Iconic tourist attraction could vanish forever in huge blow to one of UK's most popular destinations
Punting on the charming River Cam in Cambridge could soon be a thing of the past as the organisation managing the time-honoured tradition warns it could collapse within twelve months.
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CamCon, who act as the Conservators of the River Cam, says it is "in crisis" and may become "unviable and inoperative" without urgent financial intervention, The Times reports.
The crisis centres on two lock islands essential for regulating water levels and which are at urgent risk of collapse.
Their potential demise could mean the the famed Backs - which offers punters a scenic view of King's College and other landmarks - could soon be rendered "a measly, muddy trickle" which won't be able to support flat-bottomed boats which accommodate tourists.
David Goode, CamCon's chairman, has highlighted that both Jesus Lock island and Baits Bite Lock, situated a few miles up the river, face an "imminent danger of collapse".
"If it was imminent a year ago it's not going to get better," he added.
"On the river stretch along the Backs between Mill Pond and Jesus Lock the water level is held artificially high by the sluice gates at the lock."
The historic city heavily relies on the industry for waving in thousands of domestic and international visitors annually.
Beyond the punting industry, university rowing clubs will also be affected as the Cam could soon become overgrown with weeds.
David continued: "There would be a lot of consequences: the loss of punting, exposing of the foundation of college walls and the devastating impact to the appeal and economy of Cambridge."
Provisional financial support to stabilise the river could cost in excess of £1.5million, while permanent aid would require more than £10million per structure.
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Anne Miller, co-chair of the Cam Valley Forum which advocates for river conservation, called on the colleges to step up their efforts.
'If the river is fetid sludge the tourists aren't going to want to come; the colleges along the river are going to suffer," she said.
'We are a techy city. We've got loads of billionaires, wealthy colleges, wealthy businesses from Microsoft to AstraZeneca.
"If everybody puts a chunk in a kitty we can get this sorted."
The Sun Online has reached out to Cambridge County Council for comment.
How to enjoy a river punt on the Cam
Nothing is as quintessentially 'Cambridge' as floating down the River Cam in a wooden punt.
It's the best way to view the city's most famous buildings, as many of these are spread along the banks of the river and cannot be seen from the centre of town.
Punting is also the only way to see all the stunning bridges which give the city its name, including the Bridge of Sighs and the Mathematical Bridge (which, according to urban legend, was constructed using no nuts or bolts).
You can get a chauffeured tour complete with a guide or simply rent your own, but be warned, first-timers are known to occasionally fall in.
Don't worry if you're visiting during the colder months — punting firms will equip you with blankets to stay warm and umbrellas in case of bad luck with the weather.
Prices vary by season and by company, but guided tours on a shared boat cost around £15-30 per person for adults and roughly £10 for kids.
If you fancy a go at pushing the punt yourself, it will cost between £24-£36 per hour.
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