THERE is some uncertainty surrounding the future of Bridgwater Docks as The Canal and River Trust has announced it won’t be renewing its lease once it expires in July 2020.

The charity said it was unable to commit to the cost of maintaining the docks in the long term.

Local volunteers hope The Canal & River Trust will carry out work on parts of the docks which are in need of restoration before the lease is handed over.

The Canal & River Trust said it would work with Somerset County Council to ‘identify a course of action to safeguard the future of Bridgwater Docks’ once the lease expires.

Both the Council and the Canal & River Trust say they are committed to finding alternative ways of managing Bridgwater Docks.

These could include following successful models elsewhere in the country where community groups have taken on a stretch of waterway to manage and maintain it.

Currently the Somerset branch of the Inland Waterways Association does a huge amount of volunteer work to support the upkeep of the docks.

Jon Horsfall, Canal & River Trust director for Wales and the South West said: “When we relinquish the lease we will be leaving the Docks in as good a condition as when we took them on.

“We don’t see this as the end of our involvement and will, in the coming months be working with the Council with a common aim of a solution that brings benefit to the Docks and everyone who knows and loves this area.”

Somerset County Council said it was ‘disappointed’ the trust did not want to continue leasing the docks.

A County Council spokesman said: “We note the trust’s early indication of its intentions and its commitment to helping us find a sustainable way forward for this part of Bridgwater’s industrial heritage. The trust has assured us of its intention to leave the property in the condition it is required to.

“We will be working with the them in the coming weeks and months and would be very interested to hear from any groups or organisations that may be interested in leasing or buying the docks and securing a sustainable future of this iconic local landmark.

“Volunteers already have a role at the site and a voluntary group or organisation taking a more active role is one possible option, particularly as they may be able to bid for funding that’s not available to the County Council.

“It’s disappointing that the Canal and River Trust does not want to continue leasing the docks and we want to find a way forward that is right for the people of Bridgwater.”