Latest news with #ConservatorsoftheRiverCam
Glasgow Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Locks need urgent repair amid threat to future of Cambridge punting
The flat-bottomed boats, propelled along the river by someone pushing a long pole against the river bed, have been enjoyed by visitors to the prestigious university city for more than a century. But the possible collapse of a lock island could take out a sluice, lowering the river water level to a 'muddy trickle' and putting an end to punting, it is feared. David Goode, chair of the Conservators of the River Cam – which manages a stretch of the river, said a structural engineer surveyed two locks as 'in imminent danger of collapse' in May last year. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey punts along the river Cam during his visit to Cambridge. (Chris Radburn/ PA) Both Jesus Green Lock near central Cambridge and Bait's Bite Lock, further north on the river, remain closed to navigation as they are 'unsafe'. He said work to replace the two locks could cost around £25 million, and the conservators do not have the money to do it. Sir Ed, speaking after he tried his hand at punting on Friday, said: 'I think these locks urgently need to be repaired and potentially rebuilt. 'It's essential for people using the river but the river itself. 'Without that water control, the river would go to a trickle. 'Punting might just go away. Jesus Lock on the River Cam in Cambridge. (Chris Radburn/ PA) 'All the jobs, all the revenue, all the tourism that brings to this great city. 'So this is actually quite an urgent investment and I hope Cambridge City Council can work with the Government or with other agencies to get that investment.' Rod Ingersent, managing director of Scudamores – a Cambridge punting company, said: 'It's almost certainly been a problem building over many decades and it's to do with very old structures which are expensive to maintain.' He said that 'something of this scale gets beyond' what the conservators 'can be reasonably expected to do as it requires so much investment and so much expertise in the maintenance of old structures'. 'But the effect would be catastrophic for punting, certainly for the colleges above the lock, the old buildings would be in trouble, and there's some amazing listed buildings along the college backs, they'd be under risk from the foundations being affected,' he said. 'Then below the lock the rowing with the city and the college clubs, that would be disrupted.' Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey punts along the river Cam during his visit to Cambridge. (Chris Radburn/ PA) He said the problem was of 'such a scale, the level of funding, it needs to go up some stages'. 'It might… need to go up to Defra, up to central government possibly,' Mr Ingersent said. 'I think it's not reasonable to expect the Cam conservancy to do it from their own resources, they're quite a small body and their main task is looking after navigation rather than I suppose being maintainers of old structures which they've inherited.' He said water has been 'scouring away at the foundations' of the lock island, and if there were another high water event it 'could be very challenging and something could start to give way with maybe quite catastrophic results'. Mr Goode said the river level is 'artificially held high' to allow navigation, and if the lock island collapsed it could take out a sluice causing the water level to drop. 'The lock irons are directly connected to the sluices so if the lock island collapses it's going to take out the Environment Agency sluice with it, I imagine, and that would be the issue with water level,' said Mr Goode. Jesus Lock on the River Cam in Cambridge. (Chris Radburn/ PA) 'Because then the water level would not be maintained at its current depth which it is on the Backs, which is the section of the river where the punting takes place.' He said that 'every 20 years or so' the conservators ask the Environment Agency to drop the river level so 'we can clear the crap out of the river'. 'Bikes, shopping trolleys, all the things students and townspeople throw in on a drunken night out,' said Mr Goode. 'When we do that we let the water out so we simulate what would happen if the sluice or the weir failed. 'All that's left is a muddy trickle. 'You would not be able to support punting at all. 'You could walk across it (the river) from one side to the other. 'So that would be the end of punting if that were to happen.' He said that £1.6 million 'stabilisation work', described as a 'temporary fix that will enable us to re-open the lock safely', would start at Bait's Bite lock from August 25. Mr Goode said that fix could last five to 10 years. He said they have 'sold the family silver', including some cottages and the former conservator's house which they owned, to afford the work to Bait's Bite Lock – but do not have funds for more work.
