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Save the Lockhouses

Ian Taylor, MP for Esher and Walton has the support of Party Leader, David Cameron, in his bid to get the Environment Agency to look again at its proposal to sell or lease off 22 Lock-Keepers’ properties along The Thames

Mr. Taylor tabled an Early Day Motion in the Commons earlier this month to draw the Government’s attention to the impact of such a disposal. He commented:

“There are several serious concerns which in my view the Environment Agency has failed yet to answer satisfactorily. They have more or less asserted that the asset-sale will take place ‘without impacting on flood risk or our service’. I get the impression that they hoped for a quick fund-raising exercise without too much controversy. They were wrong!”

The concerns include the welfare of the lock-keepers and their families some of whom face not only the loss of their jobs but their homes; continuing safety for those using the river and the impact of loss of staff for vital flood monitoring and emergency weir operations. Mr. Taylor has been joined by a number of his colleagues, including David Cameron and Theresa May, in applying pressure on the EA by pressing the concerns of many lock-keepers and river users. They are sending a detailed letter challenging the press releases by the Environment Agency before a meeting with its Chief Executive on 2nd June.

Mr. Taylor added:

“I welcome the collective support of colleagues whose constituencies border The Thames and where lock-keepers face similar problems to those highlighted to me by Mrs. Drewett of the Sunbury Lock. Organisations such as Inland Waterways and Thamesawash have expressed serious reservations about the proposals. For the river as a whole, there are vitally important issues here including maintaining the tradition of lock-keepers’ properties along the banks of The Thames – they are part of our heritage and should remain so.”

Ends