CCU 7th Floor

Eastbury House

30-34 Albert Embankment

London

SE1 7TL

 

Email: ccu.correspondence@defra.gsi.gov.uk

Website: www.defra.gov.uk

 


 

Mr F Pilditch  

CCU Ref: DWOE84361

 

 

 

 

freddie@pilditch.net            

5 June 2008

 

 

 

Dear Mr Pilditch, 

 

Lock-keepers Cottages

  

Thank you for your letter of 5 May about Lock-keepers cottages. I have been asked to reply.

 

The Environment Agency (EA), who are responsible for the management of the Thames, have recently conducted a review of their 57 lock keeper properties, which will result in the sale of  ten of these, and the renting out of another twelve. The review considered the operational need for the lock houses (not all are located lock side), including the impact on boating, water level management and flood risk.  33 of the 45 lock sites will still have a lock keeper in residence.

 

The EA will rent to third parties those houses which are not critical to their operations but where we want to maintain control of property and the access, or they are the second of two houses on one site. Three of these properties have been rented to third parties for several years.

 

The same operational service to boat users will still be provided. Locks will be manned as normal, using relief lock keepers to maintain cover seven days per week. River users say how they value this service. The EA will also still provide the same standard of service in managing weirs and water levels that are an important part of flood risk management on the Thames. This is a 365 days a year service that relies on all lock staff including those (almost a third) who do not live in lock houses.

 

The EA realises that this is a very emotive issue for those lock keepers and their families living in properties that have been identified for sale or rental to third parties. The EA have had one-to-one discussions with all of those affected and are  working out transition plans for the next five years. They have chosen the five year period to help minimise the impact because planned retirements will enable disposals to take place or moves to be made for nearly all of the lock keepers. The EA will not be making people homeless.

 

 

 

 

This is part of a modernisation of the service on the river where the Agency will be changing other ways of working. They will increase the number of seasonal lock staff when they are most needed in the summer and reduce permanent staff numbers while maintaining the levels of service needed in winter. As part of this review the EA will be reviewing the salary arrangements for permanent lock keepers to ensure that we can recruit and retain lock keepers and other waterways staff.

 

The EA have been, and will continue to invest more in navigation. Last year £6.5m was spent on infrastructure improvements. The sale of the lock houses will help the Agency raise income which will be invested in further improvements to their service and the increased income from rental and reduced operating costs will help in their drive for increased efficiency.

 

I hope that this letter addresses your concerns.

 

Yours sincerely, 

 

 

 

 

 

James Sheffield

Defra - Customer Contact Unit