Colchester City Council will restore the empty Castle Park boating lake and aims to reopen it by spring 2027. Surveys, final costs and a contractor come first.
The boating lake in Castle Park is to be restored. Colchester City Council says it aims to have the lake back in use by spring 2027.
The council announced the decision on 23 October. The lake has stood empty since the collapse of Middle Mill Weir, which used to keep it topped up.
What happens next
The council’s release sets out the steps before any work starts:
- detailed condition surveys, to confirm what work is needed
- final costs, once the surveys are done
- a tender to appoint a contractor
- the “necessary approvals”
It is preparing to go out to tender now, so work can begin “as quickly as possible” once those steps are complete. Spring 2027 is a target, not a promise. The council says it depends on “survey findings, procurement, costs and the necessary approvals”.
No cost has been published. The release also does not say how the lake will be kept filled now that the weir no longer feeds it.
What the council said
Cllr Paul Dundas, the council’s leader, said: “We know people have been waiting for clarity about the future of the boating lake. There has been a lot to consider, but we have now reached the point where we can be clear about our ambition to restore it and bring it back into use.”
He added that the council was “ready to begin the process of appointing a contractor”.
Cllr Martin Goss, portfolio holder for waste, neighbourhoods and leisure, said: “Having listened to the public we are unanimous in our commitment to getting this repaired and open for Spring 2027.”
The council says the delay reflected “practical, financial and operational issues”. It also points to money spent on other heritage buildings, including the Town Hall and Colchester Castle.
Why the lake has been empty
Middle Mill Weir collapsed in December 2023. The lake had always been topped up with water from the weir, and that flow stopped.
In May 2025 the council said the lake was damaged and “not fully sealed”. Any water added by hand would quickly drain away, which made refilling it “financially unjustifiable”. It fenced off the empty lake because the dry basin was a fall risk.
The campaign to save it
Colchester Civic Society had pressed for months. In August it called on the council to “stop dithering” and commit to reopening the lake. It said it had heard rumours the lake would be permanently decommissioned.
The lake sits inside Castle Park, which is Grade II listed. The society said the lake was covered by that listing.
After the announcement, the society welcomed the decision. Its chair, Jo Edwards, said: “We’re thrilled that future generations will be able to enjoy the lake as much as previous generations have done.”
The society also criticised the use of the empty lake as a backstage area for portable toilets and cabins during this summer’s concert series.
What it means for you
- The lake stays empty and fenced off through the winter. The rest of Castle Park is open as normal.
- There is no confirmed reopening date yet. The council says it will give one once contracts are agreed and work starts.
- Spring 2027 could slip if the surveys find more damage than expected, or if costs come in high.
- For other places to take children in the meantime, see our things to do in Colchester page.
The council says the lake dates from the 1800s. Castle Park itself opened on 20 October 1892.
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