River Closures

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thames cruiser

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It didn't effect me, but I was surprised to hear from a fellow boater that a section of River was closed (actually closed, not restricted) for most of he day on Saturday, save for a very brief opening around lunch time. It was notified, but I'm sure will have caught several boaters out, especially the full closure versus width restriction (the latter I guess we are quite used to). http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/static/documents/Leisure/Kingston_HotRR_100312.pdf

I thought full river closures were meant to be only in exceptional cases and not to be used simply to facility rowing regattas. Comments?.....
 
thames cruiser said:
It didn't effect me, but I was surprised to hear from a fellow boater that a section of River was closed (actually closed, not restricted) for most of he day on Saturday, save for a very brief opening around lunch time. It was notified, but I'm sure will have caught several boaters out, especially the full closure versus width restriction (the latter I guess we are quite used to). http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/static/documents/Leisure/Kingston_HotRR_100312.pdf

I thought full river closures were meant to be only in exceptional cases and not to be used simply to facility rowing regattas. Comments?.....
Click to expand...

Two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon - hardly "most of the day" and the "brief" opening at lunchtime was an hour which is plenty of time to transit the stretch in question.

Annoying, I agree, but we are not the only river users and have to recognise the needs of others.

Through the TMBA I have been raising concerns about issues like this and suggesting that there may be a case for a charge to be levied where an event requires a river closure. Unfortunately, whenever I suggest anything that might mean a more substantial financial contribution from the rowing fraternity I am usually shouted down as being anti sport etc.
 
This is normal for Head of the River Events and probably a good idea, there is normaly no marked course as its an endurance event over several miles with crews setting off at intervals. Heads are always held over the winter period when there are normaly no cruisers about so disruption is minimal. Most cruisers don't seem to react very well to rowers at the best of times but a 100 or so bearing down on them in quick succession would not be a good idea.
 
Chris_d said:
This is normal for Head of the River Events and probably a good idea, there is normaly no marked course as its an endurance event over several miles with crews setting off at intervals. Heads are always held over the winter period when there are normaly no cruisers about so disruption is minimal. Most cruisers don't seem to react very well to rowers at the best of times but a 100 or so bearing down on them in quick succession would not be a good idea.
Click to expand...

Quite so, good points.

Guess their annual river licence contribution will more than make up for the (partial) closure and cost of EA launch in attendance for most of the day (not!). :rolleyes:
 
I asked the powers that be for information regarding their approach to river closures and have just received the following reply:
When exercising its power to close the river for an event, the Environment Agency has to strike a careful balance between the rights of ordinary river users to navigate without undue obstruction, restriction, hazard, or delay and the reasonable needs of public event organisers, participants and spectators for the safety and smooth running of the public event.

There is a presumption against closing the river for any event. Partial closures may be permitted where a channel will be kept open, managed by the event, to enable navigation to continue during the event.

The only exceptions to this presumption are where either a navigable channel cannot be maintained through a partial closure or where the health and safety risks associated with such a channel are assessed to be too great.

The greater the number of participants the greater the risk. Hence river closures may be more acceptable where large numbers are competing/involved eg 200 crews competing for a Head race.

River closures are generally only allowed outside the main boating season, ie 1st November – 31st March.

The duration of any potential closure must be minimised and preferably less than 4 hours in a given day.

All river closures are authorised by the Harbourmaster.

All of the above was agreed by customer representatives through Waterway Working Group in 2005, since when we have received very few complaints from river users.
Click to expand...

Looks as if last Saturdays closure was in line with the criteria.
 
boatone said:
I asked the powers that be for information regarding their approach to river closures and have just received the following reply:

Looks as if last Saturday's closure was in line with the criteria.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that - another interesting reply.

Sounds like a challenge ("we have received no complaints"!.

Well, indeed the closure appears to have been (just) within their own self-approved guidelines. So no more closures after 31st March then? Well, apart from the Windsor triathlon, which I really do understand might be a little messy - swimmers and propellers don't mix well! ;)

I'll go back into my box now :cool:
 
thames cruiser said:
Well, indeed the closure appears to have been (just) within their own self-approved guidelines.
Click to expand...

Their statement does say "All of the above was agreed by customer representatives through Waterway Working Group in 2005" so a bit harsh to say they are "self approved" guidelines init ?

The swimming events are a continuing subject of discussion and they seem to be proliferating. Most of them take place in the early morning between 6am and 9am so not too much of a problem, and they are required to provide a navigation channel so river not actually closed.
 
