hythe Quay in Maldon. There are boats in the background and historic buildings.PA Media
The council said the dredging would not affect the success of the Maldon Mud Race
PA Media BBC Essex presenters Ben Fryer and Sonia Watson are crawling through mud at Hythe Quay for the Maldon Mud Race. They are dressed in Where's Wally outfits.PA Media
Hundreds of people brave the muddy conditions at Maldon each year, dressed in all manner of clothing

Paul Jeffries, who is barge captain at the Topsail Charters tour agency, said he was "very grateful" for the dredging plan.

The quay would be impassable for barges in five years if nothing was done, he estimated.

"The mud would build up to such an extent, that there's not enough depth of water for the barges to operate, and they'd have to move elsewhere," he said.

The project would be delivered working closely with the Maldon Harbour Improvement Commissioners, the National Trust and other stakeholders, the council said.

A full council meeting scheduled for 13 February will decide whether to go ahead with the dredging work.

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