Sir, — We are writing to say thank you for publishing the article about us winning both of the High 5 netball tournaments at the South Oxfordshire Youth Game.

However, we would like to point out that your headline Netball girls do double at tournament is misleading. If you look closely at the photo, you will see that there are quite a few boys in our teams!

Also, we would like to mention that our teams include boys and girls from Year 5 and Year 6. — Yours faithfuly,

The Valley Road School netball teams.
Valley Road,
Henley.

Sir, — As you reported under the headline Relief for lock-keepers as homes and jobs are safe, there are indeed no river-side lock houses within our reach of the Thames that have been earmarked for sale by the Environment Agency.

However, the relief lock-keeper’s house covering our area has been listed (along with another 21 agency properties) as not being required for operational need, and as the wife of the local area relief lock-keeper I feel that I must draw your readers’ attention to this.

Our lock-keepers are responsible for maintaining water levels on the Thames, and by correctly setting the weirs they assist in maintaining those levels in times of drought and by reducing the risk of flooding during periods of heavy rain. Often to prevent flooding the weir gates need to be operated at night.

Due to the ever increasing fluctuations in the level of the Thames. the lock and weir keepers’ role has become even more critical. Understanding the river and maintaining its level is the lock-keepers’ primary role; it is a very specialised job that requires expert knowledge.

The role of the relief lock-keeper is as equally important as that of the resident lock-keeper living beside the river. If any of the resident keepers are unavailable to operate the weir at any time of the day or night. it is the relief that will be called upon to carry out this duty. Situated as we are, between Sonning and Marsh, allows any of the weirs to be reached very quickly and the necessary action, to assist in flood prevention. taken within a minimal timeframe.

If our house is sold it is unlikely that any relief would be in a position to either rent or buy in this area. Lock-keepers are notoriously low paid and the Environment Agency are aware that if lock and weir keepers are no longer provided with accommodation, then it is unlikely that any of them could afford to remain in their job.

It is vital to retain the relief house within this area. Without it, the ability to respond to a weir emergency will be lost, and as a consequence property and lives may be put at risk.

The agency has announced plans to operate with a significantly reduced year-round, full-time lock staff during the winter months and to recruit additional seasonal summer staff. Even though none of the river-side lock-houses along our reach have been earmarked for sale, the reduced staffing numbers along the rest of the river could mean that the remaining experienced staff will be asked to cover a wider area. There is no guarantee that your resident river-side lock-keeper will be on site on a permanent basis if the plans go through.

The agency strategy for the future will have far reaching consequences for all river users and riverside communities. After the flooding during the winter of 2003 and summer 2007 it would seem to be a total recipe for disaster. — Yours faithfully,

Mrs. J. Feak
Haileywood Farm Cottages,
Reading Road,
Shiplake.

Sir, — The two letters in the Standard advocating a reduction of the speed limit in Henley from 30 m.p.h. to 20 m.p.h. partly on the basis of reducing both pollution and noise are quite wrong, in that just the opposite would be the case.

For a car to travel at 20 m.p.h. compared with 30 m.p.h. requires a lower gear to be selected (this is done automatically in a car with automatic transmission) resulting in the car’s engine revolutions to be the same if not higher than when travelling at 30 m.p.h. in a higher gear.

Over a given distance, as it will take 50 per cent more time to travel the same distance as at 30 m.p.h., emission of polluted air will be 50 per cent more, whilst at the same time using more fuel and creating the same, if not more noise, for a longer period of time.

This situation is likely to be made worse when travelling up hills such as Greys Road. Gravel Hill, St. Andrew’s Road and St. Mark’s Road, etc.

One should always drive according to road conditions and one’s ability always within the locally imposed speed limit. Some will always drive above the speed limit irrespective of whether it is 20 m.p.h. or 30 m.p.h.— Yours faithfully,

Keith Wilson
St. Andrew’s Road,
Henley.