LOCK-KEEPERS’ wives were joined by Henley Labour candidate Richard Mckenzie and Reading MP Martin Salter as they petitioned to save their husbands’ jobs on Saturday.
The Environment Agency announced plans to sell or lease 22 lock-keepers’ properties along the Thames in April. Jan Feak, of Reading Road Shiplake, whose husband is an off-river lock-keeper said the agency underestimates the amount of work provided by lock-keepers.
"I don’t see how they think they can provide a better, or even comparable service," she said.
"We’ve had overwhelming public support. People like the reassuring presence of the lock-keepers. When I used to live on the riverside, I saw the kind of incidents that can happen.
"My father, who was a keeper, has dealt with attempted suicides, a lady with a kidney rejection and so many other problems because he was always there."
Richard Mckenzie said: "This is a cause that is obviously very important and to Henley in particular. I grew up by the river myself and I wonder who will look after it if this happens?"
Reading MP Martin Salter said that the lock-keepers’ wives were proving to be formidable campaigners and he was impressed with the public’s response.
He added: "I’m feeling increasingly confident that we can force the Environment Agency to back down."
Phil Woolas, Minister of State for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contacted the Henley Standard to express his own concerns over the Environment Agency’s plans.
"I am concerned about the possible danger of not having a permanent presence at these locks," he said.
"It’s my job to find out and I’ve been taken by the strength of feeling about this issue. It’s something people are clearly very concerned about."
Mr Woolas plans to ask the agency for their justification of the plans, so that he can then discuss it with them directly.
"These locks appear quite busy and I would like to know whether there are any issues with regard to flood warnings. Surely having these men by the riverside is important to this," he said.
"The question of safety is the one that really needs to be answered."
For more information on the campaign to save the lock houses, see www.saveourservice.org.
Published on 20 June 2008
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