Goring Lock .... will or has a new Resident been appointed?

[robinborton]

With Cleeve lock rented out and I doubt Brian will be replced at Whitchurch it would seem important that a Resident is recruited at Goring although I think it's the EA's stated policy not to replace any residents .... can anyone enlighten me?

 

[boatone]

With Cleeve lock rented out and I doubt Brian will be replced at Whitchurch it would seem important that a Resident is recruited at Goring although I think it's the EA's stated policy not to replace any residents .... can anyone enlighten me?

You can read the October 2011 letter from the EA announcing their intentions to let certain lock cottages, including Goring, HERE

So, on Monday, we are instructing letting agents to market our houses at Grafton, Cleeve, Sunbury and Chertsey. When the houses at Goring, Whitchurch and Blakes become vacant later this year, we will also be renting them. We envisage renting all houses that become available over the next few years which is likely to be another two making nine in total by the end of 2013.

We are also freezing the vacant Resident posts associated with these houses for now.

River users are still challenging this decision but it appears to be largely a "fait accomplis"

 

[robinborton]

Thank you Boatone for your comprehensive reply.
It would seem to me that the EA's ability to manage the weirs at three consecutive locks is must already be stretched particulary in winter when the the numbers of experieced staff capable of managing the weirs is limited and it can only get worse.
The river has been very docile this winter so far but this could change and the risk of flooding become a reality caused by the inablity of the EA to move the weir gates fast enough.
There is plenty of Govt. focus and money on flood defences and it would seem reasonable that the EA had access to some of that fund to minimise the risk of the Thames flooding.
Not that I am cynical but it's unlikely that we can do much to change things until there are floods.

 

[boatone]

The river has been very docile this winter so far but this could change and the risk of flooding become a reality caused by the inablity of the EA to move the weir gates fast enough.

The EA claim that there is adequate time for them to respond to flood risk without needing a resident actually living at the lock. Once all the weirs are full drawn there is nothing further that can be done anyway until the levels subside.

There is plenty of Govt. focus and money on flood defences and it would seem reasonable that the EA had access to some of that fund to minimise the risk of the Thames flooding.

The EA does receive substantial grant aid towards flood risk management but I believe those responsible for flood management query the need for lock keeping services (as opposed to weir keeping) as part of flood risk management - hence arguments over who pays for what.

Not that I am cynical but it's unlikely that we can do much to change things until there are floods.

Sadly, you may be right but we will not know until/unless it happens.

 

[sturmvogel190a]

I fail to se how Whitchurch is viable as a rented property as no public access to lock unless they can negotiate some via the mill house ,Doubt they would let the tennants use the walkway above the weir.....there is always boat access i supose but no car parking either?? .
As an asside we trundelled up to Goring last weekend and no lockys on Sonning/Mappledurham/Whitcurch on way up or back now realise its winter an all but hope this isn`t a sign of things to come from the point of order and safety at locks in the busy summer time Steve