The county council deny there is a gravel and silt problem

A fisherman has claimed Aberystwyth harbour could be blocked by silt and gravel in autumnal floods because of inadequate dredging.

Garfield Parry said dredging of part of the harbour last month had done little to improve the build-up of silt at the site.

The 72-year-old, who has worked from the harbour for nearly 50 years is demanding that Ceredigion County Council takes action to improve the situation.

But the council has denied there is a problem with increasing levels of gravel and silt.

Mr Parry is concerned that large amounts of silt and gravel could enter the harbour when the river Rheidol floods in the autumn.

Replacing these breakwaters would help the situation but the council don't want to know about it. Garfield Parry, fisherman

He also claims that the removal of three breakwaters - boulders set at an angle to force the river to change direction - from the river Rheidol when Aberystwyth Marina was built in 1995 has not helped matters.

Three-day operation

"These breakwaters had been there since the harbour was built in the 1830s but were taken away in the early 1990s when the marina was built," he said.

"The breakwaters helped to change the direction of flow of water which reduced the silting of the harbour."

"Replacing these breakwaters would help the situation but the council don't want to know about it."

Mr Parry believes the removal of breakwaters has caused problems

Responsibility for dredging the harbour is split between the local authority, which runs the quayside and IMP Developments which runs the other side, housing Aberystwyth marina, built in 1995.

Last month, a three-day operation to remove thousands of tons of silt and gravel cost �16,000 which was shared equally between the council and the marina operators.

Councillor Keith Evans, the cabinet member responsible for the harbour, denied there was a problem of increasing gravel and silt at the harbour.

He also denied any knowledge of the use of breakwaters.

"We are not aware of the use of breakwaters in such locations. We do not feel there is a problem that needs to be solved," he said.

A plough dredging operation this Autumn could reduce silt

But this viewpoint is challenged by Mr Parry's wife Florence.

"An engineer's report on harbour improvements in 1832 mentions the breakwaters above Trefechan Bridge and they were there until the marina was built," she said.

The situation could improve later this year when a plough dredging operation to remove silt will take place on the marina side of the harbour.

Marina manager Sion Edwards said the technique would agitate silt deposited in the marina basin which would then flow out to sea.

The dredging operation is planned for this autumn.