Things are happening... Progress !!!

boatone

boatone

Well-Known Member
Joined
29 Jul 2001
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Location
Just a few cables from Boulters Lock
www.tmba.org.uk
There has been rapid progress yesterday - The lock problems at Abingdon, Sandford and Osney have all been resolved and they are back in service - albeit in hand wind only as the rest of the system. I have unconfirmed reports that action is in hand to deal with the major tree obstructions and also the wreck at Sunbury.

I'm sure you will all be aware of yesterdays further communications from the EA which I would summarise as follows:

The EA are now moving positively towards lifting restrictions to powered craft boating, possibly by the end of this week in some reaches but riverwide by 1st June. There is a proviso that specific issues may remain but there appears to be recognition that local problems should not prevent the rest of the network being available to navigate.

At the moment we do not know if it is intended to restore public power but we, and others, have emphasised that we see no reason why they should not do so.

The matter of staying overnight on boats is still a subject of complaint and confusion. However, this is emanating from government guidelines rather than being a matter for the EA and other navigation authorities to decide locally. Boating organisations (see below) have specifically asked that this be reviewed.

There is no doubt that the angry response from boaters to earlier EA announcements has taken the EA by surprise and was probably the most significant factor driving their more urgent approach.

The decision by 5 key boating organisations to take a joint approach in dealings with the EA has been broadly welcomed with considerable positive reaction on social media. Expect to see some coverage in waterways publications. The group have been active in responding to the EAs handling of the coronavirus and its impact on navigation. Those of you that belong to ATYC clubs, TMBA, NABO, RBOA and DBA should be receiving regular updates from those organisations.
 
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And another (never begin a sentence with a preposition) - I don't think folks on here appreciate the hard work that B1 does with chuntering away a EA who would really prefer if all boats went away (after paying their registrsation fees - of course).

However there is a danger - real or imaginary - that if everyone one (not just boaters) start rushing around until it's reasonably safe so to do - the tere will be repercussions.

Softly, sofly catchee boating not the pox, methinks.

The thought of fiddling about with gloves, disinfectants / w.h.y at each lock ' specially when theyre only a few yards apart is not hugeley attractive.

I was at skool in Wimblebum and IIRC it always rained in the first week of Tennis (perhaps the Papal Representative got his prayer mat out to stop traffic (and me) passing by. This year the main may flus the virus down the drain and normal life resume....
 
boatone said:
There is no doubt that the angry response from boaters to earlier EA announcements has taken the EA by surprise and was probably the most significant factor driving their more urgent approach.
Click to expand...

Amazing isn’t it, glorious weather, the rivers a running clear (as they can be) many are sat at home with little to do, but the EA are surprised that there is uproar at the news that the powered craft still can’t be used.

They clearly haven’t been listening
 
If chinesvirus is the issue and not some other motive from the EA, how can it be okay to touch a handle and wind it hundreds of times, each boater a different set of potentially contaminated hands, rather than 1 Lockie with his gloves on, pushing a button or two and waving through the licence payers from a safe distance?
Someone at EA towers is full of something that doesn't smell of roses.
 
There won’t be a lockie (no I don’t get it either) so it’s down to wind the handles or press the buttons.
Winding the handles is clearly less sanitary, so we clearly can’t be trusted to push the buttons ??‍♂️

Hopefully, someone can convince them otherwise
 
boatone said:
There has been rapid progress yesterday - The lock problems at Abingdon, Sandford and Osney have all been resolved and they are back in service - albeit in hand-wind only as the rest of the system. I have unconfirmed reports that action is in hand to deal with the major tree obstructions and also the wreck at Sunbury.
Click to expand...
Thanks for your hard work in the last week tone, I don't know how you can stay so patient dealing with these incompetent morons.
When this is over, serious questions need to be answered about the whole setup on the Thames, their lack of common sense and application to the job has been staggering.
We now have the majority of boaters in the busiest region between Windsor and Henley not able to go out on the Bank Holiday in gorgeous weather whilst other areas with virtually no boats are open. This really isn't complicated, but the river is run by idiots. So depressing that there is so little we can do about this other than vote with our feet.
 
Echo that. There's no reason why the lockies can't operate the pedestals safely, socially isolated (which many of them enjoy even in normal times), and let boaters do their mooring lines themselves but this means some will have to get off their boat or improve their line throwing.

I'd like to see a root & branch review of Waterways, clear out the known blockages, apply a bit of simple thinking and improve the operation. The G6 managers are the brakes on change.
 
Old Crusty said:
Echo that. There's no reason why the lockies can't operate the pedestals safely, socially isolated (which many of them enjoy even in normal times), and let boaters do their mooring lines themselves but this means some will have to get off their boat or improve their line throwing.
I'd like to see a root & branch review of Waterways, clear out the known blockages, apply a bit of simple thinking and improve the operation. The G6 managers are the brakes on change.
Click to expand...

if I agree with you Im attacking the EA management. If I disagree with you I'm denying the reality.

I'm absolutely for recognising the reality and pushing for change at every opportunity. However, the pragmatist in me realises that I need to behave impeccably in the process and I refuse to let others persuade me to lower my standards.

Perhaps you and I could form a "Dream Team" ?
 
boatone said:
if I agree with you Im attacking the EA management. If I disagree with you I'm denying the reality.

I'm absolutely for recognising the reality and pushing for change at every opportunity. However, the pragmatist in me realises that I need to behave impeccably in the process and I refuse to let others persuade me to lower my standards.

Perhaps you and I could form a "Dream Team" ?
Click to expand...

If only! It's too late, I had the chance and blew it in the interview, probably too honest, wrong gender, can think for myself, not an EA apparatchik, with modern management ideas and experience. Oh well!
 
Old Crusty said:
If only! It's too late, I had the chance and blew it in the interview, probably too honest, wrong gender, can think for myself, not an EA apparatchik, with modern management ideas and experience. Oh well!
Click to expand...
Amen to that - Can you make a decent hamburger though?
 
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