Four locks closed to navigation on the Great Ouse

[mikemanor]

In what must be a stunning first, the EA has issued 4 emergency closure notices yesterday and today for locks on the River Great Ouse. 3 Locks are closed until further notice, and one is operating 10.0am to 4pm - but will be closed completely on Tue/Wed next week. All due to guillotine gate failures. Lots of boats, including hire boats, trapped until further notice.

If this was The Thames there would be questions in The House by now. As it is, the poor River Inspector has been left to take the flack. It's the wrong sort of sun apparently.

 

[CX54WEK]

Guess where we are going on holiday for the next two weeks........

Yep, the Great Ouse

 

[mikemanor]

Locks currently closed as of now are:

Bottisham - start of River Cam from Ely Ouse, closed as of this morning.
Brownshill - tidal 100ft/earith towards St Ives, closed TFN,
St Ives - operating 10.00am to 4pm (when manned by EA) but closed all day next tue/wed
St Neots (papermill) - closed TFN

 

[CX54WEK]

We can still work around that. We are entering via the 100ft for a week so can explore the other way first.

Could do without any of the others breaking though!

 

[Alpha22]

To be a little bit fair to the EA (Anglian) Out of the 4 locks that are closed, 3 are being manned by EA staff and are open 10am - 4pm.
St Neots (Papermill) is the only one that is totally shut and this is due to the guillotine gate sliding shut when lifting power is removed.... even on manual.

It's still a bit crazy!!!

 

[mikemanor]

No, ea went to bottisham this pm to lock through stranded boats. It is now closed TFN. Notice issued and signs put up. St Neots will definately not be open tomorrow but they should know what is wrong by tomorrow pm. The contractors had to leave just after lunch to go to Bottisham as they thought that might be a quick fix. Matt was having a bad day taking the flack when we know it is not his fault. The fault lies much higher - lack of maintenance policy, lack of resources, failure to carry out statuatory duties.

 

[mikemanor]

Of course i meant Brownshill not Bottisham.

 

[oldgit]

Is it temperature related.?
The Isle of Sheppey Bridge was notorious for jamming shut in hot weather.The solution proved to be a little salvage pump taking water out of the Swale and flooding the deck of the bridge during the heat of the day.

 

[Alpha22]

Possibly temp related..... There is all sorts of miss information floating about... overheated electrics, overheated motors, melted grease..... wrong type of sun!!!

It appears the EA are issuing closure notices then manually operating the locks.
What is the point of manually operating St Ives if the next lock is closed... Is Brownshill open 10-4 or not.....????

It's a good job its not the Thames... Imagine 4 locks closed to navigation in the summer!!!!

 

[john-m]

What a joke. I know stuff breaks but this is taking it to a new level. Glad i moved off the ouse.

 

[Alpha22]

Brownshill is now back on line and fully functional.
St Neots hopeful for Friday PM???
St Ives 10am-4pm for now, closed totally on 7th and maybe 8th. Should be open 9th.
Bottisham???? anyones guess.