Layperson’s view.

[miket]

Chatting to a non boating pal the other day who decided to make one of his daily excercise journeys to Mapledurham Lock.
His only experience of the river is hiring a cruiser from Reading for the day, for a family day on the river.
He and his wife walked along the towpath from Purley towards Pangborne. He was amazed by the state of Mapledurham Lock. He said there was fencing all along one side and the planting was all overgrown and it looked a mess.he was even more disappointed to see so many wrecks moored upstream with debris of varying amounts strewn all over the bank, including obstructing the towpath.
For those who have enjoyed our wonderful treasure for many years this sort of observation is heart breaking. I do not profess to know the answer but I do not get paid vast sums of money to manage the river. I hope and pray that current management, assisted by Boat1 and his colleagues, can persuade them that the river is dying for the boater.
Perhaps EA should charge Riperian owners for all boats moored on their land? This might encourage them to get shot of the squatters whilst providing a useful additional source of income for EA? An interesting alternative?

 

[Parabordi]

I must admit the photos on Facebook and Twitter of all the fences being erected at the locks has me in stitches.
For the last ten weeks, all the supermarkets have welcomed in customers with no need for such fuss indoors where they are at more risk.
And here the EA are thanks to the Navigation Management (NOT Operations who seem excellent) in the outdoors erecting fences which would be overkill at Wembley Stadium.
They always get it so wrong and really have no idea of the real world we live in.
Cant we just have the OPS team and be done with it.

 

[Portland Billy]

It has always amazed and puzzled me as to how the 'Tesco' moorings could be so packed with junk and unlicensed liveaboards with the EA offices only five minutes walk away.

 

[Time Out]

Perhaps it's not the EA but the lock staff demanding safety? They do like a union....

 

[boatone]

.....He and his wife walked along the towpath from Purley towards Pangborne. He was amazed by the state of Mapledurham Lock. He said there was fencing all along one side and the planting was all overgrown and it looked a mess.he was even more disappointed to see so many wrecks moored upstream with debris of varying amounts strewn all over the bank, including obstructing the towpath.
The fencing has been installed recently as part of the safety measures being put in place to facilitate a return to assisted passage. Can't comment on the "wrecks" but would bet a punt to a penny that many are not wrecks but somebodies neglected pride and joy and probably registered - no by-law to say your boat must look pretty !

For those who have enjoyed our wonderful treasure for many years this sort of observation is heart breaking. I do not profess to know the answer but I do not get paid vast sums of money to manage the river.
Nor do the EA get paid vast sums of money to manage the river. The budget has been drastically cut in recent years due to the austerity programme and there are certainly no fat cat suits lurking in the waterways team.

Perhaps EA should charge Riperian owners for all boats moored on their land? This might encourage them to get shot of the squatters whilst providing a useful additional source of income for EA? An interesting alternative?

The EA can only make charge for specific purposes as defined in the Thames Conservancy Act 1932 and I, and others, have long maintained that revised legislation is essential if river funding is to be addressed. Government seem to be rather pre-occupied with other things .....

Nothing flippant or provocative above - just saying it like it is ......

 

[Parabordi]

Perhaps it's not the EA but the lock staff demanding safety? They do like a union....

Good job they don't work in a Supermarket, pitiful.