boatone
Well-Known Member
Following received from EA yesterday:
Winter Works Programme Update and Changes
- Thread starter boatone
- Start date
Chris_d
Well-Known Member
Any mention of Whitchurch? for the first time in over a decade I can now escape my reach and do an Xmas cruise
Hoping to get to Henley but if Whitchurch has been delayed I'm scuppered again
Hoping to get to Henley but if Whitchurch has been delayed I'm scuppered again
boatone
Well-Known Member
Any mention of Whitchurch? for the first time in over a decade I can now escape my reach and do an Xmas cruise
Not aware of any other changes. Watch this space !
TrueBlue
Well-Known Member
Any mention of Whitchurch? for the first time in over a decade I can now escape my reach and do an Xmas cruise
P-P-pick up a telephone...
I just (14:05) rang the lock - surprised to ge an answer - aof found the work hasn't started yet ('cos of the flow; can't get barges up etc), so it's currently operational.
No idea whether work will start before the Christmas break - what's your guess - and PP is keeping quiet, poor bloke is trying to manage whatever options he has!
Chris_d
Well-Known Member
Grrr... thats annoying was going to ring closer to the intended date of the 24th December but if they haven't even started yet
Website has been updated every Friday and said work would take place November to 19th December, itsnot changed at all, why leave that on there if work hasn't even commenced.
TrueBlue
Well-Known Member
Grrr... thats annoying was going to ring closer to the intended date of the 24th December but if they haven't even started yet
not changed at all, why leave that on there if work hasn't even commenced.
It is irritating - EA have never (hardly ever) updated the web page - unless there was some other major slippage to report. This year the info: was released as part of a report. As B1 stated V4 will be updated "shortly" - my guess when they know how to proceed, which as the River is on reds again, could be some way away!
Years ago it was the practice to leave the system open for the Christmas / New Year period, but as more serious works started to be done the engineering side said it was v.expensive to open the river up (removing plant and so on) and it wasn't justified for the very small number of boats that actually moved.
I think they do an excellent job - working down a damp and wet hole in sub-zero conditions is B.awful. I went to Benson last year and it brought that issue into perspective.
Every year we say we'll do some winter cruising and most years we don't either because we've been lock in by the works or it's B.cold. SWMBO is NOT HAPPY person-handling lines that are frozen rock hard....
I'd ring the lockie a bit nearer the time - don't leave it too late 'cos he may have gorn orf.
Chris_d
Well-Known Member
I can understand all the difficulties with schedling work and the weather, river level etc... the irritating thing is the Website says the lock is closed but it is actually open, the info is updated every Friday with changes or so I thought! I've been watching it and the "last updated" date changes every week.
What would be brilliant is on the stream conditions webpage that shows the stream condition at each lock, to add another column indicating if the lock is open or closed.
What would be brilliant is on the stream conditions webpage that shows the stream condition at each lock, to add another column indicating if the lock is open or closed.
boatone
Well-Known Member
I agree and have on several occasions asked that they keep us better updated but for some reason it doesn't happen.
I doubt you will get the modification to the web page you suggest - all web development work is done by others on their behalf and appears to carry both cost and logistical problems.
We are still discussing Customer Charter for next year so I will raise this again.
TrueBlue
Well-Known Member
I agree - but not wishing to rubbish youe suggestions - much of EA's communication is "via a man with a cleft stick".
The stream information is collated by Young Howard and the page is updated manually as needs dictate. (Perhaps an over simplification).
I hardly ever look at the closures page - and you're right - the information doesn't get updated - I suspect it needs a "trigger".
Reptile Smile
Well-Known Member
*pinches bridge of nose*
Am still stuck behind Shepperton lock trying to get back to Bristol. Plan A had been to wait on the Old Windsor mooring the Sunday before the 25th Jan, and get all the way through.
That's now out the window given I can't get through Penton Hook til the 31st. Anyone heard anything about Old Windsor?
Am still stuck behind Shepperton lock trying to get back to Bristol. Plan A had been to wait on the Old Windsor mooring the Sunday before the 25th Jan, and get all the way through.
That's now out the window given I can't get through Penton Hook til the 31st. Anyone heard anything about Old Windsor?
Chris_d
Well-Known Member
I presume you are going to Bristol via the K&A then? I would try to find out about the flow on the K&A as well, locks open as nobody will close them but very hazdardous to navigate. Saw the first lock in the centre of Reading after Blakes this weekend and it didn't look navigable, water pouring over the weir and top gates and just navigating the bridges through the shopping centre looked a bit challenging to say the least. River Kennet not so well monitored as the Thames.
