Chertsey Lock Revisited

[TrueBlue]

(Well we don't come downstream too often - too many boats...)


I took particular care to ask at Chertsey on Friday ,in response to BradTarga34's comments in the original Chertsey Lock thread:-
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We went through Chertsey as well and saw there was a very faded blue sign hanging on the lock gates saying lock unmanned. This seems to be a regular scenario at this lock in particular and jugging by the state of the gardens and lawn, looked as though nobody had been there for some time. This lock used to absolutely immaculate with their gardens and flowers, so a shame to see it looking unkempt. I know it's a bit early for a full on display, but doesn't look as though anything has been touched. We also headed down through Sunbury lock on Sunday afternoon, and that was unmanned as well!

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On enquiry I was told that the Lockkeeper, Paul King has bee off sick with hip trouble for some six months. Since then the lock has been managed by a succession of temporaries, reliefs and whatever. Accordingly the loving care normally lavished on the site by Paul have not been available. So that's why it's scruffy - and more frequently unmanned. Chertsey is a shallow and easy lock to work and that is one of the reasons that when there are staff shortages it is on the top of the list to be unmanned.

It is a pity that EA don't run to a health insurance scheme else he would be running around by now. I was told he has had to wait ages for an X-ray and even longer for an assessment. Our wonderful NHS (not) again failing to deliver the goods.

<span style="color:blue">If there are any orthopaedic surgeons around willing to help by pulling some strings</span> perhaps they could contact?

For the time being I'm sure many Forum members would join me in wishing him well, and hope for a speedy repair??

 

[Steve Clayton]

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Since then the lock has been managed by a succession of temporaries, reliefs and whatever. Accordingly the loving care normally lavished on the site by Paul have not been available. So that's why it's scruffy

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So who in EA needs to give permission/approve for a few forumites to get together and tidy the gardens up over a couple of evenings?

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

>>>
So who in EA needs to give permission/approve for a few forumites to get together and tidy the gardens up over a couple of evenings?
>>>

Scary thoguht, in this day and age, someone has to "give permission" to receive a free service done by volunteers acting in the public good. Yet if I wished to vandalise the garden all I need to do is show up at night with suitable equipment, sure in the knowledge that I would be unlikely to be caught/proesecuted.

 

[jecuk]

Probably need a health and safety assessment......

 

[Brayman]

There was a group of people a year or two back who were doing up bits of waste land and roundabouts etc, made the news for a few weeks, I wonder if they can be enticed?

 

[TrueBlue]

It's Paul's lock ( I regard it as his "private property" - well the flower beds are), so he should be contacted - somehow- first.

As I understand it the bedding plants are supplied by the sponsoring horticultural outfit, and the lockies plant them. Some keepers (i.e. Paul) have their own additions as well - look at his bankside wall where there is a splendid collection of low maintenance shrubs.

Not wanting to drift this thread too far, but:-

If the Resident keeper is to be dispensed with who will or would want to, keep the gardens going?

I have heard that flower bed are now discouraged / forbidden and the basis that a punter could slip on the daffodils at 2:00 a.m (while using the lock) and sue.

'Elf and...

Similarly they are not supposed to tend such gardens as remain in their own time as the EA would not be covered for third party insurance purposes.

Not sure how true the above statements are - but it's so daft, that they are likely to be true!

So when you see those lovely beds all grassed over you'll know why. All locks will look like Bell Weir always has.