Todays big Moan - Stoppages, 3 months of stoppages on the Thames! Options

[nbtafelberg]

Ok I've not enquired any further than the website but take a look at these stoppages!

For nearly 3 months the furthest I can go upstream will be Staines and Downstream Chertsey meads...thats it!

]stoppages and restrictions

River Thames

23 Nov 2004 until further notice Booking details: West India Lock, London Docklands

Free up to one hour either side of high water during working hours. Thereafter £20 per night. Additional berth charges for boats visiting Poplar Marina are applicable. Lock operation: 7:00 - 19:00 locks for vessel movement. Booking line: 9am-5.30pm in the office for bookings. For security and operational reasons, all bookings need to be made 24 hours in advance. Lock availability subject to tide. (Enquiries: 020 7517 5550)

01 Nov-10 Dec 2004 Stoppage: Goring Lock
Concrete repairs to lock chamber. (Enquiries: 0118 988 1188)

01-28 Nov 2004 Stoppage: Whitchurch Lock
Repairs to lock horizontal rubbing timbers. (Enquiries: 0845 988 1188)

01 Nov 2004-11 Mar 2005 Stoppage: Sonning Lock
Replacement of head and tail lock-gates and repairs to tail bullnoses. (Enquiries: 0845 988 1188)

01 Nov-20 Dec 2004 Stoppage: Temple Lock
Construction of new tail breakwater. (Enquiries: 0845 988 1188)

22 Nov-17 Dec 2004 Stoppage: Day's Lock
Resheeting of lock gates. (Enquiries: 0845 988 1188)

06-17 Dec 2004 Restriction: Teddington Lock
New walkways to barge lock gates. The waterway remains open but inconvenience or delays may be encountered. (Enquiries: 0845 988 1188)

10-18 Jan 2005 Opening Times: Iffley Lock
Closed to all vessels overnight, between 16:00 and 09:15 hours inclusive. (Please note revised date.) (Enquiries: 0845 988 1188)

10 Jan-18 Mar 2005 Stoppage: Cookham Lock
Tail layby and bank protection. (Enquiries: 0845 988 1188)

10 Jan-18 Mar 2005 Stoppage: Culham Lock
Tail layby and bank protection. (Enquiries: 0845 988 1188)

10 Jan-06 Mar 2005 Stoppage: Romney Lock
Resheeting of lock gates. (Enquiries: 0845 988 1188)

10 Jan-18 Mar 2005 Stoppage: Shepperton Lock
Construction of tail lock cut, bank protection and layby. (Enquiries: 0845 988 1188)

10-21 Jan 2005 Restriction: Sunbury Locks
New walkways to launch (electric) lock gates. The waterway remains open but inconvenience or delays may be encountered. (Enquiries: 0845 988 1188)
07 Feb-18 Mar 2005 Stoppage: Bell Weir Lock
Stabilisation of bullnoses and repairs to lockside walkways. (Enquiries: 0845 988 1188)

We're moored in Chertsey so this means that we can only go as far as Shepperton moorings by the pub or upwards as far as below Windsor.

I can't get onto the River Wey Navigation (which is my favorite haunt!).

humph

[The Lockie]

I can appreciate the frustration that stoppages cause. What is the alternative ?? The River needs to be maintained, it's got to be better to schedule planned maintainance for the winter months, than have restrictions due to infrastructure failures during the main cruising season. (think back to the havoc at Tring due to the culvert collapse on the Oxford Canal).

All lock offices have information boards that have relevant navigation notices displayed. Including winter stoppage programmes. Alternativly a call to EA at Reading or the Local Navigation offices will supply relevant information.

It is perhaps best when cruising in the winter months to make sure you have this information as early as possible to enable you to plan ahead and therefore not be too inconvienienced by what is vital and necessary work to enable the navigation to remain open during the main cruising season.

[nbtafelberg]

Yes

I do agree with you there.

However the restrictions are done in such a way that it we cannot go up or down the river past one lock either way for 3 months.

The locks in question are big Thames locks. It's a moan I know and there's nothing I can do about it, except that I may rent a mooring on the River Wey navigation during that time if I can get one...but we'll see :-)