David Cameron fights sale of lock keepers’ houses.

The Environment Agency has announced plans to sell or lease 22 lock keepers' properties along the Thames. These proposals include the sale of Rushey Lock and the leasing out of Shifford Lock, both of which are in David's constituency.

Together with fellow MPs, Theresa May, Philip Hammond, Adam Afriyie, Martin Salter, Ian Taylor, Ed Vaizey, Paul Goodman and Dominic Grieve, whose constituencies are in the Thames Valley, David has written to the Environment Agency expressing concerns for these proposals.

David said, "My concern is that the Environment Agency's plans underestimate the importance of onsite lock keepers and the vital role they play in rural communities, like West Oxfordshire, where there is a higher risk of flooding.

"The real worry is that these plans will undermine the lock keepers' ability to maintain the waterways and mitigate the effects of flooding.

"The lock keepers' houses also form a valuable piece of British heritage, which would be lost if these plans were to go ahead.

"Together with my Parliamentary colleagues, I urge the Environment Agency to reconsider these proposals."

Working for West Oxfordshire

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