Hampstead Lock, on the River Medway, will be closed for a £400,000 refurbishment from 7 January until 14 March 2008, the Environment Agency announced today.

Southern Waterways Engineer Phil Munslow said: “We’re all set to give Hampstead Lock a new lease of life with a major facelift. The lock chamber will undergo a thorough refurbishment and stability works will be carried out on the lock walls.

“The lock will be drained for the duration of the works and a temporary dam put in place 50 metres upstream of the structure. A boom will also be installed upstream to ensure craft do not enter the works area.”

Hampstead Lock is just one of 15 essential projects, totalling £2 million, that are being carried out on Kent’s leading boating river this winter. Other key works include £400,000-worth of improvements at Allington. This will involve stabilisation works on an eroding bank, better facilities for the boats currently moored there and the creation of a new slipway, canoe portage and car park for river users. The old, dilapidated gate timbers at Oak Weir Lock will also be removed and replaced by new ones to give the lock gates a further 15 years of life.

To allow all the works to go ahead, and boaters to plan their journeys, the Environment Agency’s Southern Navigation Team has announced the following lock closure programme for early 2008:

Anchor 11 to 15 February 2008
Sluice Weir 7 January to 14 March 2008
Oak Weir 7 January to 14 March 2008
East Lock 18 to 25 February 2008
Porters Lock 25 February to 3 March 2008
Eldridges Lock 3 to 10 March 2008
Town Lock 10 to 14 March 2008

Phil Munslow assured: “Water levels will be raised earlier than the date shown if the inspection and clearing operations have been completed. In the event of high flows, the water levels above Eldridges will be lowered and the lock gates will be locked open. This will allow the flood flows to pass through the lock, minimising the chances of debris causing blockages on the lock gates and sluices.”

In addition to the Medway works already confirmed for this winter, the pump outs at Yalding and Tonbridge are being replaced. New lockable bollards or a gate will also be installed at St Peters Street Slipway to prevent unauthorised entry to the river. The start of ground investigations, surveys and designs for the future refurbishment of East Farleigh Lock and Teston Lock will also get underway in the New Year.

If you’re planning a trip on the Medway this winter and want the latest information about lock closures on the river, visit the Notice to Medway Mariners section on the Environment Agency website.

 

About the author

Anglers' Net

Pin It on Pinterest