THE river Avon in Evesham is to be dredged to improve conditions for boaters and anglers, thanks to a £7,000 grant secured through the Evesham Market Town Partnership.

The money, which forms part of a larger £26,000 river project, will tackle sections of the Avon which have become a hazard to users as well as problematic to organisers of the Evesham River Festival and Angling Festival.

Evesham and district councillor Andrew Dyke, who has championed the project from the start, said: “I am delighted that the funding has been secured to enable this to go ahead in time for the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Avon Navigation.

“The Avon is a major attraction for visitors to Evesham and improving facilities will encourage boaters to spend more time in the town, enabling them to visit local shops and attractions.”

The money has also been welcomed by the Evesham River Festival committee.

Spokesman Terry Smith said: “The work will allow bigger boats to attend next year’s Evesham River Festival. They haven’t come before because they would have run aground.

“We have been campaigning for this action for a couple of years and it will help the festival be better than ever.”

The money will help pay for a new ‘pump-out’ facility at Evesham Lock, which will enable visiting boaters to pump out waste and sewage from the on-board tanks that are common on modern boats.

It will be installed, maintained and administered by Avon Navigation Trust and is funded by contributions from Evesham Town Council, Worcestershire County Council, the Environment Agency and Avon Navigation Trust.

Dredging will be undertaken by the trust in consultation with the Evesham River Festival Committee, Evesham Angling Festival Working Group, Wychavon District Council and Evesham and District Angling Association.

Coun Gerry O’Donnell, chairman of Evesham Market Town Partnership, said: “We are pleased to support this project. Evesham Market Town Partnership is in the process of preparing its 2012-13 action plan and is interested in hearing from other potential project champions which, with support of the partnership, can achieve similar success.”