River Thames Funding

Waterways News Snippits

• £3.1 million makeover for the thames

Huh! Such a lot of money being invested in the Thames, even to the extent of making automated locks out of hours! I remember when we were up on the northern rivers this summer, many tupperware boaters said they would never dream of 'doing' a lock themselves... It's just not £3.1 million either, in May we saw this £1m boost for river thames and in that article "The extra funding, which has come from the Government and the annual increase in boat licences, means the Environment Agency now has a total of £3 million to carry out several major navigation repairs for 2004/2005" So that makes £6.1 million!

But, there is a downside to all this!

23 Nov 2004 until further notice Booking details: West India Lock, London Docklands
Free up to one hour either side of high water during working hours. Thereafter £20 per night. Additional berth charges for boats visiting Poplar Marina are applicable. Lock operation: 7:00 - 19:00 locks for vessel movement. Booking line: 9am-5.30pm in the office for bookings. For security and operational reasons, all bookings need to be made 24 hours in advance. Lock availability subject to tide. (Enquiries: 020 7517 5550)

01 Nov-10 Dec 2004 Stoppage: Goring Lock Concrete repairs to lock chamber. (Enquiries: 0118 988 1188)

01-28 Nov 2004 Stoppage: Whitchurch Lock Repairs to lock horizontal rubbing timbers. (Enquiries: 0845 988 1188)

01 Nov 2004-11 Mar 2005 Stoppage: Sonning Lock Replacement of head and tail lock-gates and repairs to tail bullnoses. (Enquiries: 0845 988 1188)

01 Nov-20 Dec 2004 Stoppage: Temple Lock Construction of new tail breakwater. (Enquiries: 0845 988 1188)

22 Nov-17 Dec 2004 Stoppage: Day's Lock Resheeting of lock gates. (Enquiries: 0845 988 1188)

06-17 Dec 2004 Restriction: Teddington Lock New walkways to barge lock gates. The waterway remains open but inconvenience or delays may be encountered. (Enquiries: 0845 988 1188)

10-18 Jan 2005 Opening Times: Iffley Lock Closed to all vessels overnight, between 16:00 and 09:15 hours inclusive. (Please note revised date.) (Enquiries: 0845 988 1188)

10 Jan-18 Mar 2005 Stoppage: Cookham Lock Tail layby and bank protection. (Enquiries: 0845 988 1188)

10 Jan-18 Mar 2005 Stoppage: Culham Lock Tail layby and bank protection. (Enquiries: 0845 988 1188)

10 Jan-06 Mar 2005 Stoppage: Romney Lock Resheeting of lock gates. (Enquiries: 0845 988 1188)

10 Jan-18 Mar 2005 Stoppage: Shepperton Lock Construction of tail lock cut, bank protection and layby. (Enquiries: 0845 988 1188)

10-21 Jan 2005 Restriction: Sunbury Locks New walkways to launch (electric) lock gates. The waterway remains open but inconvenience or delays may be encountered. (Enquiries: 0845 988 1188)

07 Feb-18 Mar 2005 Stoppage: Bell Weir Lock Stabilisation of bullnoses and repairs to lockside walkways. (Enquiries: 0845 988 1188)

Teehee, well with all that money to HAVE to spend, I wouldn't be surprised if the Thames isn't shut for a couple of years!!