Work by the Environment Agency started over a year ago to repair the main lock at Teddington has been stopped. Additionally, repairs to the unreliable secondary lock are ongoing but there is no permanent fix date in sight.
These faults mean delays for those using the river for business or pleasure, as well as emergency services such as the London Fire Brigade, Metropolitan Police and the RNLI.
Matt Allchurch, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Teddington RNLI, stated, ‘the issues with the locks at Teddington can mean that we lose vital minutes when reaching those who have got into trouble on the river upstream from Teddington Lock towards Kingston, our busiest area. We are hopeful that the work of the Environment Agency will resolve the current difficulties soon.’
Green Party councillor Chas Warlow has raised the issue with Leader of Richmond Council Gareth Roberts, who replied that the matter is for the Environment Agency to resolve. He added in his response that ‘We will keep trying.’
Chas said, ‘River users and the general public need to know that emergency services can respond effectively and efficiently. The situation is surely unacceptable – government ministers need to step in to find a solution to this problem.’