The Herald Scotland
a day ago
- General
- The Herald Scotland
Locks need urgent repair amid threat to future of Cambridge punting
But the possible collapse of a lock island could take out a sluice, lowering the river water level to a 'muddy trickle' and putting an end to punting, it is feared. David Goode, chair of the Conservators of the River Cam – which manages a stretch of the river, said a structural engineer surveyed two locks as 'in imminent danger of collapse' in May last year. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey punts along the river Cam during his visit to Cambridge. (Chris Radburn/ PA) Both Jesus Green Lock near central Cambridge and Bait's Bite Lock, further north on the river, remain closed to navigation as they are 'unsafe'. He said work to replace the two locks could cost around £25 million, and the conservators do not have the money to do it. Sir Ed, speaking after he tried his hand at punting on Friday, said: 'I think these locks urgently need to be repaired and potentially rebuilt. 'It's essential for people using the river but the river itself. 'Without that water control, the river would go to a trickle. 'Punting might just go away. Jesus Lock on the River Cam in Cambridge. (Chris Radburn/ PA) 'All the jobs, all the revenue, all the tourism that brings to this great city. 'So this is actually quite an urgent investment and I hope Cambridge City Council can work with the Government or with other agencies to get that investment.' Rod Ingersent, managing director of Scudamores – a Cambridge punting company, said: 'It's almost certainly been a problem building over many decades and it's to do with very old structures which are expensive to maintain.' He said that 'something of this scale gets beyond' what the conservators 'can be reasonably expected to do as it requires so much investment and so much expertise in the maintenance of old structures'. 'But the effect would be catastrophic for punting, certainly for the colleges above the lock, the old buildings would be in trouble, and there's some amazing listed buildings along the college backs, they'd be under risk from the foundations being affected,' he said. 'Then below the lock the rowing with the city and the college clubs, that would be disrupted.' Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey punts along the river Cam during his visit to Cambridge. (Chris Radburn/ PA) He said the problem was of 'such a scale, the level of funding, it needs to go up some stages'. 'It might… need to go up to Defra, up to central government possibly,' Mr Ingersent said. 'I think it's not reasonable to expect the Cam conservancy to do it from their own resources, they're quite a small body and their main task is looking after navigation rather than I suppose being maintainers of old structures which they've inherited.' He said water has been 'scouring away at the foundations' of the lock island, and if there were another high water event it 'could be very challenging and something could start to give way with maybe quite catastrophic results'. Mr Goode said the river level is 'artificially held high' to allow navigation, and if the lock island collapsed it could take out a sluice causing the water level to drop. 'The lock irons are directly connected to the sluices so if the lock island collapses it's going to take out the Environment Agency sluice with it, I imagine, and that would be the issue with water level,' said Mr Goode. Jesus Lock on the River Cam in Cambridge. (Chris Radburn/ PA) 'Because then the water level would not be maintained at its current depth which it is on the Backs, which is the section of the river where the punting takes place.' He said that 'every 20 years or so' the conservators ask the Environment Agency to drop the river level so 'we can clear the crap out of the river'. 'Bikes, shopping trolleys, all the things students and townspeople throw in on a drunken night out,' said Mr Goode. 'When we do that we let the water out so we simulate what would happen if the sluice or the weir failed. 'All that's left is a muddy trickle. 'You would not be able to support punting at all. 'You could walk across it (the river) from one side to the other. 'So that would be the end of punting if that were to happen.' He said that £1.6 million 'stabilisation work', described as a 'temporary fix that will enable us to re-open the lock safely', would start at Bait's Bite lock from August 25. Mr Goode said that fix could last five to 10 years. He said they have 'sold the family silver', including some cottages and the former conservator's house which they owned, to afford the work to Bait's Bite Lock – but do not have funds for more work.
