Ouseburn Barrage light signals

[Chertsey]

A colleague (and a picket, actually) has just stopped me on my way into work and asked about the traffic light signals on the Ouseburn Barrage - specifically, why there are three of each (red and green) light in a vertical column - how are they used?

 

I had never heard of the Ouseburn, or its barrage, so I have had an informative ten minutes already.

[Midnight]

They are there to tell 'wor ladz' when the pubs are open red = closed green = 'howay man areya ganning doon the pub'

 

Edited February 24, 2020 by Midnight

[Alan de Enfield]

1 minute ago, Midnight said:

They are there to tell 'wor ladz' when the pubs are open red = closed green = 'howay man areya ganning doon the pub'

 

Presumably they are vertically spaced so as to be seen by tall, medium and vertically challenged pub-goers.

[Mac of Cygnet]

Some puzzling things here.  What Ouse Burn?   The one in Newcastle?  Didn't know of any barrage there.  Picket?  Is there a strike on?

[ditchcrawler]

https://www.ouseburntrust.org.uk/ouseburn-barrage   you can even see the light    

Edited February 24, 2020 by ditchcrawler

[WotEver]

Green means go, red means stop, and amber means open the throttles up full before it goes red...

[magpie patrick]

3 hours ago, ditchcrawler said:

https://www.ouseburntrust.org.uk/ouseburn-barrage   

I'd forgotten about this barrage and the short navigation it creates

 

Reading the website it sounds like the scheme has been beset with problems, a combination of unproven technology and not fully thinking things through (did they really not realise the impounded length would silt up?) - also the recent situation with the barrage gates open all the time seems to be the result of trying to please everyone and forgetting what they'd actually built it for!

 

I think the column of three lights is simply to make sure that at least one is showing - if there are no lights the boat master can be sure there is a problem with the signals.

[Sir Nibble]

It's for aircraft landing on to indicate whether they are high, low or on the glide path.