EA & lock staff

[Cashbuyer]

Congratulations to the EA & their staffing rosta and for allowing Marlow Lock to be on 'self service' at lunchtime on a very busy sunny August Sunday. Can't blame the volunteer going for a break - he looked pretty stressed.

But to then have a lock keeper and two volunteers on duty at Temple lock on the same day seems madness. Why not shift one down to Marlow?

And EA, please explain to the volunteers that boats move around when the lock is being filled (even tough they will tell you that they don't ) and that getting two boats side by side with gunwhales touching is a recipe for disaster and cramming as many boats into the lock as you can is not a game I like to play with my hard earned cash.

 

[shades]

That would not have been a volunteer running Marlow on his own and going for lunch.
Volunteers are never allowed to be on their own for more than an hour at a time.
It would have been the relief lock keeper who was on his own all day.
This has been quite common this weekend, as volunteers also have holidays or other commitments, making them unavailable to help.

 

[Actionmat]

The clue could be in the word 'lunchtime'. I'd complain if I'd gone through half a dozen unmanned locks in the middle of the day, but just one didn't hurt, surely? And cramming as many boats as possible into a lock is a skill that I would trust to a Lockie, but not a volunteer. On the way up we nearly had a couple of very clumsy le boats join us, but on request(and after watching one of them ram a pontoon), the Lock Kepper kindly held them back.

So locks, no problem, but the lack of dredging, weed clogging my boat filters and tender outboard and tree growth obscuring the 'channel' signs.....I feel justified moaning.

 

[bumperdump]

Had to do cleeve lock today at lunchtime, self service. All went well.:encouragement:

 

[oldgit]

So,how about TMBA suggesting to the EA that a nice little laminated and colourful A4 sheet is produced and send out to all licence holders.This would be similar to the tidal map and details issued by PLA or more aptly the safety card tucked into back of aeroplane seats.
The (very] simple to understand diagrams would give details on how to actually work a lock,perhaps the advantages and dangers of loading a lock correctly and a list of useful phone numbers.Plus a few dos and donts.
Being gentle when shutting gates would be my choice and not shutting the perishing gates prematurely would be another suggestion.
Could also detail most likely pinch points and times that locks are likely to be unmanned.
One might also dare to ask narrowboat owners to moor their craft so that only the weeny bit at the back is alongside any landing stage and to ensure the other 99% of the boat is not taking up scarce access.
Once again this year all the shore access outside and near the Slug and Lettuce was being TinSlugged..
Ho Hum.
The crib card could even be sponsored by a well known and much respected boat magazine.? A few pictures of bikini clad girls could............

 

[boatone]

So,how about TMBA suggesting to the EA that a nice little laminated and colourful A4 sheet is produced and send out to all licence holders​

No point, nobody would read it anyway. Much more fun to have a whinge
Need to get used to not expecting so much, then less likely to be disappointed.​

​

 

[Actionmat]

Need to get used to not expecting so much, then less likely to be disappointed.​

​

Absolutely. I've been married for 15 years

 

[oldgit]

Absolutely. I've been married for 15 years

Huh....a blimming absolute beginner,thats just a running in period,the fun really starts after another few decades !

 

[Mirror Painter]

Need to get used to not expecting so much, then less likely to be disappointed.

I don't keep a boat on the Thames anymore but occasionally visit the river with kayaks and dinghies. When I did have a cabin cruiser it was confusing at locks. Sometimes there would be a bossy man in a uniform giving me orders on how to do things but other times, generally when I was singlehanded, there would be nobody there.

 

[teddington_lock]

Must have been a long time ago if it was someone in a uniform.

You sound like you may have a little chip on your shoulder re lock staff ?

 

[JorgeinLondon]

I started boating recently (June this year!).. I have found all the lock staff to be incredibly friendly, reassuring, and willing to answer silly questions without patronising which isn't an easy thing to do! Mind you I haven't been further than Sunbury lock so maybe there's a different breed up there.....but I doubt it.

 

[bumperdump]

Always found them pretty helpful, They do pretty well to bite there lip with some of the rude stuck up people, that transit through the locks.

