News / floating harbour
Lock gates closure ‘threatens commercial viability’ of the Matthew
The charitable trust that looks after the Matthew says that the prolonged closure of one of the lock gates in and out of the Floating Harbour now “threatens the commercial viability” of the vessel.
Members of the Matthew of Bristol Trust have criticised Bristol City Council for a “lack of proactive investment in essential harbour infrastructure” which they say “contributed directly” to the failure of the lock gates in Hotwells in 2025 and has since resulted in £25,000 in lost revenue for the trust.
The outer gates between Cumberland Basin and the Avon Gorge can currently only be moved when they are partially supported by at least five metres of water on the river side of the gates.
This means that the period of time for when the locks can operate to allow vessels in and out of the harbour, when the tide and weather allow, is slightly shorter than it would be during normal operations.
An extra £580,000 is likely to be authorised by Bristol City Council in addition to £500,000 which has already been spent on the emergency repairs to the lock gates – photo: Martin Booth
The Matthew of Bristol Trust say their reserves have now reached “critically low levels” and have now launched a fundraising campaign to safeguard the future of the ship built between 1994 and 1996 as a replica of the vessel that John Cabot used to sail across the Atlantic to Newfoundland in 1497.
“The Matthew is not just a ship; it is a living piece of Bristol’s maritime heritage,” said Mark Boulton, the vice-chair of the Matthew of Bristol Trust.
“The consequences of infrastructure failure, if not addressed, will impact not only our charity but the wider harbour economy and visitor community.”
Trust chair, Richard Sandwell, added: “We are committed to navigating this challenge and ensuring the Matthew continues to educate, inspire and contribute to Bristol for many years to come.”
Volunteers at the Matthew were awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2019 – photo: The Matthew of Bristol Trust
Lib Dem councillor Andrew Brown, chair of the Harbour Committee, told Bristol24/7: “After significant deterioration of the outer lock gate on the north side of the harbour was identified in May last year, plans were immediately put in place for vital repairs to ensure the long-term condition of this critical part of the harbour infrastructure.
“Whilst urgent repairs were carried out to the north and then the south lock gate, vessel access to and from the harbour was limited to ensure the safety of boaters and maintain the water level within the harbour.
“Despite the limited access during the urgent repair works, which were completed in mid-November, the Harbour Authority has continuously met its statutory duties.
“We understand that the reduced operation of the lock gate impacted vessels which rely upon being able to move frequently through the entrance lock.
“All available options and arrangements were considered to facilitate access through the lock while acting at pace to return operations to normal.
“Significant investment is needed to repair and ensure ongoing maintenance of the harbour infrastructure which has suffered from decades of under-investment.
“A dive survey is due to take place in March which will give clarity on the extent of additional repairs needed and determine the programme of works to ensure the lock gates continue to operate.
“Allocation of the additional funding is also underway with a paper requesting approval to spend a further £580,000 due to be considered by the Harbour Committee on March 17.
“We’re acutely aware of the importance of reinstating normal operations of the lock for the summer but ability to do so will be dependent on the results of the survey and the extent of the repairs required.”
The Matthew relies on the lock gates to reach the Avon Gorge for its popular tours – photo: Visit Bristol
Main photo: Martin Booth
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