Let the rivers silt up and return to nature???

[Alpha22]

I've heard a rumour that one of the political parties ideas is to stop the EA providing good navigation to let the rivers silt up a bit to protect wildlife and to return the countryside to a natural condition rather than for it to be managed for navigation.

Has anyone else picked up on this???

 

[Actionmat]

Which party? Monster raving or Green?

 

[boatone]

The concept of the river being self scouring and allowed to "go its own way" has been in place for some years and anyone who has been on this forum for any length of time will not have missed the many arguments about "to dredge or not to dredge".

Regarding the Thames, as far as navigation itself is concerned there have been historic rights of navigation enshrined in law for centuries and I am absolutely sure that any attempt to defeat those will fail. Even though we are locked in continuous discussion with the EA regarding what level of services we would expect, they have been clear in recognising their duty to maintain "the navigation" and the associated fabric such as locks and weirs.

 

[apollo]

i think it would be great for all MOBOs to move off the river for a year, let the EA open all the weirs and drain it, and then focus the minds of other river users to dip into their pockets and cough up!

......nurse where is my medicine!

 

[oldgit]

......nurse where is my medicine!

....a bottle of Jim Beam ?

 

[Flynnbarr]

i think it would be great for all MOBOs to move off the river for a year, let the EA open all the weirs and drain it, and then focus the minds of other river users to dip into their pockets and cough up!

......nurse where is my medicine!

Why is it in this country the best ideas are never implemented

 

[R1chB1ch]

I think that is Peel Ports picked up on that years ago. This end of the River Medway is so bad you could probably walk across at low tide!!