WORK to construct a new weir in the River Tavy at Abbey Bridge in Tavistock received a setback last week, after some of the preparation work was washed away. Members of the town council?s properties committee last week heard the project had been delayed by up to two weeks because of the incident. Works superintendant Wayne Southall told councillors he had been updated on the progress of the scheme to build a new weir and install new screens between the river and Tavistock Canal during a site meeting with Environment Agency engineers. He said: ?Abbey Walk will definitely be open from October 9 to 14 for Goose Fair ? basically, the whole time the fair is operating. ?It will then be closed for approximately three weeks.? Mr Southall said that following completion of the work on the Abbey Walk side of the river, attention would be turned to St John?s Walk. ?The work there will be undertaken in mid November. They?ll be cutting back the trees, lifting the foliage from beneath and rebuilding the old boat ramp. It should be finished by the end of November. ?If we get more light down there the area might start grassing over better, it could even be used as a picnic area. ?At the moment it?s quite dark and dingy, quite intimidating, it will end up much lighter.? Staff from the Environment Agency are also due to return to Tavistock next spring, when they will tackle overgrown foliage in Market Road. The River Tavy project is a partnership between South West Water and the Environment Agency, which aims to boost salmon stocks in the river by aiding the migration of fish up and down the water course. Work started on the scheme at the end of July.
