{"id":3295,"date":"2026-01-26T08:15:09","date_gmt":"2026-01-26T08:15:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dhwnews.com\/?p=3295"},"modified":"2026-01-26T08:32:14","modified_gmt":"2026-01-26T08:32:14","slug":"bell-weir-refurbishment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dhwnews.com\/?p=3295","title":{"rendered":"Bell Weir refurbishment (with added question)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>This item was previously published on 15-1-2026 at the request of the EA.\u00a0 I have now added the following critical question as raised locally &#8211; <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>&#8216;am I to understand that the EA works to Bell Weir omit the Weir Sill lowering works&#8217;?\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Answer awaited.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\"><span data-olk-copy-source=\"MessageBody\">[Published 15-1-2026] Dear Councillor Larcombe, <\/span>I am writing to let you know that we will shortly be distributing a newsletter (<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/dhwnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Bell-Weir-newsletter-1-15-January-2026.pdf\">attached<\/a><\/strong><\/span>) to residents about the refurbishment of Bell Weir on the River Thames near Egham. This major project is part of the Environment Agency\u2019s Thames Weirs Refurbishment Programme and is essential to maintaining the long-term functionality of Bell Weir for navigation, flood risk management, drinking water supply, and the river\u2019s ecology.<\/p>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\"><b>About the Project<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Bell Weir\u2019s was last refurbished in 1967. Our structural surveys show that it now requires significant work to ensure it continues to operate safely and effectively. The refurbishment will:<\/p>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n<li class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Replace nine large radial gates and associated walkway structures<\/li>\n<li class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Upgrade mechanical and electrical operating systems<\/li>\n<li class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Install a new multi-species fish and eel pass<\/li>\n<li class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Strengthen the north riverbank and add erosion protection<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\"><b>Programme and Purpose<\/b><\/p>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n<li class=\"x_MsoNormal\"><b>Value:<\/b>\u00a0\u00a322 million<\/li>\n<li class=\"x_MsoNormal\"><b>Timeline:<\/b>\u00a0Start Spring 2026 \u2013 Completion Autumn 2027<\/li>\n<li class=\"x_MsoNormal\"><b>Objectives:<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul type=\"circle\">\n<li class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Maintain safe navigation and water levels<\/li>\n<li class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Support drinking water abstraction at Staines<\/li>\n<li class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Manage flood risk<\/li>\n<li class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Improve biodiversity through enhanced fish and eel passage<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\"><b>Access and Community Impact<\/b><\/p>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n<li class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Main compound at Runnymede Pleasure Ground (access via A308)<\/li>\n<li class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Small satellite compound on the southern bank near the weir<\/li>\n<li class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Temporary localised diversion of the Thames Path National Trail<\/li>\n<li class=\"x_MsoNormal\">The lock will remain operational throughout<\/li>\n<li class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Small increase in construction traffic and temporary visual impact<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\"><b>Environmental and Heritage Measures<\/b><\/p>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n<li class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Ecological Clerk of Works will oversee vegetation clearance and habitat creation<\/li>\n<li class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Archaeological monitoring during groundworks<\/li>\n<li class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Works scheduled to avoid bird nesting season and minimise flood risk<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\"><b>Planning and Permissions<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">The works fall under Permitted Development rights (Town and Country Planning General Permitted Development Order 2015, Part 13, Class D). A Certificate of Lawful Development has been obtained.<\/p>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\"><b>Next Steps<\/b><\/p>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">The newsletter provides residents with an overview of the project, its benefits, and contact details for queries. We will keep councils informed as the project progresses.<\/p>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">If you have any questions or would like further details, please contact me on the detail below. If you do share this email more widely could I ask that you ask residents to use the email address here as this is monitored and responded to by a dedicated team:\u00a0<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" title=\"mailto:enquiries_thm@environment-agency.gov.uk\" href=\"mailto:enquiries_thm@environment-agency.gov.uk\" data-linkindex=\"2\">enquiries_thm@environment-agency.gov.uk<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Thank you for your support in delivering this essential infrastructure project.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This item was previously published on 15-1-2026 at the request of the EA.\u00a0 I have now added the following critical question as raised locally &#8211; &#8216;am I to understand that the EA&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[323,324,325],"class_list":["post-3295","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-bell-weir","tag-bell-weir-refurbishment","tag-bell-weir-repairs"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Bell Weir refurbishment (with added question) - DHWNEWS<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/dhwnews.com\/?p=3295\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Bell Weir refurbishment (with added question) - DHWNEWS\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"This item was previously published on 15-1-2026 at the request of the EA.\u00a0 I have now added the following critical question as raised locally &#8211; 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