Salisbury River Park will be completed by the end of the summer

Kayleigh Barker and Sammy Jenkins

BBC News, Wiltshire

The regime has faced delays due to flood damage

BBC A drone shooting of the River Park program in the center of Salisbury. A large parking lot is on the left of the image with the Avon river crossing the image on the right. Salisbury's horizon is in the background. — The regime has faced delays due to flood damage

Work on a river park of 45 million pounds sterling designed to prevent floods should end this summer.

Salisbury River Park, which was originally to cost 35 million pounds sterling, has been underway since the summer of 2022.

The project, jointly funded by the Environment Agency, the Wiltshire Council and the Salisbury Municipal Council, hopes to protect around 350 houses by remodging a section of the Avon river.

Andy Wallis, the project manager of the Environment of the Environment, said that “the biggest challenge” of the program was the flood, Which delayed its completion.

“Having a major flood event occurs in the middle of a construction project and affecting the properties next to it is only your worst nightmare,” he said.

Andy Wallis of the Environment Agency thanked the public for patience during work

Andy Wallis smiling in the camera in front of the Avon river. It wears a high visibility jacket — Andy Wallis of the Environment Agency thanked the public for patience during work

Wallis said that the agency had done a lot of work to “reduce the risk of flooding in the region, to increase the capacity of the Avon river” but also to create a “space so that people can take advantage of it” .

He said the work included the creation of new channels for the Avon river, a new wetland, new walks and new “crucial” and plantations.

“By creating these new channels, in different places, it is able to move the water differently from the city so that we can make sure that we keep water in these channels, these wetlands, rather than Cross people’s houses and down the streets of people, “he added.

Site visitors will also be able to use new trails, cycle breads and sports facilities.

The works have included the reshaping of a section of the Avon river and the creation of flood slopes

A wetland that is part of the Avon river. The arrow of the Salisbury cathedral can be seen in the background. — The works have included the reshaping of a section of the Avon river and the creation of flood slopes

During the work, the Creuseurs found the old outdoor swimming pool and a centennial landfill site, and asbestos was also discovered.

“Everything we knew and that we expected that we planned, but that makes life a little challenge,” he said.

Wallis said it had taken a long time to get to this point.

“I have been involved in the program for eight, nine years, to do so so far- the public has held behind us and was patient with us, which we really appreciate,” He declared.

Municipal councilor Annie Riddle said that the project was “massive” and “incredible” for the city.

“We have never had anything like this in my 40 years of life here,” she added.