EA Notices - River Closures and Restrictions

[boatone]

River closures:
When: Saturday 27 February 2016 – 10.00 to 12.00 and 14.30 to 16.30
Where: Mapledurham Lock to Caversham Bridge, Reading
What’s happening: Reading University Head of the River Race
Boats cannot navigate anywhere on the River Thames between Mapledurham Lock and Caversham Bridge, Reading.

When: Saturday 12 March 2016 – 10.30 to 12.30 and 13.30 to 15.30
Where: Hampton Court Bridge to a point 250 metres downstream of Steven’s Eyot, Kingston
What’s happening: Kingston Head of the River Race
Boats cannot navigate anywhere on the River Thames downstream of Molesey Lock between Hampton Court Bridge and a point 250 metres downstream of Steven’s Eyot, Kingston. The only exception to this is the relatively short length of the left hand channel alongside Thames Ditton Island. The rest of the reach described above is closed.

River restrictions:
When: Saturday 20 February 2016- 09.00 to 16.00
Where: Chertsey Reach, Laleham area, M3 Motorway Bridge to Penton Hook Lock
What’s happening: Burway Rowing Club Head of the River Event
The Navigation channel shall be established on the right hand side of the river.

When: Good Friday 25 March to Easter Monday 28 March 2016
Where: Devizes to Westminster
What’s happening: Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race
The effect of wash from powered boats can put the canoeists at greater risk of capsize, so please show consideration. When in the vicinity of canoes Think ahead – slow down and check your wash.

When: Sunday 17 July 2015 – 09.30 to 16.30
Where: Kingston Reach, 200 metres downstream of Kingston Railway Bridge to Steven’s Eyot
What’s happening: Kingston Rotary Club Dragon Boat Event
The Navigation channel shall be established on the right hand side of the river.

 

[rosssavage]

Little disappointed that they have elected to close the river on two occasions.

Do I get some registration fee back?

Am I eligible to force a river closure for an event that I may wish to hold (hypothetically)?

 

[apollo]

Agreed especially as these clubs pay bu66er all into the coffers

 

[boatone]

Little disappointed that they have elected to close the river on two occasions.
Do I get some registration fee back?

No - don't be silly !

Am I eligible to force a river closure for an event that I may wish to hold (hypothetically)?

Yes, I think so - if you formally submit details to hold an event and the EA decide that your request is justified.

It is rare that a complete closure is agreed and these are for relatively short periods of time and in widely spaced stretches of the river on different dates.

I will endeavour to find out why it has been approved in these cases.

 

[Ramage]

Heads races involve multiple boats against the clock and are usually run outside the normal boating season. Usually they have a complete closure except during a lunch break.

I am not defending this, just stating how it has been for many years.

 

[Steve Clayton]

Clarification please. What side is "the right hand side of the river"?

 

[boatone]

Clarification please. What side is "the right hand side of the river"?

Well spotted - I have asked.

 

[Chris_d]

I sometimes wonder if telling everybody about these events was such a good idea.
People get upset about river closures and stuff that previously they would never have known about.

 

[Dave_Seager]

The convention is left or right when facing downstream as in the Left Bank (Rive Gauche) in Paris.

 

[Flynnbarr]

No - don't be silly !

Yes, I think so - if you formally submit details to hold an event and the EA decide that your request is justified.

It is rare that a complete closure is agreed and these are for relatively short periods of time and in widely spaced stretches of the river on different dates.

I will endeavour to find out why it has been approved in these cases.

Why can't we be silly,we pay the most
Could gin palace racing be justified?
Fastest over a distance,most people tut tutting,biggest wash produced,most smoke laid down,most expensive oily bit broken as the engines go wtf,think of the fun to be had

 

[Actionmat]

Great idea. I would like to add synchronised cheery waving to the list

 

[rosssavage]

I like the idea of an endurance race - Oxford to Richmond, and back again. No speed limit, river to be closed and all bank side moored boats to be moved for the duration. We could reopen the river for lunch of course....

 

[Flynnbarr]

I like the idea of an endurance race - Oxford to Richmond, and back again. No speed limit, river to be closed and all bank side moored boats to be moved for the duration. We could reopen the river for lunch of course....

Lockeepers or no lockeepers?
Different categories or a free for all?
Pint at every pub?
I wonder if B1 would ask on our behalf....

 

[boatone]

I would be very happy to promote the idea of a river wide relay of boats to draw attention to the need for better management and funding for the river - boats could join or leave the relay at points convenient to them and all boats would be required to carry a rower, swimmer, fisherman and whoever else we decide to demonstrate unity of purpose of course !

Regretfully I would not be able to condone breaches of by laws I'm afraid ........

 

[rosssavage]

Noooo....B1's gone all sensible on us....

That said, that actually sounds like a good idea!!!!!

And back to the race - I think all lock gates should be open and the locks on free flow, to test high speed extremely close quarter manoeuvring abilities.

 

[Pump-Out]

Noooo....B1's gone all sensible on us....

Probably because the top job at the EA has just become available.......

 

[boatone]

Noooo....B1's gone all sensible on us....
That said, that actually sounds like a good idea!!!!!

Not too sensible though .... the more I think on it, the more the idea of a river relay appeals to me. We could time it to have maximum effect - a convoy of powered craft passing through Henley during the regatta should get some mainstream media attention, especially with suitable banners on display. It could be held on different days/weekends on different stretches of the river.

 

[boatone]

Probably because the top job at the EA has just become available.......

You really are 'aving a larf, aren't you? Can't imagine anything worse than being on the other side of the gunwhale trying to deal with a bolshie load of boatowners !

 

[boatone]

Clarification please. What side is "the right hand side of the river"?

EA have now confirmed that the use of left or right in Harbourmasters Notices refers to heading upstream.

 

[blenkinsop]

Thus, at a stroke, overturning at least decades of custom (cf Rive Gauche in Paris)