Western Telegraph
a day ago
- Politics
- Western Telegraph
Locks need urgent repair amid threat to future of Cambridge punting
The flat-bottomed boats, propelled along the river by someone pushing a long pole against the river bed, have been enjoyed by visitors to the prestigious university city for more than a century. But the possible collapse of a lock island could take out a sluice, lowering the river water level to a 'muddy trickle' and putting an end to punting, it is feared. David Goode, chair of the Conservators of the River Cam – which manages a stretch of the river, said a structural engineer surveyed two locks as 'in imminent danger of collapse' in May last year. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey punts along the river Cam during his visit to Cambridge. (Chris Radburn/ PA) Both Jesus Green Lock near central Cambridge and Bait's Bite Lock, further north on the river, remain closed to navigation as they are 'unsafe'. He said work to replace the two locks could cost around £25 million, and the conservators do not have the money to do it. Sir Ed, speaking after he tried his hand at punting on Friday, said: 'I think these locks urgently need to be repaired and potentially rebuilt. 'It's essential for people using the river but the river itself. 'Without that water control, the river would go to a trickle. 'Punting might just go away. Jesus Lock on the River Cam in Cambridge. (Chris Radburn/ PA) 'All the jobs, all the revenue, all the tourism that brings to this great city. 'So this is actually quite an urgent investment and I hope Cambridge City Council can work with the Government or with other agencies to get that investment.' Rod Ingersent, managing director of Scudamores – a Cambridge punting company, said: 'It's almost certainly been a problem building over many decades and it's to do with very old structures which are expensive to maintain.' He said that 'something of this scale gets beyond' what the conservators 'can be reasonably expected to do as it requires so much investment and so much expertise in the maintenance of old structures'. 'But the effect would be catastrophic for punting, certainly for the colleges above the lock, the old buildings would be in trouble, and there's some amazing listed buildings along the college backs, they'd be under risk from the foundations being affected,' he said. 'Then below the lock the rowing with the city and the college clubs, that would be disrupted.' Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey punts along the river Cam during his visit to Cambridge. (Chris Radburn/ PA) He said the problem was of 'such a scale, the level of funding, it needs to go up some stages'. 'It might… need to go up to Defra, up to central government possibly,' Mr Ingersent said. 'I think it's not reasonable to expect the Cam conservancy to do it from their own resources, they're quite a small body and their main task is looking after navigation rather than I suppose being maintainers of old structures which they've inherited.' He said water has been 'scouring away at the foundations' of the lock island, and if there were another high water event it 'could be very challenging and something could start to give way with maybe quite catastrophic results'. Mr Goode said the river level is 'artificially held high' to allow navigation, and if the lock island collapsed it could take out a sluice causing the water level to drop. 'The lock irons are directly connected to the sluices so if the lock island collapses it's going to take out the Environment Agency sluice with it, I imagine, and that would be the issue with water level,' said Mr Goode. Jesus Lock on the River Cam in Cambridge. (Chris Radburn/ PA) 'Because then the water level would not be maintained at its current depth which it is on the Backs, which is the section of the river where the punting takes place.' He said that 'every 20 years or so' the conservators ask the Environment Agency to drop the river level so 'we can clear the crap out of the river'. 'Bikes, shopping trolleys, all the things students and townspeople throw in on a drunken night out,' said Mr Goode. 'When we do that we let the water out so we simulate what would happen if the sluice or the weir failed. 'All that's left is a muddy trickle. 'You would not be able to support punting at all. 'You could walk across it (the river) from one side to the other. 'So that would be the end of punting if that were to happen.' He said that £1.6 million 'stabilisation work', described as a 'temporary fix that will enable us to re-open the lock safely', would start at Bait's Bite lock from August 25. Mr Goode said that fix could last five to 10 years. He said they have 'sold the family silver', including some cottages and the former conservator's house which they owned, to afford the work to Bait's Bite Lock – but do not have funds for more work.
Scottish Sun
21-06-2025
- Scottish Sun
Iconic tourist attraction could vanish forever in huge blow to one of UK's most popular destinations
AN ICONIC tourist attraction in one of the UK's most popular cities could soon be extinct. 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. 1 Punting along the River Cam in Cambridge could soon become an activity of the past Credit: Alamy 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. Oxford and Cambridge's chief coaches share how they're feeling ahead of The Boat Race 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.
