Until recently the area of proposed development had been used as hard standing for caravans. Before this the ground was boggy and local children came there to hunt for newts …the evaluation would consist of 3 trenches across the width of the proposed mooring basin and another across the access channel. The overburden was removed by machine. Ground water started rapidly filling the trench and it was not considered safe to enter. The whole site has been raised by at least 1m by dumping modern material. Although peat was seen in trenches 1 and 2, this is of modern origin and below this is clay. No archaeological remains were discovered. (1) See E9168 for nearby bridge works.