Tedd Lock - works stopped

[Time Out]

Boat kept below Tedd lock ( Tedd Harbour) just heard the quite considerable lock works have halted due to budget with no indication of restart let alone completion.

The barge lock is not in great shape either which means the possibility of restricted transit yet again.

Makes local boating very difficult given we already experienced long delays as the traffic light system bust this summer !

Anyone know anymore ?

 

[oldgit]

On our last trip up we were guided into the small chamber at far end of main barge lock.
Had no idea there was a second set of gates in there.

 

[Time Out]

On our last trip up we were guided into the small chamber at far end of main barge lock.
Had no idea there was a second set of gates in there.

Yes the second set make it the largest lock on the Thames. The barge lock in general is not very reliable nowadays. The other issue is they can’t see you entering from downstream ( no camera) and the lights don’t work so you end up calling them and then they get the backside !

Given this is the gateway to the tideway any issue with either lock will be an issue.

As for adding extra issues on a simple day out. Not sure I can be bothered with that.

 

[oldgit]

Can remember when RCC could actually persuade club members to untie their boats from the moorings, had a dozen boats arrive in one go at
Teddington, we were ushered into the barge lock and all came through in one go.
One of the boats on arrival ( Sealine F33 ) had electrical gremlins and was unable to turn off both his engines, had to clamber down and discover where the manual stops were.
It of course, refused to start the following morning. .

 

[Time Out]

Well if the main lock is halfway through refurb which has stopped and no sign of restarting and the barge lock continues to break down then it’s not looking great for any sort of transit next year !

 

[Outinthedinghy]

It is interesting. I wonder if the EA were hit in the budget.

 

[Time Out]

It is interesting. I wonder if the EA were hit in the budget.

Rumour has it, costs doubled.

 

[Outinthedinghy]

Rumour has it, costs doubled.

Teddington locks are interesting. I wonder if that little skiff lock is destabilising the area around the head gates on the launch lock.

The barge lock seems to be related to coal barge trains so is no longer technically needed and the skiff lock seems to be defunct.

Does the skiff lock ever get used?

If it doesn't then maybe it needs filling in or something. It does seem possible that it is at least part of the reason for the instability around the top of the launch lock.

 

[Time Out]

Teddington locks are interesting. I wonder if that little skiff lock is destabilising the area around the head gates on the launch lock.

The barge lock seems to be related to coal barge trains so is no longer technically needed and the skiff lock seems to be defunct.

Does the skiff lock ever get used?

If it doesn't then maybe it needs filling in or something. It does seem possible that it is at least part of the reason for the instability around the top of the launch lock.

Not sure the skiff lock has been used for a while. I used to use it as a kid but that was a LONG time ago !!!

It’s been there over 100 years so I have no idea if the wall are stating to fail.

I think there is a real possibility that we are in for a summer of major disruptions and closures impacting both business and pleasure cruisers.

For me, and it is a first world problem, I get my day boating enjoyment from being able to travel up stream from the mooring otherwise it does get a bit boring. More so if I can’t moor anywhere on the tideway.

Let’s see but from what I’ve heard things are not starting anytime soon.

Be good to get some clarification from and official source.

 

[oldgit]

A while ago around a considerable sum was earmarked for remedial work on the lock at East Farleigh, believe it was originally for lock gates etc.
After the work was started it became very apparent that much of the lock chamber did not have much in the way of support.
£3M in the end.
East Farleigh Lock to reopen in June – Maidstone River Park
This was the last lock on the navigation to be sorted, all the rest were completed over the previous decade.

 

[Outinthedinghy]

Not sure the skiff lock has been used for a while. I used to use it as a kid but that was a LONG time ago !!!

It’s been there over 100 years so I have no idea if the wall are stating to fail.

I think there is a real possibility that we are in for a summer of major disruptions and closures impacting both business and pleasure cruisers.

For me, and it is a first world problem, I get my day boating enjoyment from being able to travel up stream from the mooring otherwise it does get a bit boring. More so if I can’t moor anywhere on the tideway.

Let’s see but from what I’ve heard things are not starting anytime soon.

Be good to get some clarification from and official source.

Yes it would be good to know.

As I understand it the top end of the island which forms the offside part of the launch lock was moving slightly when the head gates were operated.

Worth remembering these would have originally been beam operated rather than ram operated when the locks were originally constructed.

The introduction of ram operated gates could potentially cause structural issues and that might be what is happening.

Why else would the lock need to be significantly rebuilt?

I reckon that skiff lock needs filling in.

 

[Time Out]

Whatever the issue is it appears they have run out of cash so the most serviceable lock is out of action for the foreseeable future.

With the barge lock breaking frequently that’s just going to add further pressure. And potentially cause havoc with the Teddington Boat club. Aka Tedd RNLI police, EA and lifeguard all rolled into one and funded by poor old tin shakers on a cold winters day …

 

[oldgit]

In the case of East Farleigh, EA was forced to find the extra money from elsewhere .

 

[Outinthedinghy]

One factor which may not have been considered when employing contractors is motivation.

Their motive is profit so there is no particular reason to do the job properly. Yes they tend to have better equipment and one can offload a certain amount of the insurance but at the end of the day the people doing the job have no interest in the wellbeing of the River. They just do the work then go home. Quality of work is irrelevant.

I know it is too late and using contractors is standard procedure but if one had some equipment and personnel directly employed who actually have a personal interest and care about the River then the job would be done to a higher standard and probably cheaper.

But yes it is too late.

 

[penberth3]

One factor which may not have been considered when employing contractors is motivation.

Their motive is profit so there is no particular reason to do the job properly. Yes they tend to have better equipment and one can offload a certain amount of the insurance but at the end of the day the people doing the job have no interest in the wellbeing of the River. They just do the work then go home. Quality of work is irrelevant.

I know it is too late and using contractors is standard procedure but if one had some equipment and personnel directly employed who actually have a personal interest and care about the River then the job would be done to a higher standard and probably cheaper.

But yes it is too late.

Too late? Yes, if you're suggesting the EA has its own direct works force to do everything and anything. Projects beyond a certain size would be contracted anyway, they always were.

 

[oldgit]

Medway EA, since time immemorial always used to have its own plant ie dredger with crane and lighter and the staff to operate same.
All was flogged off in the price of everything and value of nothing 1980s.
Took a decade or two to realise the mistake.

"The Environment Agency has a statutory duty to ensure the river remains navigable and that the channels are dredged to published depths. The published depths can be found on the Environment Agency's 2014/15 Customer Charter for the River Medway here: River Medway: customer charter The Environment Agency currently outsources its dredging requirements each year. The contractor is mobilised in March and usually finishes work in June. This operation is costly, and leaves the Agency with no options to deal with fallen trees or new shoals outside this period. The decision has therefore been taken to bring dredging back in-house and in doing so procure a new Inland Waterways Dredger Barge and Tug Boat to meet the operational requirements."
River Medway Boaters