Contacting the Navigation Authority

J

Jaysay

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Noting comments in recent threads about reporting things to the EA, has anyone else noticed that they seem to have removed details of how to contact our local offices? They used to list the local Navigation Offices with telephone numbers and (I think) email addresses on the web. I see now that you can find the postal addresses for local offices, but the telephone number is an overall EA number (based in Leeds) where you practically have to explain in great detail what a boat is before you get anywhere. Ditto for emails.
It doesn't exactly encourage you to report anything unless you feel the urge to get out the Basildon Bond and fountain pen, or indulge in a lengthy conversation starting with, 'and first the earth was formed....'. Or perhaps that's the general idea?
A pity, as I felt in the past that we had a good liaison with our local offices. Or have I missed something?
 
That's interesting .....

As the OP said , there used to be the direct dial numbers for the Nav offices listed , the new numbers ( even on the VisitThames link ) direct you through the national call centre.

The good thing is , all calls through this number are logged and recorded , and any information given is entered onto the computer system that records incidents / info etc.

So , although you are having to go through the NCC , you have a guarantee that the info is being noted by someone ( not for a minute suggesting that it wouldn't have been had you called the Nav office direct ) and will be passed on to the relevant party . I believe that as it is logged on the national system , the officer who acts on the information passed down , once it has been resolved , has to enter on the system what action was taken.

So , although it may seem like a pain , it is for everyones benefit in the long run as it will give the powers that be a picture of what actually goes on on the river. No phone calls means everything is hunky dory . I would encourage you to report things that happen on the river.
 
The Environment Agency has a National Customer Contact number (08708 506 506) near Sheffield which will either sort your query for you or put you through to somebody who can help you instead if its not a routine job.

It actually works quite well and the calls are answered pretty quickly.

Local office switchboards were closed down about 2 years ago!

However a bit of digging around does reveal....... http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/recreation/boating/31609.aspx which still lists the numbers

Chris
 
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