River Thames Page

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Please check our website for up to date details of all our events and boat trips. Further details and booking from the Trust Office on 01403 752403. office@weyandarun.co.uk www.weyandarun.co.uk Northern Office Phone: 01483 505566 (Mondays-Thursdays, 8.30am-12.30pm) For general information on the work of the Trust, please telephone our Northern Office on 01483 505566, or visit www.weyandarun.co.uk

River Thames News

I wish I could report that the Environment Agency (EA) have improved communications with boating organisations and that the winter works programme is on schedule, unfortunately this is not the case. I do understand restrictions imposed by Covid regulations, and the fatal accident last year will have an impact on maintenance schedules but lack of resources, both human and monetary continues to impact on the fabric of the Thames. There are maintenance issues at several locks, silt is becoming a real problem and EA do not seem to have access to a suitable dredger to clear the in- channel shoals. Boaters planning to visit from other parts of the waterways system are frustrated by the lack of availability of overnight moorings. The EA has been successful in prosecuting the owner of the so-called “slum boats”, which were illegally moored near Windsor. The case relates to mooring that impedes access to the lock and has taken nearly two years to be heard. Members of the Thames Motor Boat Association have undertaken some detailed survey work and number crunching in an attempt to establish the number of powered craft on the non-tidal Thames. Early results indicate EA may be missing out on a chunk of unpaid licence fees. The Thames is a beautiful river to cruise or paddle and I am looking forward to renewing my acquaintance with the upper reaches this year.

Photo Courtesy: John Jones Verna Smith