CRT & Lockeepers

Magnette said:
NBW have never let the truth get in the way of a good story
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That's journalism for you...

A quote from that article on a related issue:-

A Freedom of Information request asked how many bank-side staff were trained in lock operation with British Waterways first claiming it did not know because a single training course did not exist due to differences in locks across the system. It added that staff learnt by a shadowing process and later confirmed that no formal training existed.

Contrast the above with the lengths that EA have gone into training all part season and volunteer staff (not to mention the full time staff). Basic principles and procedures are hammered home and only finer details of specifics at a particular site are left to be trained on site.

I for one would not want to see that care and attention disappear if and when there is a changeover.

FWIW it should be noted that CART have very few specific lock keepers, the resty - I think - are "lengthsmen" who monitor the usage of the major flights of locks. Canal locks have always been (well since BW) operated on a DIY basis.
 
The volunteer lockies and the Trent have to undergo training and have an assessment at the end of the training. I know this as we have a friend who has volunteered to work on several of the Trent locks.

Dont believe a word of what NBW publish :(
 
One of our pontoon neigbours did voluntary work last year. He has been employed full time as a lock keeper on the non tidal Trent this year.
It is seasonal work though.
Volunteers have been used on his days off.
 
This is just not about lock keepers, there are more staff involved in looking after any navigation. There are veg clearance gangs, mowing gangs, electrical and mechanical support, patrol men, general maintenence and dredging operatives and tree clearance operatives. C&rt have about 360 men for 2000 miles of canal and rivers which isn't alot and we have all seen the state of disrepair to places around the network.
On the Ea navigations most of the work listed above is done by other functions within the Ea. All this support will be gone if they go to C&rt. So as I said it isn't just about Lock keepers.
 
Celica said:
This is just not about lock keepers, there are more staff involved in looking after any navigation. There are veg clearance gangs, mowing gangs, electrical and mechanical support, patrol men, general maintenence and dredging operatives and tree clearance operatives. C&rt have about 360 men for 2000 miles of canal and rivers which isn't alot and we have all seen the state of disrepair to places around the network.
On the Ea navigations most of the work listed above is done by other functions within the Ea. All this support will be gone if they go to C&rt. So as I said it isn't just about Lock keepers.
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Most of the staff went years ago its all been done by contract labour.......
As I said don't ever belive the cr.p that is spouted by NBW
 
Hate to bring this up The EA having to waste time and money countering people trying to find ways of avoiding paying into the pot is not going to help much either !
 
Riverleak said:
You are very wrong, the EA still does most of this work on the Thames.
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Unfortunately its not the same across other EA managed waterways.

On the Gt Ouse, which stretches from Bedford to the sea at Kings Lynn, there are only 2 manned locks, but don't expect them to take your ropes. The keepers at the other locks went many years ago. There is little or no dredging taking place, virtually all maintenance work is sub contracted.

EA, CART, BW - Standards are far from universal....
 
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