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River Thames News Business Plan Consultation During February and March the Environment Agency (Matt Carter Operations Manager Thames Navigation) organised a series of ‘consultation workshops’ with representatives from the Thames User Groups. These were well received and well attended. Views expressed have been recorded and the plan adjusted, where appropriate. All thanked Matt Carter for this initiative. Lock keepers cottages Following a meeting between representatives from the Thames User Groups and Lord Smith, the proposal to move away from ‘residential lock-keepers’ and rent out the lock keepers cottages as they become available, has been delayed. The five cottages already rented till April 2013 must remain, but the whole concept of river operations and accommodation for lock keepers is to be re-assessed. Seasonal Staff The recruitment and training of 26 volunteers as seasonal staff before Easter has been successfully completed. A further 30+ seasonal staff are being recruited for training during May for the summer season. Volunteers to refer to the River Thames website. Future of Navigation (FoN project) Following the formation of the Canal & River Trust (C&RT), the Environment Agency (EA) has initiated a project to review how the EA Navigations will be transferred to C&RT post-2015, if the decision is made by all parties that this is required. It is a surprise that when the EA Navigations are having their annual budget severely reduced, that a sum of £1.2m can be set aside for the FoN project. John How
Thames Landscape Strategy This organisation was set up some 17 years ago to carry out environmental improvements to the bankside and adjoining landscape of the River Thames from Kew to the GLC boundary at Hampton. It has a very small paid staff but is able to call on voluntary help from many organisations; from local residents groups, to those on Community Service Orders! Its funding comes from riparian local authorities; charities; residents associations and grant-giving bodies. They have achieved wonders on that part of the river since they started. The number of volunteer hours clocked up is now approaching 300,000. The Big Society at work, perhaps. Our Guildford & Reading Branch interest now stems from the agreed extension of their remit into the Borough of Elmbridge, being along the Thames from Molesey to Weybridge, and the River Wey as far as Town Lock. Their workboat "Swingbridge" has been doing vegetation clearance work during the last winter along Weybridge