Part of Peel Land and Property’s £5bn Liverpool Waters development, Princes Dock sees a regular build-up of algae during warm weather and accumulates litter from visitors. Tony McDonough reports

Waterway maintenance company Water Witch has successfully reduced the level of pollution in the water spaces around Liverpool’s Princes Dock following the completion of a five-month contract with Peel Land and Property. 

Princes Dock is part of Peel Land and Property’s £5bn Liverpool Waters development with work under way on a trio of new apartment blocks and work due to start on Liverpool’s new £50m cruise line facility and adjacent hotel.

The dock has also seen a rise in the number of popular summer events being held on the waterfront over the past few years, which has made it a favoured spot those living in and visiting the city. 

Jackie Caddick, director at Water Witch, said: “Our work in this location dates back to when the ambitious canal link was created, connecting the Leeds Liverpool Canal to the South Docks.

“This summer we’ve been working with Peel on a weekly basis on cleaning up the waterways. This has included collecting algae which occurs naturally but blooms in the warm and sunny weather.

“We’ve also removed plastic bottles, Styrofoam and plastic cups,which are blown or washed into the water from all over the city.  Our litter boats collect these which will prevent the plastics reaching the sea and causing further pollution.”

Princes Dock is also a well-known events space in the city, with the Liverpool Waters annual charity dragon boat race, the International Canoe Polo Tournament and the visit of the Disney Magic cruise liner making up just some of the many events that have already taken place this year.

Still to come is the recently announced River of Light Festival and Creamfields Steel Yard which are both returning to Liverpool Waters again before the end of the year.

Liza Marco, asset manager at Peel Land and Property responsible for Liverpool Waters, said: “We have seen a considerable rise in the number of people visiting Princes Dock over the past few years, so it is paramount that the waterways around the dock are clean and free of debris.”