EA or C&RT - do you care who runs the river?

[boatone]

Opinions already seem to be hardening around this issue, even though we have absolutely no idea, as yet, as to how any transfer of responsibilities might be achieved.

The government seems intent on transferring the management of the EA "navigations" to the C&RT subject to the outcome of the impending spending review and the willingness of the C&RT itself to accept the transfer of responsibility into the trust. However, we have no idea of what exactly is included in "the navigations" and there will undoubtedly need to be some hard bargaining to agree a further funding contribution from government. What guarantees will there be that income from the river will stay on the river?

 

[dash300]

Takeovers in my experience rarely benefit the outfit being taken over. The Thames would clearly be the jewel in the C&RT crown
but at a cost to those using and working the River. I feel the lock keeper numbers would come under threat as appears to have already happened to the maintenance crew numbers.
From what I can see the Sunbury maintenance base is a shadow of its former self and would be ripe for a sell off for a residential riverside development.
There are rich pickings for the takeover of the Thames and the realisation of such assets will be dispersed throughout the C&RT empire.
Those are my initial thoughts for what they're worth.

 

[boatone]

There are rich pickings for the takeover of the Thames and the realisation of such assets will be dispersed throughout the C&RT empire.

Until we know what assets and responsibilities might be transferred its impossible to judge. Unlike BW and the canal system, the EA actually owns very little in the way of tangible assets other than the lock/weir structures and the few maintenance base areas that are left. If the assets are transferred and sold by C&RT at least the income will likely go the C&RT. Locks staff provide two functions - lock keeping services and weir keeping. The cost of weir keeping attracts a significant contribution from the flood control side of the EA as an internal transaction.
Is it likely that lock keepers services will be regarded as "navigation" and weir keeping sub contracted back for a payment or will these people be retained as EA staff weir keepers and the C&RT pay for lock keeping services or might it all change completely?
I have tried to get some clarification as to how the various functions might be split but without success and it seems likely that we will not get any specific information regarding intentions until DEFRA decide to publish their proposals and consult with stakeholders and user groups.

 

[dash300]

The 45 or so lock houses will fetch a pretty penny. The Sunbury maintenance base alone has got to be worth 5+ million at least as a development plot.
Small beer you may say in the scheme of things but certainly assets worth stripping.
My vote goes to the return of the Thames Conservancy.

 

[TrueBlue]

The 45 or so lock houses will fetch a pretty penny. The Sunbury maintenance base alone has got to be worth 5+ million at least as a development plot.
Small beer you may say in the scheme of things but certainly assets worth stripping.
My vote goes to the return of the Thames Conservancy.

A lot / fair number / some of the houses have restricted access which make them unsalable. If they were to be sold I can see a rash of no mooring / no lock working out of hours type notices (regardless of any rights). This is beginning to happen on the canal system where folks have bought properties overlooking the canal - and regardless of the fact that the towpath on the property's side belongs to CRT.

 

[Gumpy]

at least CRT get to keep their funding such as it is, Thames funding can be reduced by this government on a whim.

 

[dash300]

A lot / fair number / some of the houses have restricted access which make them unsalable. If they were to be sold I can see a rash of no mooring / no lock working out of hours type notices (regardless of any rights). This is beginning to happen on the canal system where folks have bought properties overlooking the canal - and regardless of the fact that the towpath on the property's side belongs to CRT.

Every property has its price. I would not dream of living on a boat access only island property but they sell very well.
However the point for me is, I do not want to see a sell off of assets which historically have been put in place for the benefit of
those working and maintaining the river. And as you say once sold the mooring becomes private and therefore restricted.

 

[boatone]

Every property has its price. I would not dream of living on a boat access only island property but they sell very well.
However the point for me is, I do not want to see a sell off of assets which historically have been put in place for the benefit of
those working and maintaining the river. And as you say once sold the mooring becomes private and therefore restricted.

As I understand it, the EA are currently conducting an extensive audit of all assets right down to the last nut and bolt. This is necessary both to establish potential value but will also no doubt be used as a basis for deciding which assets could be transferred. I would expect any property being transferred might also have conditions attached as to what can or can not be done with regard to future disposal.
The following is from a briefing paper I received recently:

We have started work on compiling a comprehensive inventory of the thousands of assets that we use to deliver our navigation responsibilities. Everything has to be identified, its running and replacement costs quantified, and its legal status in terms of ownership, operation, and any access issues, clarified. Where assets have a multi-functional purpose - providing navigation, water resources, flood risk management and biodiversity benefits - the importance of that asset for each function has to be assessed. This is an extremely important piece of work which will help ensure the assets are managed in the most effective way, whether they remain with us or transfer to CRT.

Again, its only when we start to see the details of how the transfer might be formulated that we can identify how river users will be affected.

 

[CJL]

The Sunbury maintenance base alone has got to be worth 5+ million at least as a development plot.

Already sold to Linden Homes, the same outfit that have demo'd the Met Training Centre.

CJL

 

[oldgit]

Already sold to Linden Homes, the same outfit that have demo'd the Met Training Centre.

CJL

Doubt they will allow anything other a very high quality development on that site,simply because of the location.

 

[dash300]

Already sold to Linden Homes, the same outfit that have demo'd the Met Training Centre.

CJL

Sad news indeed. I was once the Training Manager as my last posting in the Met. Happy days.

 

[CJL]

It was a good laugh being asked if you minded if they practised being stopped and search on your lunch break!
Clearly I must have looked dodgy!!
CJL