Extended Overnight Public Power trial
- Thread starter boatone
- Start date
Andrew_Fanner
Well-Known Member
It will, of course, make the discreet night passages of the unlicensed marginally easier
A good experiment, but how will they monitor if it has been a success?
A good experiment, but how will they monitor if it has been a success?
apollo
...
Between Marsh Lock and Hurley I believe.
teddington_lock
Well-Known Member
PH to Mouldy Sock too ...
boatone
Well-Known Member
What we are doing
From 1 June to 31 August 2011, we are testing the implications of extending
the hours of public power at the following lock sites:
Marlow, Temple, Hurley, Hambleden and Marsh
Molesey, Sunbury, Shepperton, Chertsey and Penton Hook
During the trial, public power at these locks will be available from when the
Lockkeeper goes off duty until they start work the next morning.
Public power at other sites will remain unaffected and available as normal
from 0700 until the lockkeeper comes on duty and from when the lockkeeper
goes off duty until 2200.
Why we are doing it
Customer representatives have told us there is demand for overnight public
power. This trial is to gauge the benefit, popularity and any issues arising from this added service.
We welcome your feedback
Please talk to the Lock staff who will record your feedback, or email us at
waterwaysse@environment-agency.gov.uk.
From 1 June to 31 August 2011, we are testing the implications of extending
the hours of public power at the following lock sites:
Marlow, Temple, Hurley, Hambleden and Marsh
Molesey, Sunbury, Shepperton, Chertsey and Penton Hook
During the trial, public power at these locks will be available from when the
Lockkeeper goes off duty until they start work the next morning.
Public power at other sites will remain unaffected and available as normal
from 0700 until the lockkeeper comes on duty and from when the lockkeeper
goes off duty until 2200.
Why we are doing it
Customer representatives have told us there is demand for overnight public
power. This trial is to gauge the benefit, popularity and any issues arising from this added service.
We welcome your feedback
Please talk to the Lock staff who will record your feedback, or email us at
waterwaysse@environment-agency.gov.uk.
boatone
Well-Known Member
I suspect/assume that evidence of problems and/or complaints will play a pretty significant part in any analysis. Given that, by definition, any problems experienced will be 'out of hours' with no EA staff present there will be a real need for users to try and give detailed and reliable feedback.It will, of course, make the discreet night passages of the unlicensed marginally easier
A good experiment, but how will they monitor if it has been a success?
My personal concern is whether or not the basic reliability of the equipment will allow for a successful outcome. We see quite a few instances of 'confused' sensors and hydraulics failures as it is.
Out of hours support availability could well be critical as well as the exercise of common sense by the punters.
I haven't seen it mentioned anywhere, but I suggest a good torch needs to be an essential piece of kit if working self-service during hours of darkness.
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teddington_lock
Well-Known Member
Everyone rings us if they can't work the controls !!
The amount of calls we get on the night shift saying ' I'm stuck in XYZ lock , can you help me please ? ' is unreal ! because they know that Tedders is 24 hours and we are likely to know the systems , they call us first !
Usually we can talk them through it. Although it does take some thinking about sometimes ( trying to picture it in your head , and the possible problems ) .
The amount of calls we get on the night shift saying ' I'm stuck in XYZ lock , can you help me please ? ' is unreal ! because they know that Tedders is 24 hours and we are likely to know the systems , they call us first !
Usually we can talk them through it. Although it does take some thinking about sometimes ( trying to picture it in your head , and the possible problems ) .
boatone
Well-Known Member
Hadn't considered that might be a last resort option - or maybe even first resort for the canny ones!
Makes me wonder how many other 'unofficial' get out of jail cards people use when they have a problem ?
And, more importantly, do 'those that manage' even realise that these 'locally resolved' solutions are hiding the reality - or do you log and report every incident or request for assistance?
Andrew_Fanner
Well-Known Member
>>>
Hadn't considered that might be a last resort option - or maybe even first resort for the canny ones!
>>>
I've used it and had it used in advice sessions, so apols to TL if he got caught by a call
Last time I did it would be quite a few years ago when Molesey's upstream sluices jammed up. Left the boat at TMYC as a diver had to go down the following morning.
Hadn't considered that might be a last resort option - or maybe even first resort for the canny ones!
>>>
I've used it and had it used in advice sessions, so apols to TL if he got caught by a call
Last time I did it would be quite a few years ago when Molesey's upstream sluices jammed up. Left the boat at TMYC as a diver had to go down the following morning.
teddington_lock
Well-Known Member
TrueBlue
Well-Known Member
The "Big Box" pedestals are (to my mind) customer friendly and easy to operate - even if the instructions are difficult to read in the dark.
Easy to recover from a user mistake as ther is a fair amount of customer control. However, the round top boxes being more idiot proof are difficult for a novice to use and easy to jam up....
Easy to recover from a user mistake as ther is a fair amount of customer control. However, the round top boxes being more idiot proof are difficult for a novice to use and easy to jam up....
boatone
Well-Known Member
TrueBlue
Well-Known Member
Surely, "more idiot proof" should mean EASIER for a novice to use.....?
Precisely my point.
Protection added to these units (exactly why that was necessary defeats me - as the big boxes appear safe enough to me), result in them being easier to lock the user out (not a pun) / more tedious to operate if the previous user has not done what he ought to.
Chris_d
Well-Known Member
Surely, "more idiot proof" should mean EASIER for a novice to use.....?
Never underestimate the ingenuity of an idiot, i've been caught out at Culham before now with its ridiculous 20 minute fill time
boatone
Well-Known Member
OK - so here's a scenario.
Boater transiting a lock at past midnight. Something gets screwed - maybe his fault, maybe not - and result is his boat is in the lock and he can't sort the problem and get out.
Whats he likely to do? Please note I did not ask what he SHOULD do.
Boater transiting a lock at past midnight. Something gets screwed - maybe his fault, maybe not - and result is his boat is in the lock and he can't sort the problem and get out.
Whats he likely to do? Please note I did not ask what he SHOULD do.
Chris_d
Well-Known Member
Richard Shead
Slipped Anchor
Ermmm its obvious? get the Gin out?
teddington_lock
Well-Known Member
In order of likelihood ....
1. Knock on the residents door.
2. Ring us at Teddington .
3. Ring NCC , who will contact duty officer.
1. Knock on the residents door.
2. Ring us at Teddington .
3. Ring NCC , who will contact duty officer.
boatone
Well-Known Member
1. Knock on the residents door.
Oh dear - nobody in .......
2. Ring us at Teddington .
Be careful what you wish for .....
3. Ring NCC , who will contact duty officer.
Yeah - like they will have the number to hand ......
Lets be honest, the river should all hinge around the resident lock keepers - take them away and it will be like the Tower of London without the Beefeaters.
Yeah, I know, dream on ....... and yet it could be so different.
Oh dear - nobody in .......
2. Ring us at Teddington .
Be careful what you wish for .....
3. Ring NCC , who will contact duty officer.
Yeah - like they will have the number to hand ......
Lets be honest, the river should all hinge around the resident lock keepers - take them away and it will be like the Tower of London without the Beefeaters.
Yeah, I know, dream on ....... and yet it could be so different.
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teddington_lock
Well-Known Member
I'm not wishing for people to call us ....
They call us already , we don't mind
They call us already , we don't mind