Last edited:
This chap ignored (or never knew about) the closure.

No name (or Thames licence) on the boat. As you can see from the picture he was moving at considerable speed through the rowers.

GJC_5291.jpg


There is movie footage as well !
 
thames cruiser said:
It didn't effect me, but I was surprised to hear from a fellow boater that a section of River was closed (actually closed, not restricted) for most of he day on Saturday, save for a very brief opening around lunch time. It was notified, but I'm sure will have caught several boaters out, especially the full closure versus width restriction (the latter I guess we are quite used to). http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/static/documents/Leisure/Kingston_HotRR_100312.pdf

I thought full river closures were meant to be only in exceptional cases and not to be used simply to facility rowing regattas. Comments?.....
Click to expand...

I take it the fellow boater was this chap :D

JudgeIT.jpg


I am told his helming was impeccable and he set a very good example....:cool:
 
Ramage said:
This chap ignored (or never knew about) the closure.

No name (or Thames licence) on the boat. As you can see from the picture he was moving at considerable speed through the rowers.

GJC_5291.jpg


There is movie footage as well !
Click to expand...

And to compound things further - No Ensign whilst cruising:eek:
 
boatone said:
I asked the powers that be for information regarding their approach to river closures and have just received the following reply:

Quote:
When exercising its power to close the river for an event, the Environment Agency has to strike a careful balance between the rights of ordinary river users to navigate without undue obstruction, restriction, hazard, or delay and the reasonable needs of public event organisers, participants and spectators for the safety and smooth running of the public event.

There is a presumption against closing the river for any event. Partial closures may be permitted where a channel will be kept open, managed by the event, to enable navigation to continue during the event.

The only exceptions to this presumption are where either a navigable channel cannot be maintained through a partial closure or where the health and safety risks associated with such a channel are assessed to be too great.

The greater the number of participants the greater the risk. Hence river closures may be more acceptable where large numbers are competing/involved eg 200 crews competing for a Head race.

River closures are generally only allowed outside the main boating season, ie 1st November – 31st March.

The duration of any potential closure must be minimised and preferably less than 4 hours in a given day.

All river closures are authorised by the Harbourmaster.

All of the above was agreed by customer representatives through Waterway Working Group in 2005, since when we have received very few complaints from river users.

Looks as if last Saturdays closure was in line with the criteria.
.
Click to expand...

What an absolute crock of...!

Not blaming you tone,but the EA really need to make their flippin minds up and grow a pair!

They are quite prepared to see their staff numbers drop by voluntary or even enforced redundancies, rent or sell the lockies houses out whatever they can get away with, put our registration fees up by many times inflation and so on...because there is no cash apparently...

..whilst these events go on with no charge to the organisations running them.

Bunkum!

Any event on the river should have a charge made, the more the inconvenience to other river users ie restrictions from part to full closure should demand the highest charges.

If an event has that many people taking part that it invokes Health and Safety requirements, and all these folks paying the organisers for the privilege, then those organisations can afford to charge a few quid extra to each competitor and put some money into the running of the river.

If they dont like it, dont have the event!

So if you are reading this EA, stop bleeting about how you cant do anything cos its too difficult and start doing the job you are paid to do!
 
Hear hear!

apollo said:
What an absolute crock of...!

Not blaming you tone,but the EA really need to make their flippin minds up and grow a pair!

They are quite prepared to see their staff numbers drop by voluntary or even enforced redundancies, rent or sell the lockies houses out whatever they can get away with, put our registration fees up by many times inflation and so on...because there is no cash apparently...

..whilst these events go on with no charge to the organisations running them.

Bunkum!

Any event on the river should have a charge made, the more the inconvenience to other river users ie restrictions from part to full closure should demand the highest charges.

If an event has that many people taking part that it invokes Health and Safety requirements, and all these folks paying the organisers for the privilege, then those organisations can afford to charge a few quid extra to each competitor and put some money into the running of the river.

If they dont like it, dont have the event!

So if you are reading this EA, stop bleeting about how you cant do anything cos its too difficult and start doing the job you are paid to do!
Click to expand...

Absolutely spot on!

A bit late for the event that has passed, but maybe next and every time in future we should be more alert and (those that share this opinion) all complain to the EA. At least then they won't be able to say "we've had no complaints". Even if they do still continue to (appear to) favour other river communities over Mobos.
If we don't make our voices heard...
 
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