River Thames Society's Recent & Current Campaigns
The Society has conducted many campaigns since it came into being in the early 1960s. Our current campaigns are Thames Tunnel Now! (see the press release on the News page), the listing of the paddle and rymer weirs, Tidy up the Thames, MPs' Parliamentary Group, and the Lock Keepers' Houses.
Latest Campaign News:
Lock Keepers' Houses
October 2011: Another Threat to Resident Lock-keepers: In 2008 the Environment Agency announced plans to dispose of a number of lock houses along the Thames, with the consequent disappearance of resident lock and weir keepers.
The Society opposed this decision as being detrimental to the safety of those who travel on and live near the river, and further stated that it would alter the character and traditions of the Thames while dealing a serious blow to a loyal and skilled group of employees.
After a substantial campaign involving a wide range of organisations and with the support of many MPs, the Agency agreed not to proceed with lock house disposal while retaining a lock and weir keeper at each of the 45 lock sites.
However, in October 2011 the Agency reneged on this commitment by stating that currently vacant houses at Grafton, Cleeve, Sunbury and Chertsey, for which resident keepers had not been appointed, would be put on the market for rental. In addition, when houses at Goring, Whitchurch and Blakes become vacant later in the year, they would also be leased , to be joined by another two over the next few years.
The vacant resident posts associated with these houses have been “frozen”, with peripatetic staff to take over.
Although the River Thames Society recognises that the Agency faces serious financial challenges due to a reduction in Government grant-in-aid, it considers that the employment of resident lock-keepers remains of crucial importance to the safety and well-being of the river.
The Society is again demanding that the Agency should shelve the rental proposal and re-examine the placing of staff based on that fundamental principal –a resident lock-keeper at every lock.
Thames Navigations
July 2011: A letter has been sent to all non-tidal riparian MPs, outlining the Society's concerns over the planned transfer of EA navigations. British Waterways has also raised concern about the funding of the proposed new body.
At the Society's AGM in April, the Chairman outlined the current situation, explaining that Waterways Minister, Richard Benyon, had announed that he was still "convinced by the compelling vision of a national trust for the waterways that includes British Waterways and Environment Agency navigations." This would be delivered in two phases and only if sufficient funding can be found in the next Spending Review to enable the new body to take on the liabilities involved. Mr Benyon added that following a review of the new body in 2014, the intention remains to proceed with the transfer in 2015 or 2016 if it is affordable.
The RTS remains unconvinced that a genuine 'national trust for the waterways' can be created only if the navigations aspect is included, leaving all other equally important responsibilities to the EA. We believe the health and viability of the non-tidal Thames has best been achieved through the governance of one body - from the Thames Conservancy through to the Environment Agency.
The Chairman explained that devolution no longer seems to be on the immediate agenda for the Port of London Authority and a closer working relationship with the Mayor and his team is developing on a number of important issues.
October 2010: The Society is very concerned that the imminent government spending review will mean that responsibility for Thames navigations will be moved from the Environment Agency to a new, and as yet unknown, organisation. The following is the recent letter from Peter Finch, RTS Chairman, to Rt Hon Richard Benyon MP, Waterways Minister:
"Dear Mr Benyon,
Since 1962 the River Thames Society has sought to protect and promote the Thames. We are unique in that our members are active in virtually every activity that takes place along the river.
We noted with interest your statement in June on inland waterways, which mentioned the possible inclusion of the Environment Agency's navigations in the third sector model which could replace British Waterways. That possibility raises many questions, not least in relation to funding, particularly in view of the forthcoming spending review and what might happen to the Agency's other river-related duties - flood management, water extraction, pollution control and management of the overall waterside environment.
We participate in various stakeholder forums led by the Agency, co-founded the successful River Thames Alliance and receive regular reports from our five Branches that cover the entire river. The consensus is that the Agency has done a great deal of very useful work on the Thames, addressing abacklog of lock and weir maintenance, providing improved moorings and other facilities, developing leisure and recreation and protecting wildlife habitats.
To date, we have not heard a convincing case for transferring part of the Agency's responsibilities, particularly as many of them are closely entwined, to any emerging new body, to the advantage of theThames. Even if such a case was proven we would argue that any transfer of the navigation aspect should not occur until BWs successor body is firmly established, with a sound financial structure in place.
We would ask that our concerns be taken into account during your current deliberations."
Proposed Devolution of the Port of London Authority
The Society is also concerned about the possible devolution of the Port of London Authority. Our Chairman wrote the following letter to Rt Hon Mr Philip Hammond MP, Minister of State for Transport:
"Dear Mr Hammond
I am writing on behalf of the River Thames Society to express our concem at the possible devolution of thePort of London Authority to the Mayor of London.
Our members live and work along the length of the tidal Thames, from Teddington to the Estuary and particularly welcome the fact that the river is seen as an integrated whole, with issues in common along the entire 95 miles.
The PLA has gone through significant changes over the years, but has a good track record in looking after the river, balancing all the different interests, without any Government funding.
The major terminals are now outside the GLA area, situated in Essex and Kent but the PLA has played a crucial role in safeguarding wharves in London, in accordance with the Mayor's policy which originally stemmed from the efforts of Mr Gummer, when Secretary of State.
Particularly since the 'Marchioness/Bowbelle' disaster the PLA has greatly improved safety standards on the tidal river, working with local governments and other strategic authorities. We believe that the PLA's independent status, directly accountable to the Secretary of State, has enabled it to play this crucial role in improving safety, as well as promoting the port, recreation,tourism and working with the Mayor in improving river transport.
I serve on the Mayor's London Waterways Commission, whose members represent all the various interests concerned with the river and our unanimous advice at the last meeting was not to press for devolution, but to engage with the PLA if there are perceived communication or representation issues.
We very much hope that the PLA will be maintained as an independent, but accountable body working on behalf of London, the South East and the UK as a whole."
Three Paddle and Rymer weirs listed by English Heritage
Three of the remaining paddle and rymer weirs on the Thames have been Grade II listed by English Heritage. The weirs at Rushey, Goring and Streatley are now fully protected as examples of an early technology which is known to have been used on the river as early as the 17th century. In association with other structures, such as flash locks and pound locks, they provided greater control of river flows, and so enabled the upper reaches of the Thames to become navigable. Although periodically rebuilt, the structure at Rushey is the oldest surviving paddle and rymer weir in the country.
A paddle and rymer weir consists of removable upright bars (or rymers) which are slotted into a horizontal base plate fixed to the river bed. These rest against a fixed upper beam which is notched to hold the rymer, in between which are placed removable timber paddles, stacked vertically depending on the depth of water. All are held in place by simple water flow, but are moved in sequence to control the levels.
The River Thames Society successfully campaigned for the listing, which will help to ensure this important part of our river heritage is not lost. The Summer 2010 edition of Thames Guardian looked more closely at paddle & rymer weirs.