Control of weirs etc

As no comment on my posting ref GMB the following may be of interest. The Environment Agency is reported to have agreed that a study group is currently examining the future management of the river " both with and without resident lock and weir keepers."
Mike Shefras, who represents the Thames User Group (Navigation) on the study group is reported as saying "Our position is that there should be a dedicated lock and weir-keeper at every lock".
 
534l4rk said:
As no comment on my posting ref GMB the following may be of interest. The Environment Agency is reported to have agreed that a study group is currently examining the future management of the river " both with and without resident lock and weir keepers."
Mike Shefras, who represents the Thames User Group (Navigation) on the study group is reported as saying "Our position is that there should be a dedicated lock and weir-keeper at every lock".
Click to expand...
There is nothing new in this. The study group was set up last year, following the furore re renting out several lock houses and was well reported at the time by TMBA, ATYC and others. It is due to report shortly.
IMHO the GMB news report is jumping the gun, or may simply be regurgitating old news, and I am not aware of any new proposals - indeed, I would be surprised if this were to happen before the study group reports and its conclusions are responded to by the EA. I am prepared to believe EA management are considering all options, indeed I would expect any prudent organisation to do so.
As usual, I think this is probably a case of don't believe anything you read in the press.
The next TNUF meeting is on 25th March and I would expect to hear more after that about the progress of the study group.
 
Last edited:
In the grand scheme of the Thames this is a very minor issue and being brought up to further the Union's agenda not the River or the EA's. (I have just left GMB for these kinds of reasons)

It is very likely that if the Thames goes to the C&RT that the lock keepers cottages will all go, be it immediately or a couple of years time. I suspect they will all be offered other roles which is a good thing but the uncertainty and waiting must be very unpleasant.

I hope they all get the best outcome they can from it as I wouldn't wish bad things on any of them.

CJL
 
Haven't seen an e-petition on this - I would have thought most boaters and riverside riparian owners would support. Surely also in the interests of everyone living within areas subject to possible river flooding ? In my opinion lock keepers have done extraordinarily well this year in view of the amount of rain we have had.
 
Last edited:
534l4rk said:
Haven't seen an e-petition on this - I would have thought most boaters and riverside riparian owners would support. Surely also in the interests of everyone living within areas subject to possible river flooding ? In my opinion lock keepers have done extraordinarily well this year in view of the amount of rain we have had.
Click to expand...

Hear Hear and one of the main beneficiaries of their hard work is the insurance industry who have not had to pay out.
 
534l4rk said:
Haven't seen an e-petition on this - I would have thought most boaters and riverside riparian owners would support. Surely also in the interests of everyone living within areas subject to possible river flooding ? In my opinion lock keepers have done extraordinarily well this year in view of the amount of rain we have had.
Click to expand...

In your dreams, laddie.
Apart from the few represented by ATYC - and these are individual members of whichever clubs that are members of ATYC,
Plus those who have joined TMBA,
The vast majority of Thames Boaters aren't aware / don't care/ etc.
When all is "lost" there'll be a lot of noise, but it'll all be too late - after the horse has bolted (intended).

It's very, very frustrating.....
 
TrueBlue It's very said:
But I also referred to the people living within areas subject to possible flooding. In a report at Rudi.net they quote the E.A. stating that there are 215,000 propreties in the in the Thames valley flood area. My observation was that this year with a greater amount of rain than I can remember the lock keepers have managed the weirs well. My concern relates to what will happen if we do not have them on site? This was the thinking behind my post.
Click to expand...
 
What I would like to know is how many EA managers that are involved with making these decisions on OUR river Thames, actually use it for boating, OR live by it, I certainly don't know any of them, do any other forumites?
 
Riverleak said:
What I would like to know is how many EA managers that are involved with making these decisions on OUR river Thames, actually use it for boating, OR live by it, I certainly don't know any of them, do any other forumites?
Click to expand...

EA as an organisation are only concerned with the management of the water, NOT the navigation *see note below. To EA again as an organisation boaters and other users are a complete pain in the butt.
It's thanks to a number of enthusiasts and dedicated members of staff than anything happens at all. A disproportionate amount of management time is spent on working wth boating and other interests - and with all the bickering that happens from time to time, I think they'd wish it would go away.

Perhaps secretly some on the front line would be happy to have the navigation dumped on CaRT.

This is my opinion and probably based on hearsay.

It was said a while ago that "upstairs" in EA it was thought that the weirs could be managed by a team in vehicles rushing from lock to lock.

Nowadays tradition and practicality are out of the window. The resident lockies do a fantastic job - not only in foul weather winding some heavy weir gates but keeping the river "moving" and making it a pleasant place to be. However, from the business point of view those latter functions don't have a monetary value, only a COST.

If we, the boaters want to retain the fantastic team of resident lockies a serious campaing HAS to be mounted - similar to the lock houses affair, or all will be lost.

*Note EA have a duty to maintain the navigation as it was a "right" under Magna Carta, but AFAIK there is no definitionas to what state that might be.

I'm sure I'll be attacked and misinterpreted....
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

T
Notices to Mariners - Week 01 of 2026(!)
Replies
9
Views
1K
tillergirl
T
lustyd
Fuel Gauge Calibration
2 3
Replies
45
Views
896
paulbrown22
P
E
Nimbus 305 or Marex 330
Replies
19
Views
802
Time Out
T

Share this page

Top