TrueBlue
Well-Known Member
Subject to confirmation:-
PH will be open over the Christmas period (closed 1-31 January)
No adverse knowledge about the state of Old Windsor
Also finding out why Whitchurch was not notified.
A new version of the works notice is "imminent", but that could be anytime.
I'll update this post / thread when the Very Nice Lady gets back to me....
TrueBlue
Well-Known Member
Breaking news -
Said VNL has just got back to me with this lot:-
Old Windsor is ahead of schedule and may be open before Christmas
Whitchurch is on hold as a result of the water flows and work is unlikely to start before Christmas.
There's a meeting tomorrow that may resolve dates - or at least make them official.
It'll be nice for me 'cost we wanted to cruise downstream soon.
Good news for Chris_d and Reptile?
Said VNL has just got back to me with this lot:-
Old Windsor is ahead of schedule and may be open before Christmas
Whitchurch is on hold as a result of the water flows and work is unlikely to start before Christmas.
There's a meeting tomorrow that may resolve dates - or at least make them official.
It'll be nice for me 'cost we wanted to cruise downstream soon.
Good news for Chris_d and Reptile?
sturmvogel190a
Well-Known Member
We travel the lower kennet regularly to our mooring and she is an angry beast when in flood ,Many boats breathe a sigh of relief when they get off the Thames only to be confronted as mentioned above by the Oracle storm drains and County lock underwater the first bridge on the entrance to the Oracle section and higher up Woolhampton swing bridge and river rejoining just before woolhampton lock to name but a few .
Many narrowboatists just used to the calm of canals and not used to flow are caught out in normal flow conditions let alone when she is a bit higher ,Also when she is pushing many dont have the power to punch the stream upstream through the Oracle meaning if they may well still be struggling upstream when any other boats silly enough to navigate in these conds will be heading down after the traffic lights time out.....dont bear thinking about but nothing stopping anyone try it................
Chris_d
Well-Known Member
Thanks for chasing this through TB, information much appreciated.
Out of interest I rang the EA Information line today to see what that said, all lock closures were the same dates, it said Whitchurch closed information updated on the 14th December. Not a very helpful helpline
TrueBlue
Well-Known Member
Thanks for chasing this through TB, information much appreciated.
Out of interest I rang the EA Information line today to see what that said, all lock closures were the same dates, it said Whitchurch closed information updated on the 14th December. Not a very helpful helpline
Thanks, Chris - nice to know that my posts are being read. I rang Shepperton - after "being filtered for suitability" , so I got somebody a bit nearer the sharp end.
Being of a charitable nature I suspect they are still trying to juggle and hoping for a calm (water) interlude. Most of their materials have to come by river, as does the heavy plant.
I'm a bit confused - the closure list still has a date of 7th. December, so I'm assuming the 14th. is on an internal document?
Chris_d
Well-Known Member
Issue 4 now out today!
http://www.environment-agency.gov.u..._investment_programme_notice_-_Issue_four.pdf
I see Whitchurch has apparently been finished, although Trueblues enquires revealed it wasn't started.
Doesn't look like the river will be navigable anyway over Xmas and I'm loosing faith in the EA's promise to keep us informed.
http://www.environment-agency.gov.u..._investment_programme_notice_-_Issue_four.pdf
I see Whitchurch has apparently been finished, although Trueblues enquires revealed it wasn't started.
Doesn't look like the river will be navigable anyway over Xmas and I'm loosing faith in the EA's promise to keep us informed.
teddington_lock
Well-Known Member
Keep you informed about what ?
The red / yellow boards situation or the winter works stoppages ?
The red / yellow boards situation or the winter works stoppages ?
Chris_d
Well-Known Member
Winter stoppages and lock status, board status info is excellent
Read the above in the thread for the story, still don't know what is happening at Whitchurch despite being to issue 4, seems the only way to find out is to ring the lock direct.
teddington_lock
Well-Known Member
That's what i would have done first off to be honest.
PP is juggling many many balls with the winter works programme , especially since the adverse weather events. He's a good guy , and has the navigations best interests at heart.
PP is juggling many many balls with the winter works programme , especially since the adverse weather events. He's a good guy , and has the navigations best interests at heart.