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Publication Date: 24 June 2008
Thames Lockhouses Sell-Off 'Put on Hold'.
The Environment Agency has announced that, following representations from its Thames lockkeepers, their trade union, MPs, IWA and other waterway user groups, and consequent to a meeting with the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Minister Phil Woolas and MPs Martin Salter and Theresa May, the Agency has put on hold any changes proposed by the lock house review (i.e. any new sales and leases) until it has completed a full review of its waterways-staff roles and responsibilities, and terms and conditions.
The Agency has agreed that no action will be taken to sell or rent lock houses until these negotiations on the full review are completed. It anticipates that this will take about six months but has agreed not to sell or lease any lock houses until all negotiations are completed or 1st January, 2009, whichever is latest. The Agency will then review the position on lock houses with lock-keepers and their representatives and with the MPs group.
Prior to this announcement, which was made on 20th June, the Agency had, on 17th June, conceded that, despite lobbying, it still intend to sell six houses. Four of these were not on the lock site and the other two were the second house on the site. It then considered that it would rent out the further 16 properties, that it does not need for its operations, when they become vacant, and was confident that this can be done while still maintaining a good level of service on the river.
