Parts of Salisbury River Park open now as project draws to end

A major £27m central Government-funded scheme to reduce flood risk of more than 350 homes and businesses in Salisbury is almost complete.

The Salisbury River Park project, a collaboration between Wiltshire Council and the Environment Agency, began in July 2022.

As the project draws to a close, project lead Andy Wallis has set out a timeline for when we can expect parts of the area to reopen.

Footpaths in the coach park area of Central Car Park, as well as one at Ashley Road, are already open to the public.

Coaches will be able to return to the park later into next week which should be a blessing to south Indian restaurant Elai, at the former Boathouse, as it has struggled to stay afloat after opening on August 2.

Read more: River Park Project: Elai lays off staff and warns of uncertain future

KIER, the company contracted to carry out the construction work, will then look to have the remaining footpaths in Central Car Park open in early August.

Salisbury Coach Park should be open by Friday, August 2. (Image: Rich Langley)

The footpaths and boardwalks in Fisherton Recreation Ground and Ashley Road will be open by the end of August, but the grass areas will remain closed until September to allow the grass seed to establish.

The Multi Use Games Area will be open before the end of August, but the play area will not be open until mid-end September.

Mr Wallis said the project will be fully wrapped up in December 2024 but the remaining trees can't be planted until next winter.

He explained: "As previously detailed, we cannot complete the tree planting until next winter now, but will plan to have it all completed by the end of December.

"This will be the point when the project is formally complete.

"There are a few items that have caused some further small delays at the end of the project, like availability of certain items and materials, and continued high flows, but these have only had a minor impact on the overall completion dates."

High river flows have caused delays to the project's completion. (Image: Rich Langley)

A grand celebration VIP event which was scheduled for Friday, July 26, was postponed after news of an upcoming election broke.

Wiltshire Council took a cautious approach to the pre-election period of sensitivity, also known as purdah, and called the event off before invites were sent out.

This event would have seen funders and stakeholders, including MP John Glen and a former cabinet minister, gather at the River Park as the project reached its final stage of construction.

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Councillor Tamara Reay, cabinet member for transport, said: “A joint event with the Environment Agency to celebrate the final stages of the Salisbury River Park construction works was planned for the end of July.

"However, as we neared the point of sending out the invitations, the general election announcement was made.

"This placed restrictions on public organisations, so the decision was taken to postpone the event. It will be rescheduled later in the year.

"In the meantime, further elements of the River Park are being opened to the public.”