Work to remove five sunken boats from the River Avon in Bath is set to begin in March to eliminate hazards and reduce pollution risks in the waterway near Pulteney Weir.

The recovery will begin on March 15 as part of the Better Moorings Project, which aims to address a range of mooring-related issues in Bath and North East Somerset.

Bath and North East Somerset Council is carrying out the recovery operation on the stretch of the river near Pulteney Weir as the boats are a hazard to others using the waterway and pose a pollution risk to the water.

The works will be carried out by specialist contractors and are expected to be completed in one week, although timescales are dependent on weather. The operation is expected to take approximately one week, though the completion timeline may vary depending on weather conditions .

The towpath and the Pulteney waterway will remain open throughout the recovery operation, with access maintained for pedestrians and cyclists. Efforts will be made to minimise disruption to the public, ensuring that the surrounding areas remain as accessible and unaffected as possible during the works.

Mooring in the Pulteney stretch of the River Avon remains closed due to health and safety concerns. All boat owners moored in the area have been advised of the risks and were encouraged to vacate the area prior to the winter.

Owners of the five sunken boats have been approached by the council to give them the opportunity to recover their vessels but this has not been completed. Successful removal of any sunken boat is a complex, dangerous and technical operation requiring time, specialist skills, and specialist equipment to achieve safe removal.

Councillor Tim Ball, cabinet member for Neighbourhood Services, said: “The sunken boats have been creating a hazard in the waterway and posing a risk to its ecology for a long time, however they are the property of the boat owners who are responsible for them.

“We have exhausted our attempts to work with the owners to arrange self-recovery, so as a last resort we will be carrying out the operation on their behalf. The removal of the boats will ensure the waterway is safe for others to use and will reduce the levels of artificial waste in the river.

“The Pulteney stretch of the river is the primary flood defence mechanism for the city and between late October and March, carries an increased volume of water with river levels regularly exceeding the height of the bank. This is a dangerous stretch of river for boats to moor in, especially in winter, which is evidenced by the findings of a Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) report.

“We appeal to all boat owners to safely moor at recognised and officially open mooring sites, monitor their moorings regularly throughout the winter season, ensure their boat is fit for the water and it is fully insured inclusive of salvage.”

The council will be seeking recovery of £72,600 total costs for the removals after the operation has been completed.