The quay is set to be dredged to clear a build-up of mud which is stopping "iconic and vital" barges from moving "safely and effectively". 

Maldon Council is proposing to spend £135,000 on Hythe Quay and Visiting Pontoon to improve the tourist attraction and a popular part of the river. The council's diagram shows the area to be dredged, from the Maritime Centre to The Queen's Head Pub. 

The council and quay provide space for various fully rigged Thames sailing barges. There has been no significant dredging work in the main areas occupied by the barges since around 2000. The council last dredged the quay in 2016, and further works to remove silt were undertaken in 2019.

The council says: "Without some intervention, the current issues will only worsen and will make it increasingly challenging for both the barges and other vessels, particularly smaller vessels."

Maldon Council will discuss the proposed project at a meeting on January 23. Documents from the meeting state: "The Thames Barges are an iconic and vital part of the district heritage. Undertaking the dredging at Hythe Quay will help support their continued presence in the district, which supports tourism and our local businesses.

"The build-up of mud in the area of Hythe Quay and the visitor pontoon is making it increasingly difficult for the barge operators to safely and effectively move their vessels and is also creating challenges for other vessels to use the visitor's pontoon. Undertaking a full dredge of these areas will help to support the continued presence of the Thames barges in Maldon, as well as encourage greater use of the visitor's pontoon by visiting vessels. 

"This project will be delivered by working closely with the Maldon Harbour Improvement Commissioners, the National Trust and other stakeholders. This will ensure the project is delivered in the most expedient and cost-effective way to provide value for money for the Council's residents."