A BOAT crew and heavy-duty tractor with a winch worked round the clock to clear a massive dam of dead wood clogging up a river near a historic bridge.

The colossal mounds of driftwood, including whole tree trunks, had been choking up the River Teme near the medieval Powick Old Bridge for 'around five months', according to one fisherman.

However, work to clear the island of rotting wood was launched in earnest on Tuesday and continued apace on Wednesday. 

The Environment Agency said the work 'will improve the river’s flow and reduce flood risk for nearby communities for the autumn and winter months ahead'.

A two-man boat crew co-ordinated the operation from the water, fitting the winch.

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Dead wood dam blocks Teme near Powick Old Bridge

Powick Old Bridge needs to be cleared of debris 

Barry Killner, response lead for the Environment Agency, said they were having a 'Battle of Powick Bridge' removing the blockage, a reference to the famous Civil War skirmish fought there in the mid-17th century.

He said: "They are winching the material out using an Environment Agency 15 tonne winch tractor.

"The team members in the boat are there to connect the winch rope to the debris."

Works is still ongoing so no estimate has yet been released on the overall weight of the wood. He said this was a regular task required as part of recovery from flooding.

 

The bridge was the site of the first skirmish of the English Civil War as tensions boiled over between King Charles I and Parliament.

For many, the bridge is an enduring symbol of the city's rich Civil War heritage during one of the bloodiest chapters in English and British history.

A fisherman, who lives nearby, raised concerns that the build-up of debris was so bad that salmon could not get up the river to spawn with the problem getting steadily worse over the last five months.

As we approach the 380th anniversary of the Battle of Powick Bridge, there have also been concerns that the grade I listed bridge should look its best as the city marks the milestone.

Worcester News: DEDICATED: Environment Agency officials had their hands full clearing the blockage from the River Teme. They are pictured here from the top of the Powick Old Bridge. Photo: James ConnellDEDICATED: Environment Agency officials had their hands full clearing the blockage from the River Teme. They are pictured here from the top of the Powick Old Bridge. Photo: James Connell

Worcester played a pivotal role in the conflict between the 'Cavaliers' and the 'Roundheads', taking centre stage for the first skirmish of the war at Powick Bridge on September 23, 1642 and the last battle on September 3, 1651.

Worcester News: HEAVY: This big tractor is the ideal piece of kit for dragging all the debris out of the River Teme. Photo: James ConnellHEAVY: This big tractor is the ideal piece of kit for dragging all the debris out of the River Teme. Photo: James Connell

Paul Harding, of Discover History, who organises Worcester walking tours of the city battlefields, is also concerned about any pressure the debris might exert on the stonework of the bridge.

Mr Harding said: "A large build-up, on a shallow river could divert the water into farmland or put great pressure on the stonework of this important bridge.

"It's excellent news that the Environment Agency are able to remove the debris over the next few weeks.

"This year marks the 380th Anniversary of the Battle of Powick Bridge, the first fight of the entire English Civil War."