Adrian Stott wrote: > Hello All, > > BW has announced it wants to change the way it runs Limehouse lock. > The proposed changes are as follows (current situation in brackets): > > 1. All passages booked. > > (Bookings not required during staffed hours, i.e. summer 8:00 - 18:00, > winter 8:00 - 16:00)
As someone who has used Limehouse lock several times, this is the only one that bothers me, and that only slightly. In particular, I'd like to know how far in advance they have to be booked, what times bookings have to be made between etc. It's no use if you want to lock out at 9AM on Monday but there's no-one to book with after 4pm on Friday. Being able to ring up at 7:30AM to book for 8AM is unrealistic probably - so what's the actual status likely to be. These days, with widespread mobile phones, it's not unreasonable to ask for *some* notice - but how much is critical. I'd always ring in advance anyway - they always have a good idea about when to go, any reason not to go at the time you thought etc. > 2. Passage outside staffed hours only during the hours : > > Summer 7:00 - 8:00 and 18:00-20:00 > > (5:00 - 8:00 and 18:00 - 22:00) > > Winter 16:00 - 18:00 > > (5:00 - 8:00 and 16:00 - 22:00) > > 3. Summer period May - September > > (April - September) > > 4. A charge for each use of the lock during non-staffed hours That does seem a bit drastic, when it's only such a narrow window. If they are going to charge you, they should be prepared to be open earlier and later - particularly in Summer. The extent of the charge, and the rigour with which it will be applied is something I'd like to know more about as well. It's not nice to be stung with a £50 charge because you arrived at 16:02 because of avoiding a rubbish barge upstream. > (No charges) > > 5. A charge for each use of the lock by a boat without a BW licence, > e.g. a non-waterways visitor or Limehouse Marina moorings customer, > during staffed hours > > (No charges) That sounds entirely fair to me. > I think these proposals raise some concerns. There is to be some > consultation on them, and I may be involved with that, so I would > appreciate your opinions on them here. My main opinions - noted above - is that I'd need to know more about the notice period, available booking service and extent of out-of-hours charges before being able to comment properly.
