News / floating harbour
New pontoons awaiting first residents
New pontoons have finally been installed in the Floating Harbour, three years after they were first announced by former mayor Marvin Rees.
The project next to Capricorn Quay includes plans for 32 new moorings to provide new places for people to live.
Dozens of reed-beds also have the aim of increasing the biodiversity of the area.
At the time of the original announcement, Rees said the project “will provide a large area of floating habitat that will be both visually attractive and functional”.
Rees said this section of the harbour opposite the SS Great Britain will be transformed into a ‘living water park”.
The plans, costing around half a million pounds, are coming to fruition with the addition of a floating cabin containing a composting toilet recently floated into place at the Hotwells side of the pontoon.
Alongside the planned 32 moorings are floating islands that will be full of native plants and have also been designed to improve the water quality – photo: Martin Booth
Across the UK, people moving into homes near historic churches have been known to complain about the sound of bells.
And at Capricorn Quay, residents in the flats overlooking Bristol’s historic docks are concerned about the noise that will come from the boats at the new moorings.
Residents’ association chair, Fraser Bridgeford, said: “This has overwhelmingly been rejected by residents. The pollution and noise adjacent to our homes will be unacceptable…
“It’s about money and getting more into the council’s coffers at the expense of residents.”
The project next to Capricorn Quay includes plans for 32 new moorings – photo: Martin Booth
Main photo: Martin Booth
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