Benson Lock (above) shoal.

[Teddy]

Be careful when leaving or approaching upstream of Benson Lock. About 25m upstream of the lock island there is a shoal in the middle of the track that you would use to approach or leave the lock. I draw about 1.1m and dinged my props going upstream. Coming back 5 days later I went into neutral and drifted over the same with my depth showing 0.0 below keel!!

I reported the incident to relief lockie who said there had been other complaints, so I contacted the EA office at Wallingford and told them they should be doing something about it.
Incidentally, the dredger was last seen idle up at Days Lock. As you might be aware, there is a known shoal just down stream from Days Lock, just before the foot bridge. I dinged my props on that last year.

Perhaps more of us should complain and badger them into doing something in return for the large sum of money we pay them. Try contacting Colin Houndslow at Wallingford Office 01491 828308

 

[boatone]

Fill out the Information Report form on the TMBA website and we will make sure this is pursued and try and make sure there is some action.

Info Form CLICK HERE

You don't need to be a member but, as an EA Thames licence payer you will be welcome !

 

[boatone]

Thank you for submitting the TMBA info reporting form. I did raise this issue and received a fairly prompt response.

I am given to understand that the dredger is at Benson (the same one that was previously working at Days) and operatives are trying to work on reducing the size of the shoal. They have been struggling due to the high flows which keep pulling the anchors out of place. However they are continuing working on it and hope to have the situation improved there as soon as possible.

For interest – I understand they estimate they will need to move around 400 tons of material to ensure a safe navigable depth through there.

 

[TrueBlue]

Hopefully they might do something to the shoal downstream - where the weir stream meets the channel.

Marked by buoys which constantly move because there's no depth.
Even I at 2' 3" bottom....

 

[CJL]

For interest – I understand they estimate they will need to move around 400 tons of material to ensure a safe navigable depth through there.

Based on some back of a fag packet calculations the disposal costs and assuming its not hazardous, are roughly £34,000.

This doesn't include sampling, transport, treatment (De-watering) or excavation costs which are all on top of the 34k!



CJL

 

[TrueBlue]

Based on some back of a fag packet calculations the disposal costs and assuming its not hazardous, are roughly £34,000.

This doesn't include sampling, transport, treatment (De-watering) or excavation costs which are all on top of the 34k!



CJL

It's one of the reasons EA have given up doing wholesale dredging.
Another part of EU's regulations which appear sensible on the face of it - but in some areas are quite daft.

I believe they are allowed to shuffle it sideways slightly....

 

[teddington_lock]

Based on some back of a fag packet calculations the disposal costs and assuming its not hazardous, are roughly £34,000.

This doesn't include sampling, transport, treatment (De-watering) or excavation costs which are all on top of the 34k!



CJL

Believe any dredging from the river bed is classed as hazardous nowadays , could be oil , sewage , who knows what ?

Fortunes to get rid of.

 

[Captain Coochie]

Just dump it on the PLA side . Every other big business does

 

[SnowCat]

Especially Mogden!