In 1938 a major flood protection scheme was carried out at Bures with an automatic lock built on the original lock site

When the Automatic Weir was installed, little thought was given to the fish population along the river as it blocked their path to swim downstream.

Now that fishing along the River Stour has become very popular, the
fishermen downstream are obviously at a disadvantage compared to those upstream.

The EA has constructed a "Fish Ladder" which will allow fish to swim downstream using a dried up channel which has not been in use, possibly since the 1930`s

In recent years, a dramatic increase in leisure craft such as canoes have been using the river. Now, the Weir was not only an obstacle to the fish stock, but also to canoeists have to "portage" from the "Cambridge Brook" inlet, past the Weir and eventually back into the river at the Mill Pond.

A very strenuous task indeed.
However, it soon became apparent that Canoeists could also benefit from this work.

If the existing concrete bridge was raised it would allow safe passage for the canoes using the ditch without the need to raise them out of the water.
The EA agreed to this proposal instigated by "River Stour Boating" and a new raised "Oak Footbridge" was constructed which will allow sufficient height for canoes to pass underneath.

The completed project will finally look like this >>>>>>>

The Yellow footbridge is the existing path with a new solid oak bridge shown in red leading onto the meadow on the southern side of the river