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EA threat to Lock Keepers' Houses

Author	Comment
Gillie Bolton	PLEASE HELP STOP THIS LUDICROUS PROPOSAL BY THE EA.......	#41	[-]
Posts: 15 (18-Jun-2008 06:15 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	To Adam Afriyie MP: Dear Adam I know that you are already involved in the sale of lock houses argument but I am writing to personally ask you to apply whatever pressure you can to help ensure that this ludicrous proposal does not go ahead. As a riverside dweller in your constituency I know from bitter personal experience of the ineptitude of the Environment Agency in matters relating to management of the River Thames. Flooding in 2003 caused me to realise that the Environment Agency might be better at running a fish stall than they are at river management. It is patently obvious to all river users and those that live near to the Thames that the lock keepers play a most important role in our safety. The fact that a lock keeper may be called upon to assist at all times is something that we know to be essential and comforting. To do away with any of the lock keepers and their houses is quite ridiculous. No amount of modern technology will be able to substitute for a human being. And a human being in this instance would cost considerably less than what is being suggested as a replacement. Please help us to retain the heritage of our lock keepers houses and to ensure that they are used for the purpose for which they were built - as accomodation for lock keepers - not holidaymakers or those wealthy enough to purchase them as first or second homes. Very Best Regards Peter From Wraysbury
Gillie Bolton	IT IS TIME FOR THE EA TO RECONSIDER...................	#42	[-]
Posts: 16 (19-Jun-2008 09:26 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Eileen McKeever Waterway Manager - Environment Agency Kings Meadow House, Reading RG1 8DQ 4 June 2008 Dear Ms McKeever, Thank you for taking the trouble to write following my letter in the Times on 17 May 2008. In fact, I emailed the Save our Services website and was surprised when an abridged version appeared in the National Press. I am reluctant to respond as I am sure you must be inundated with phone calls and correspondence concerning this matter. The fact that there are so many reasoned objections to the EA's proposals should be enough to make your organisation re-consider the plan - or don't the Public's views matter? I understand the points you made in defence of the plan, but the fact that you end your letter pointing out that 33 of the 45 lock sites will have a lock-keeper in residence says it all. It implies that lock-keeper presence is a good thing and you intend that only twelve locks will be unmanned. I do not accept that the review was to "improve our management of the R.Thames". It was patently a review to cut costs and raise money and the EA you should be honest enough to admit it. It is tax and rate payers' money you intend to save and I would like to see the financial projections behind this ill-thought-through plan. You intend to sell or rent the lock houses in question, but have you thought about the implications should an undesirable tenant (or owner) rent (or buy) a lock house? The harm it could do to the EA's image? Or the potential damage to the tourist industry? Or the effect on the environment? All the covenants in the world will not prevent a bad tenant having a detrimental effect on the Public interest, and the costs involved in stopping it could well negate any financial benefit. The EA's proposals make even less sense than its acceptance of some unaccountable Quango's findings that ceasing dredging the river would not affect water flow or increase flood risk - nothing to do with saving money, of course. I hope the EA will break with tradition and find the humility to listen to the Public for a change. Yours sincerely, Gordon Spice
Gillie Bolton	RT HON PHIL WOOLAS ON VIDEO AT COOKHAM LOCK	#43	[-]
Posts: 17 (23-Jun-2008 12:33 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Please follow this link: http://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/news/article-6927-lock-keepers-homes-under-threat-cabinet-minister-hears-plight/
thamesweb	Success!!! For the time being at least	#44	[-]
Posts: 1244 (24-Jun-2008 07:02 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Lock Keepers Cottages Sale on Hold! Looks like all the campaigning against the EAs unacceptable plans has had some effect. Well done to all for their efforts so far... Watch this space!
vikingnick	EA threat to lock keepers housing	#45	[-]
Posts: 8 (13-Aug-2008 09:20 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I signed the petition calling on the Government to stop the proposal to sell or lease off some lock keepers houses. This email came through to me yesterday from the number10.gov.uk site (which says it is the official site of the Prime Ministers office), which although we already knew the answer to, I thought might be of interest to add to this forum. ( I hope it prints out ok !) Tuesday 12 August 2008 Thames-locks - epetition reply We received a petition asking: "We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to prevent the sale of River Thames lock keepers cottages by the EA." Details of Petition: "The Environment Agency (EA) have announced the proposed sale of many Lock keepers cottages, which will result in the safety of Boats navigating the river being compromised, and the flood management service being adversely affected too. This action is inevitably going to result in a great deal of avoidable damage being caused to property and infrastructure along the Upper Thames being damaged during periods of flood, and increase the risk of human loss with regard to both flooding and boating. The EA have been asked to raise funds for DEFRA to pay an EU fine, but there are alternative ways of doing this without creating risk to life and property, such as mortgaging the properties and using the rental income of said properties to self fund the mortgages, leaving the irreplacable infrastructure intact. We need Lock keepers, and they need to live very close to the River itself. There is no excuse for this action." Read the petition Read the Government's response Following a meeting with the Minister Phil Woolas and MPs Martin Salter and Theresa May and discussions with staff and river user groups, the Environment Agency have agreed to put on hold any changes proposed by the lock house review until they have completed a full review of Waterways staff roles and responsibilities, and terms and conditions. No action will be taken to sell or rent lock houses until these negotiations on the full review are completed. The Environment Agency anticipates that this will take 6 months but this guarantee will continue until all negotiations are completed or January 1, 2009, which ever is latest. The Environment Agency will then review the position on lock houses with lock-keepers and their representatives and with the MPs group.
thamesweb		#46	[-]
Posts: 1362 (13-Aug-2008 05:18 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	...complete a full review... How irresponsible of them to consider disposing of properties before such a review! But we know of course that this is just 'flannel', or 'spin'. They want to sell off capital assets regardless, review or no, but for now they have been caught out and must bide their time before having another go when the heat is off.

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