Sunken Barge in Hertford to be Removed

Working in partnership with East Herts Council, Hertford Town Council have confirmed that they
are funding the removal of the sunken barge.

Leader of Hertford Town Council, Councillor Alex Daar, commented: "Hertford Town Council has
been quietly working behind the scenes, for some months, to rid our beautiful town of this eyesore.
When we pledged to support our rivers back in January, we meant it and although removing this
vessel is not strictly part of our remit, we can't leave it in our local waters any longer. We are
delighted that Hertford will be rid of the barge in time for Christmas – it’s our gift to our wonderful
town, that we work so hard to protect and promote."

Hertford Town Council and East Herts Council have been in talks with the Environment Agency
and the Canal and River Trust for some months and officers have been in constant communication
to prepare not just the removal, but the onward storage of the barge - as well as ongoing liaison
with its owner.

In Hertford Town Council's recent Residents' Consultation on the Budget for 2026/7, local people
shared just how much removing the barge means to them; we have listened and are taking action.
Both councils are delighted to have come up with a solution to this problem that falls between so
many levels of jurisdiction and are most grateful to both Josh Dean MP and 'I love Hertford' for
their ongoing support on this issue.

Councillor Ben Crystall, Leader of East Herts Council said: “This has been a complex situation to
resolve, and we are grateful to everyone involved, especially the Town Council for funding the
boat’s removal and the team at East Herts for working tirelessly to find a resolution. We also want
to thank residents for their patience throughout this process. Although the removal took longer than
we would have liked, we are pleased that the sunken barge will be gone from the town ahead of
the new year.”

Works will soon begin and it will take two or three days to clear the area; we urge the public to give
the professionals space to do their job safely and efficiently.

Both councils are looking forward to the moment that this beautiful Hertford scene is back to its
former glory, not just to improve the quality of the water and nature within it, but for all its residents
and visitors to enjoy.