So.......

[oldgit]

Arrgh......

Wonder if anyone has suggested to the EA about getting the river floodlit, so we can make better use of it during the evenings

NO NO NO...........
...the night sky has all but disappeared over the last 50 years via light pollution.Virtually nothing but a mere dozen of the brightest stars can now be seen from the urban UK.

Floodlit golf driving ranges and blimming playing fields are slowly destroying any chance of the next generation seeing the wonders of the night sky and those poxy million watt security lights that are hanging off the walls of most houses that come on at 4am when any moggy/hedgehog/fox walks past is a perfect example of the problem.

http://www.britastro.org/dark-skies/

 

[byron]

Wonder if anyone has suggested to the EA about getting the river floodlit, so we can make better use of it during the evenings?

Perish the thought

 

[rr_123]

Aaaghhh!

The floodlighting comment was presumably a wind up or a troll one has to assume, nobody could be that... er... well <insert your own word for it>

R

 

[apollo]

Nah, they would employ consultants, spend loads of money and then come up with the wrong answer. Bitter, moi?

 

[Salty Sealine]

Flood lights

Of course it was a wind up! Made the post after going past Oakley Court, as they have three green flood lights, so at least on that bit of the river one can see clearly.

Incidentially went past a rowing boat the other night and it had a white lights only at the front and rear. Bit confusing without red and green lights on the sides.

 

[TrueBlue]

What a brilliant idea -

NOT, but a great windup.
Perhaps the EA could consider it, after they've:-

• Dredged the channel EDGE to EDGE
• Dredged the non channel bits round the back of islands
• Cut back ALL the overhanging trees
• Maintained their moorings (especially Wargrave)
• and,
• and

A serious point - it would be a major H&S point to have switched flood lights on the locks at night (some do but very few).

Ah well, one can dream....

 

[Hirdsp]

Yes sorry No Regrets, nearly ignored you...only saw you at the last minute! Never mind the small prize, it was a large trophy and gratefully received. It had something to do with the dogs dressed with club regalia and my wife flirting with the Commodore the night before! 24 in the sail past!

 

[boatone]

How about.........

NOT, but a great windup.
Perhaps the EA could consider it, after they've:-

• Dredged the channel EDGE to EDGE
• Dredged the non channel bits round the back of islands
• Cut back ALL the overhanging trees
• Maintained their moorings (especially Wargrave)
• and,
• and

How about we decide that the EA is responsible for absolutely everything to do with river maintenance from bankedge to bankedge - regardless of who owns the riparian rights?

That would be nice and simple, wouldnt it? So where's the problem?

 

[TrueBlue]

"We" can decide -

How about we decide that the EA is responsible for absolutely everything to do with river maintenance from bankedge to bankedge - regardless of who owns the riparian rights?

That would be nice and simple, wouldn't it? So where's the problem?

but getting "the authorities" to do anything about it is quite another matter.
EA is free to make up the rules even if the legislation (whatever that may be and whatever it says) looks clear to us mere mortals.

So the answer is " we are only required"
or if that doesn't work "we don't have the funds"

I believe in some form of (benign) direct action and have armed myself with a lopper and secateurs, good for branches and brambles and very small trees.

To be fair it's not only EA who has this problem; BW who actually own their track (so can't say it's the Riparian owners' problem) are similarly lackadaisical and that's why they are keen to attract volunteers.

EA on the other hand do their best to discourage DIY by pointing out that you might be liable to a court action if you do some tidying up.

Perhaps a protest rally is in order.
Now that's an idea; how's about Beale Park next August Bank holiday...

 

[Salty Sealine]

Protest

How about at Reading outside their offices?

Or maybe a 'sit in' at every lock on one day.

 

[boatone]

but getting "the authorities" to do anything about it is quite another matter.

Don't be daft - the only thing 'we' can decide is whether or not to buy a licence.

And, at the risk of being provocative, who 'owns' the trees/shrubs that you are going to 'prune' with your benign secateurs?

Thames National Park my friend - you know its makes sense but it ain't going to happen in our lifetime.

 

[boatone]

How about at Reading outside their offices?

Or maybe a 'sit in' at every lock on one day.

You are assuming that the EA can resolve these problems ....WRONG.... they are merely an administrating authority.

Oh, and a sit in at every lock would p*ss off a lot of river users, especially if it was a nice day - and if it wasn't a nice day nobody would turn up and.... and ..... and ....

 

[apollo]

How about we decide that the EA is responsible for absolutely everything to do with river maintenance from bankedge to bankedge - regardless of who owns the riparian rights?

They are arent they?

If the river floods Reading/Maidenhead/Windsor etc etc, who gives a toss whose field it flows over?

That would be nice and simple, wouldnt it?

It ought to be