Kelsey Lakes desilting project

Desilting is the process of removing sediment and debris from the lakebed. Sediment carried by The Beck, which flows into Kelsey Lakes, along with fallen leaves, are major sources of this build-up.

Without regular desilting, the lakes would eventually transform into vegetated land. Additionally, desilting is crucial to maintaining the aquatic ecosystems in Kelsey Lakes, which would otherwise degrade over time.

The desilting activities have been planned to minimise environmental impact. This includes conducting extensive ecological site surveys, scheduling the work during the winter months, keeping the lakes continually filled with water, defining exclusion zones and ongoing monitoring of water quality and habitats throughout the project.

Due to the large volume of sediment and limited available space, most of it will be transferred to Rainham Marshes. This sediment will be used in the largest habitat creation project within the M25 area, involving the development of new wetland habitats managed by the RSPB.

Since The Beck, which flows through the lakes, is classified as a Main River, a permit from the Environment Agency (EA) is required before desilting can begin. Ongoing consultations with the EA have been conducted throughout the planning stages, and the necessary permit has already been secured.

The actual desilting work is expected to begin in early November 2024 and be completed by April 2025. Site setup and cleanup activities mean that contractors will be present from late October 2024 until June 2025.

The project schedule has been designed to avoid the bird nesting season. Desilting will be carried out with water in the lakes, allowing birds, fish, and reptiles to coexist as much as possible during the work. Temporary surface mats will be used to minimize ground and tree root damage from machinery. Additionally, water quality will be closely monitored to assess impacts and determine if further mitigation is needed.

A specialist contractor, Land & Water Services Ltd., is conducting the work on behalf of Bromley Council.

Public access will be accommodated as much as possible during the works. However, some areas will be fenced off to ensure public safety while the project is underway.

Public access for the different phases of the project (PDF - 1.16 MB).