MORE than 2,000 tonnes of rocks dumped in the river are an eyesore and affecting trade in Upton-upon-Severn, say concerned residents.

The rocks were put in the Severn by the town’s Waterside by the Environment Agency as part of its work to build flood defences.

But the work was completed more than 12 months ago, and Tim Dance of Severn Leisure Cruises says that it is time for the agency to clear the bank of rocks away.

He said: “First of all, it is an eyesore and secondly it takes up mooring space along Waterside. “Maybe it’s only three or four boats, but that is still three or four boats bringing in people to spend money in our businesses and our pubs.”

Severn Leisure operates the MV Conway Castle, the largest passenger vessel on the Severn, and Mr Dance says there are safety worries as well. He said: “When the rocks were dumped, there’s some suspicion that some of them rolled onto the river bed, which could be a danger to vessels using the river.”

Resident Peter Webb agrees the rocks are an eyesore, but disagrees about what should be done. He says they should be tidied up and topped with concrete to form an extended mooring area.

“Every boat that stops in Upton brings in between £2,000 and £3,000 in the pubs and businesses, buying supplies. Increasing the number of mooring places will be a boon to the town,” he said.

Catherine Ellis, of the Environment Agency, said the stones were used to minimise the risk of an historic riverside wall collapsing during the construction of the flood wall.

She said the agency is currently looking at bids from contractors to have the rocks removed. She said: “We should have more specific news in a couple of weeks.”