Lock Keepers on Duty

boatone

boatone

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29 Jul 2001
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Just a few cables from Boulters Lock
www.tmba.org.uk
I have passed thru several locks during September where there appeared to be no lock keeper on duty, even during the 'normal' hours.
I was told yesterday that there had been no coverage at Penton Hook during the weekend.

Some time ago when the lcok keepers cottages issue blew up, the EA stated that their intention was to ensure manning during the summer months but with reduced coverage during the winter.

The question is - which months are to be regarded as 'summer' ?
 
Early in the summer I noticed a couple of guys, who had previously been employed as Summer Assistants, wearing uniform whites shirts and dark trousers, they told me they were employed as reliefs up until October, seemed like a good idea to make sure all locks could be manned during the boating season at least.
I don't know how many more were employed nor if they lasted the course, but it appears manning levels are well down.
I wouldn't know because every time I go to the boat the Red boards are out!
 
Some friends of ours went up through there yesterday, said it was an absolute shambles. On a day like yesterday for there to be no coverage is just ridiculous... I have also noted that lock keepers seem to be doing less and less in locks, and seems to be that they are glued to their pedestals hovering over their buttons. On some occasions, you can clearly see that inexperienced boaters are trying to get into and tied up in a lock, with no assistance at all from the lock keeper.
 
I also heard yesterday that two boats were left outside Cookham lock because those at the front only went as far as the middle gate and no one to make them move up. What a shambles if this is going to be the norm.
 
I had same at Boulters at 10:00 yesterday, one 20foot boat in there in front of us, we reached the lower gates and could still see daylight through the crack in the middle, but lockie would not open up again.
Chronic waste of water for the "Environment" Agency.
 
Goring was unmanned all last week.
As for getting assistance from the lock staff I pride myself in my abillity to handle my own boat in a safe and seaman like manner so as to not to require assitance. The best place for most lockies is at the opperating pedestal.
 
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I pride myself in my abillity to handle my own boat in a safe and seaman like manner so as to not to require assitance.

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So do I but there are a lot of river users who need help, particularly holidaymakers with hire boats. I helped a couple of them recently and without my assistance they might well have had problems.

My initial post was really more to do with when we should be able to expect lock keepers to be on duty.
 
Concur with prev statements about Sunbury & Molesey over the weekend.
Slight diversion but I am sick and tired of the yellow (unmanned) disc. It's bad enough that many skippers phaff around so much when the lockie is not there .. but so many people have no idea whatsoever what the yellow disc means ..... ....
 
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The best place for most lockies is at the opperating pedestal.

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Really saddens me to read ignorant comments like this , most of us are trying our best believe it or not. We aren't all idiots.
 
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...but I am sick and tired of the yellow (unmanned) disc. ... but so many people have no idea whatsoever what the yellow disc means ..... ....

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Two other problems associated with the disks are:

1. The lockie not remembering to set them when he arrives/leaves.

2. Many of them are badly sited. I know we are supposed to leave the lock empty with gates closed, but many people dont do that because 'someone else will be a long in a minute'. The result is that Yellow discs mounted on the gates cannot be seen as you approach the lock. Romney is particularly bad for this.

I actually think the discs are a good idea but not enough thought has gone into the implementation.

I'm not, at least initially, worried that some peeps don't know what they mean -those people are likely to be the ones least prepared to work the lock themselves - but I DO want to know I can see the damn things and rely on the displayed status.
 
t
Teddington lock was one of the better manned locks I went though this summer, in spit of all the construction work going on. But after travelling up as far as reading I can say the same does not go for all the locks. this may be a reaction to the EA's actions over this last year.

But I found the service, condition of locks (slim covered walls) unkept 24hr moorings etc sadly lacking. Oh and I did miss those wondefull lock gardens of yester year.

Now I'm proud to be British and maintain my boat as part of her history, the EA and Her employee's must do their part before it all falls in ruin.
 
Found only very helpful and cheerful chaps manning each lock on our entire voyage even during the dreadful day long deluge dampening our return downstream and boy can those locks fill and empty fast when the staff want to get you through a bit sharpish.
As for a weeny bit of algae getting on the the fenders,recommend CILLET BANG,it works wonders . /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Last Thursday I went from Teddington to Staines single handed and I had to opperate all the locks appart fron Teddington (obviously) and Shepperton. Chertsey was manned but the lockie was doing the sluices when I went through.
There was a sign in Mosley lock saying that Sunbury and Penton would be unmanned all day.

I also had a perfect example of how unmanned locks don't work very well. Approaching Sunbury lock and a Broom 42 was going in. As I approach I see him closing the gates. I give a few blasts on the horn, but no joy. Moor up and walk over to remonstrate with the skipper. A narrow boater comes up to me and says that he tried to stop him closing the gates but he wouldn't listen. The skippers excuse was that he hadn't seen me or heard me!
 
My rule personal of thumb on this is that I will reopen the gates if another vessel hoves within sight,but not if I have already opened the sluices.
 
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