Meeting at DEFRA with Waterways Minister on 28 February

[boatone]

Michael Shefras of the ATYC was present at the meeting with the Waterways Minister Richard Benyon MP at Defra on 28th February when the announcement was made regarding the National Waterways Charity and the inclusion of the EA Navigations.

His notes of the meeting can be found in the ATYC library HERE

 

[TrueBlue]

Looks like a done deal

Thames users have no single all encompassing voice to cover all points

Looking at the support on this forum, few seem to be bothered.


Depressing

 

[storm-force]

Looks like a done deal

Thames users have no single all encompassing voice to cover all points

Looking at the support on this forum, few seem to be bothered.


Depressing

I agree that their is no single voice, but the ATYC has a large amount of boat clubs affiliated to it, but have they an ability to muster a defence, is there a leading light that can take up the challenge within the association.
As to the comment that few on the forum seem bothered I tend to disagree as the EA registration thread has ten pages of comment, these are varied views held by the people that have posted.
Does any know how may powered craft are moored / using the Thames, there are also fishermen, rowers, commercial craft, canoes, it's an awful lot of river users to get together in one body to defend the waterway.

 

[boatone]

I agree that their is no single voice, but the ATYC has a large amount of boat clubs affiliated to it, but have they an ability to muster a defence, is there a leading light that can take up the challenge within the association.

I think its fair to say that the ATYC and particularly Mike Shefras have actually done some sterling work on this issue. Indeed, it may be substantially due to the efforts of MS and others that the deferral has been achieved which at least offers more time and opportunity to argue the case.

As to the comment that few on the forum seem bothered I tend to disagree as the EA registration thread has ten pages of comment, these are varied views held by the people that have posted.

Before it was hijacked by the 'adjacent waters' issue there was some useful debate. However, it was all about licencing rather than who should run the river. Also, I think if you tot them up there were relatively few active contributors to the discussion and a very large percentage of the views were probably repeat visits

Does any know how may powered craft are moored / using the Thames

About 8,000 I think

There are also fishermen, rowers, commercial craft, canoes, it's an awful lot of river users to get together in one body to defend the waterway.

They are all represented on the various user groups in one way or another.

The real message from last Mondays statement is that the government intend to proceed unless there are compelling arguments not to do so.

Also, don't lose sight of the fact that the existing EA team need to manage the river in the meantime and, from the looks of it, with significantly reduced funding.

 

[apollo]

Also, don't lose sight of the fact that the existing EA team need to manage the river in the meantime and, from the looks of it, with significantly reduced funding.

...and not much of a career incentive to do a good job?

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

The real message from last Mondays statement is that the government intend to proceed unless there are compelling arguments not to do so.

I did get the impression that the advice given to HMG by the relevant body does lead to that position. Even if its somehting that some civil servant has nailed his colours to the mast on.

That being the case, if there are compelling arguments they need to be established and marshalled quite quickly. The "pseudo public consultation when its already decided" mentality of the last regime has not yet leached out of the system.

I think kudos go to those trying to represent river users..

 

[TrueBlue]

THE MOST important point -

is that the Lock Cottages and the Lock Keepers MUST be preserved under all circumstances.

I put the cottages first because once they're gone (sold off, let on long leases, whatever) they can't be got back.
That's not to say that Lockies are not as important.

I'm wondering whether they ALL could be Listed; I suspect some already are.
Sort of rearguard action to spike (who-ever's) guns.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if the issue of attended locks is just seen as a cost issue and that proper consideration is NOT being given to the fact that, in very large measure the River IS the Lockies.

Without them, well, the Thames becomes a rather large broad canal. Still possibly pleasurable for the experienced boater but a nightmare for the beginner and those with less experience.

Put folks off and the traffic disappears and with it the income, and so on until becomes a Remainder Waterway. Now THAT is a DailyWail headline.

Thoughts and PRACTICAL ideas please??

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

I would hope that the lock keepers argument is a battle already won, based on their role as local level control staff and sfaety staff at choke points. Plus, with the new drive on licensing, I guess they may have a more active role in checking and enforcing.

 

[Gumpy]

I would hope that the lock keepers argument is a battle already won, based on their role as local level control staff and sfaety staff at choke points. Plus, with the new drive on licensing, I guess they may have a more active role in checking and enforcing.

Afraid not
Even if the river was to stay within EA the lock keepers would go.
Their role as weir keepers will be phased out as more weirs get automated this will mean that the role as just lock keepers is unsustainable.
When the transfer happens the lock keepers will stay with EA and carry on with their weir/flood control duties gradually reducing in numbers as the weirs are automated and the locks will be user operated.

The whole transfer has been a done deal for many months now

 

[teddington_lock]

Hi Julian

I'm curious as to where this information has come from ?

Obviously i can't join in on this particular discussion because of my job , but i'm curious also as to how many automated weirs we have at the moment ?