Rain needed to restore river levels at town park

River levels through at a park in Belper that were lowered to allow work to two 18th Century sluice gates cannot be raised until it rains.

Since mid-June, the River Derwent through the town's River Gardens has been drained down to allow work to be carried out by Derwent Hydroelectric Power (DHP), which operates turbines at Belper Mill.

Work to the sluice gates which flank the Horseshoe Weir upstream was completed on 3 July.

But DHP's Dean Needle said river flows were "currently too low to allow the impoundment to be re-filled".

The Horseshoe Weir and sluice gates at Belper River Gardens were originally built in 1797 to control the River Derwent for mill power, said Historic England.

DHP said while most maintenance of the flood gates could be carried out without lowering the river level, it was "occasionally necessary" to do so.

Amber Valley Borough Council, which owns the River Gardens, said it was aware of "planned maintenance" and the resulting water levels.

Needle said DHP was monitoring weather forecasts and river flows, and working with the Environment Agency and Severn Trent Water over the situation.

He said: "Our priority is to return water levels to normal at Belper Mill as soon as sufficient flow is available.

"We understand that this delay will affect many people and groups, and we thank you for your understanding."

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