21st May 2008

 

Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP

Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Defra

Nobel House

17 Smith Square

LONDON  SW1P 3JR

 

Dear Mr Benn

 

DISPOSAL OF RIVER THAMES LOCK HOUSES - OPEN LETTER

 

I refer to the shock announcement by the Environment Agency of the sale and rental of the River Thames lock houses.  Why are the EA disposing of nearly 50% of the lock houses?  I am writing directly to you because of the untimely resignations of both Baroness Barbara Young (CEO -EA) and Sir John Harman (Chairman - EA).  These resignations come at the same time as the publication of the EFRA Report, which criticised the EA, and whilst still awaiting publication of the Pitt Review, where many people have stated their concerns regarding EA’s policies.  Who, therefore, takes responsibility and accountability for the mistakes made by the EA? 

 

Global warning and climate change has been one of the foremost issues of this Government.  Yet with this course of action the EA are prepared to jeopardise the lives of thousands of people by moving experienced lockkeepers away from where they need to live and work.  Lockkeepers are the mainstay of the River Thames.  Residents and river users rely on their expertise both summer and winter.  How do you expect lockkeepers and their families to move into alternative housing on the salaries that they currently earn?

 

I live by the river and use the river and have done for the past 40 years.  I rely on lockkeepers to run and manage not only the locks but the weirs and many other aspects of the river too.  When I go through the locks I rely on them to get the boats through safely and sometimes that is not an easy task when many river users do not have any experience.

 

At times of flooding I rely on the lockkeepers to manage the river and the weirs in order minimise the risk of flooding.

 

Staff in the EA offices no longer have the particular local knowledge nor  the experience of the workings of the river.  When I was flooded in the devastating floods of 2003 the staff in the EA's offices did not even know where Ham Island was.  What hope is there for us in the future if we lose the experience of the lockkeepers because they can no longer live in the lock houses and certainly cannot hope to find  affordable housing in this area with the salaries that they earn? 

 

By taking this action the EA are putting the lives of river users and riverside residents at risk.  It is essential that wherever possible lockkeepers are on site at all times in order to be able to deal with emergencies.  I have heard recently of two lives that have been lost due in part as a result of the devastating floods of 2003.  How many more lives must be lost before someone sits up and takes notice and says this action is ludicrous and it must be stopped?

   

What do this Government intend to do to ensure that future flooding is kept to a minimum?  The EA policy of flood risk management will not reduce the probability of flooding.  Money must be spent on flood defence now otherwise this country will suffer widespread flooding on a scale never seen before.  River maintenance and dredging must be reinstigated to achieve a reduction in flooding.  The EA are doing little to alleviate flooding.  Their policy appears to be flood risk management dispensed specifically as flood mapping and warnings.  The current flood warning system is totally inadequate and will do nothing to alleviate flooding.

 

I also understand that the EA are shortly to be contracting out their maintenance staff.  Why?  These jobs, along with the lockkeepers are the most important jobs to ensure safety on the river.  The probability of flooding will be exacerbated unless the river is kept clear of debris and dredged continuously.

 

I ask you to review this ludicrous decision before it is too late and many lives are lost as a result of this ill thought out scheme.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Gillie Bolton (Mrs)