Sir, I lived for 23 years at Weir Point on the Thames, the property through which lock-keepers have to pass to access Old Windsor weir.

In that time I recall many emergencies which required the immediate help of the lock-keeper. Two incidents, one involving a canoeist and the other a narrow boat, were life-threatening. I know of at least two people who owe their lives to a lock-keeper’s local knowledge and immediate availability. It would be highly detrimental to the public interest if we have to rely on part-time staff, living some distance from the point of action, who do not have that vital local knowledge.

I urge the Environment Agency (EA) to abandon its plan to withdraw resident lock-keepers (report, May 6).

Gordon Spice
Ham Island, Old Windsor

Sir, Despite the EA’s plan to reduce the number of lock-keepers from 76 to about 60 for the 44 locks on the river, the EA’s Thames waterways manager has promised that there will be more staff on duty “during the busiest times throughout the summer”.

Accidents do not happen only at busy times, however, and the presence of a lock-keeper who knows where safety equipment is stored and how to use it is essential. Last summer at Clifton Lock, for example, we saw a boater fall in. He suffered no more than a wetting, but the lock-keeper duly noted the details. With fewer keepers to log such incidents, fewer will be recorded and the EA will be able to claim things are safer.

Lock-keepers are expert at marshalling boats into locks to ensure their full capacity is used and that large heavy boats do not crush smaller fragile ones. They can take in hand the novice boat-hirer in charge of a juggernaut, and spot potential accidents before they happen. They can also open sluices quickly or very slowly according to conditions.

The reduction of lock man-power is coincidental with the introduction of automatic, push-button systems operated by the lock user. This week we came across three such unmanned locks between Caversham and Binsey, Oxford. On our journey down stream a month before these had been manned.

Reference has been made to the assistance given to boaters during last year’s floods. Two summers ago the river was affected by drought and lock-keepers were required to delay opening locks to gather in as many boats as possible so that water could be conserved. Boaters using automatic systems are likely to waste water by not waiting for other boats to arrive at the lock, incorrectly pressing buttons or not bothering to close lock gates after passing through. I fear that without the authoritative presence of a helpful “lockie”, safety and water conservation will be compromised.

John Llewellyn
Thames Vintage Boat Club
London W1

Sir, Having resided at, operated or been around locks for 47 years, and been a boater for more than 30, I feel that I can comment with some authority on the EA’s policy.

Does it intend to allow boaters to operate the Thames locks unsupervised? It is not unusual to see inexperienced boaters in the lock with the sluices open at both ends wondering why they are not going up or down. The record so far is three “rescues” in one day. I have more than once encountered a completely drained pound on the canals and had to effect a refill. The idea of people playing with unattended locks on the Thames is surely unthinkable.

Boats are sunk each year in unattended canal locks, in some cases by experienced boaters. But what about vandalism? Bored youths love to play with the lock gear to see how much damage they can achieve. How does the EA intend to monitor and prevent these problems?

John Cattemull
Stoke Hammond, Bucks

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