7.1 An applicant for a dredging licence, which is required from GHT before any dredging takes place within the Gloucester Harbour pursuant to Part IV of the HRO 1994, must also have the consent of the owner of the mineral rights which, in the Gloucester Harbour, need not necessarily be the Crown Estate. GHT, in consultation with the statutory authorities for nature conservation, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, the local authority mineral planning officers, the Crown Estate and other seabed owners, have produced a guide to the statutory procedures relating to the licensing and extraction of marine aggregates.
7.2 The Bristol Channel Marine Aggregates Resources and Constraints Research Project has considered the sand and aggregates available within the Bristol Channel and Severn Estuary and the effects of dredging thereon.
7.3 GHT makes conveyance charges to vessels dredging within the Gloucester Harbour pursuant to section 26 of the Harbours Act 1964.
7.4 Maintenance dredging is carried out by British Waterways in the Sharpness Dock entrance and GHT has power to undertake dredging in order to maintain navigable channels.
POLICY DREDGE 1 - Subject to its current statutory obligations
a) Routine Maintenance Dredging
GHT recognises the need for regular maintenance dredging within active docks, berths and power station cooling water installations. GHT will support dredging regimes undertaken where necessary to maintain acceptable depths for the safety of commercial shipping within the Harbour or for the safety of the power station.
b) Irregular Maintenance Dredging
GHT will, if necessary, exercise its powers to undertake maintenance dredging of the main navigation channel within the Gloucester Harbour to acceptable depths.
c) Capital Dredging
GHT will support proposals to improve facilities for shipping and increased trade through capital dredging PROVIDED that such works can be shown not to have a significant adverse effect on conservation interests (see Policy ME 1(b))