 

[Mirror Painter]

Must have been a long time ago if it was someone in a uniform.

You sound like you may have a little chip on your shoulder re lock staff ?

Ha ha ha - no chip on my shoulder. I'm just a bloke who likes boats. You're a lock keeper aren't you?

 

[Cashbuyer]

Look. You can all pontificate. And I wasn't commenting on the ability of any lock staff. As I said originally, I think it was a lousy time to disappear for lunch and leave 20 boats trying to transit on a busy afternoon. Not his fault, but get better organised re staffing.

 

[Cashbuyer]

Look. You can all pontificate. And I wasn't commenting on the ability of any lock staff. As I said originally, I think it was a lousy time to disappear for lunch and leave 20 boats trying to transit on a busy afternoon. Not his fault, but get better organised re staffing.

Actually, I was commenting on the ability of staff at Temple...

 

[oldgit]

Look. You can all pontificate. And I wasn't commenting on the ability of any lock staff. As I said originally, I think it was a lousy time to disappear for lunch and leave 20 boats trying to transit on a busy afternoon. Not his fault, but get better organised re staffing.

At some point this sort of thing is bound to happen,no matter how well organised any outfit is.
We lost a lockie under virtually the same circumstances nr Shepperton,he had to whizz off to do something important to a weir but returned shortly afterwards. The same chap [or his identical twin) then turned up as we arrived at a lock later on in the afternoon as we headed down river.
Have a feeling that some Thames boaters are going to be in for rude awakening when the 21st century finally arrives courtesy of Mr Osbourne.

 

[capnfishy]

If you read the 2015 customer charter you will discover that the EA does not cover lunchtimes any more and the user reps signed up to that. You may have to get off your boat and press the buttons yourself, marginally inconvenient but get used to it, it's the future. Volunteers go where and when they choose so the EA has little control over them. Most of the locks I've been through this summer between Teddington and Abingdon have been staffed except between 1pm and 2pm. Choices are easy, DIY or moor up and enjoy the moment till the lockie gets back from his break.

 

[boatone]

If you read the 2015 customer charter you will discover that the EA does not cover lunchtimes any more and the user reps signed up to that.

Not quite true. You need to read the Customer Charter in conjunction with the Lock Keeping Service Targets - https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/419526/LIT_9912_15-16.pdf - which state that during the peak period volunteers may be able to provide cover during weir work absence or lunch breaks. My experience - quite extensive cruising between Kingston and Abingdon during the peak period - has been that this has almost always been the case.

Also, user reps did not, as you suggest, "sign up to the charter`` but reluctantly had to accept that we were being offered the best that the EA thought they would be able to achieve - and, believe me, we argued our case very strongly, but funding issues cannot be ignored.

Volunteers are not freely assignable between locks. They sign up to work at particular locks and for the days they volunteer to attend. They are trained and signed off for those locks only and can only "stand in" for weir and meal breaks on those locks. Unfortunately many of them do not, understandably, choose to volunteer at weekends which also creates some difficulty.

Frankly, I was quite sceptical about the volunteer programme when it was first proposed, but I have to say that I think it has been remarkably succesful. On my trips up and down the river I have been making a point of thanking volunteers personally and letting them know how much their contribution is appreciated. I also routinely thank ALL lock staff and have always done so. You may all like to consider doing the same.

 

[CX54WEK]

Dearie me!

Some of you are going to be in for a shock when the lockies hours are cut to save money......

Come on pressing a few buttons is hardly rocket science.

 

[boatone]

Come on pressing a few buttons is hardly rocket science.

You are, of course, right, and when traffic is fairly quiet most of us are fairly capable of helping ourselves and even assisting others.
However, during busy periods in the summer months it can be a different scenario.
This was the scene at Temple Lock on Sunday morning - a vibrant waterway with different flavours of river users all enjoying themselves. The lockie was fortunate to have the assistance of two volunteers and the boats kept them all busy. Lots of passers by enjoyed watching the comings and goings. We had to wait for a couple of lock cycles but they kept everything moving nicely and there were no bad tempers. I cannot help wondering what it would have been like if there had not been a lockie on duty....