- Riverside revival £300k Langport River Project has transformed 7.6 miles of river into a visitor destination, attracting around 250,000 people a year, helping new cafés, shops and services thrive
- Community Cocklemoor meadow and Huish Bridge now boast renewed pathways, pontoons, canoe steps, fishing platforms, picnic areas, a slipway, cycle hire and a community boat, thanks to a partnership between Langport Town Council and IWA
- Lasting impact With smart solar lighting, e-bike charging, recycled materials and biodiversity monitoring, the project delivers sustainability as well as local pride: plans are for more paths, parking and moorings
Regeneration of the riverside in Langport, Somerset, has given this traditional market town a new lease of life. Five years on from initial completion of the Langport River Project, the Upper River Parrett attracts around 250,000 visitors per year and new businesses and services have opened in the town.
To celebrate the project’s success, local film-maker Gordon McKerrow has produced a short documentary about how it has helped boost Langport. The film was first screened in Langport on 16th of September to celebrate partnership and volunteer effort by the council and IWA, alongside community groups and local businesses.
Val Saunders commented:
“A range of new businesses have opened since the river project brought new life to the town. Langport has become a café culture centre and we rarely have an empty shop on the high street. The town has developed a renewed sense of civic pride.”
While the project ensured that 7.6 miles of river are now navigable for trail boats and paddle craft, its focus was to create an attractive destination in the centre of town, between Bow Bridge and Huish Bridge. The picturesque Cocklemoor lies at its heart, with activities including walking, paddleboarding, swimming, fishing, cycling and boat trips. Now, approximately 250,000 people per year visit the riverside.
Ray Alexander added: “Langport’s story shows just what can be done to enhance an area by improving its waterway and waterside. It wasn’t a big, multi-million-pound project, but it has achieved so much for the area.”
And Gerard Tucker, Town Clerk, concluded:
“The Langport Community expresses its gratitude to the IWA for their support in helping Langport in the delivery of its vision. We do not consider the regeneration of Langport to be complete and the refurbishment of more paths, creation pf cycle paths and additional parking are on our list for one day! Perhaps even a mooring for our community boat, The Duchess of Cocklemoor, to make it easier for people to access and enjoy the river.”
The funding neared £300,000 ten years ago, sourced from a combination of European funds, local authorities and the Canoe Foundation.
More about the regeneration
A 7.6 mile stretch of the river and its tributaries is now designated as navigable, from the sluice gates of Oath Lock upstream to Thorney Mills half lock (disused) along with short sections of the River Yeo and the River Isle. Fortunately, no major remedial navigational work, such as dredging or lock repair, was needed.
Cocklemoor is a riverside meadow with new pathways, pontoons, canoe steps, accessible fishing platforms, picnic spots, seating and information boards. From here, Langport’s community boat The Duchess of Cocklemoor runs pre-booked trips, led by local volunteers.
At Huish Bridge, the slipway has been restored for trail boats and paddle craft, with a new car park and community space. Langport Town Council acquired both Cocklemoor and the Huish Bridge slipway from the Environment Agency to deliver the project. Nearby, a cycle hire operates at Bow Bridge and a rowing club is based at Huish Bridge.
Sustainability, wellbeing and ecology were forefronted. The facilities include ‘smart’ solar lighting, recycled plastic furniture, e-bike charging points, outdoor exercise equipment and locally made willow bird hides. A system of monitoring the biodiversity of the riverbank has been established.
The IWA West Country Branch worked with councillors and council staff to initiate the project and see it through. An IWA consultant engineer surveyed the slipway and advised on its restoration. IWA’s Waterway Recovery Group helped at Langport on three occasions: removing silt from the slipway, undertaking tree clearance works and, earlier this year, renewing the paths across Cocklemoor.
