Spencer ECA

And it’s not just dredging, silt and vegetation clearance that’s required, sometimes it’s the removal of structures that might impede the flow of the water in fast-flowing rivers and flood defence channels that has to be dealt with.

Once such task took place recently, when Spencer was called in to remove a concrete Crump Weir from the River Lwyd at Ponthir near Newport which, as well as increase the throughput of water and thereby reduce the risk of flooding, would also assist the migration of fish. Using two excavators – one fitted with a concrete breaker attachment – both worked in the river itself, initially breaking up the structure and then removing a total of 130 tonnes of concrete.

Spencer regards it a privilege to work in important areas of conservation, recreation and beauty, which is why the company ensures it works in the most ecologically sound and sustainable way possible. For this project timber mats were used to protect the banks and reduce the risk of damage to the surrounding area, whilst – to avoid any water contamination – both machines ran on Panolin biodegradable oil.

As you can see from the before and after photos, the job was a complete success!