Save Elvington Lock
ELVINGTON Lock has been part of North Yorkshire's waterways for hundreds of years, allowing boats along the Derwent near York, but its days could be numbered.
The Environment Agency is considering whether to continue operating a facility allowing craft to travel along the river at Elvington, and is considering closing the lock for good.
Early 18th century
The Derwent was improved for navigation in the early 18th century and by 1723 a cut with a lock had been made at Elvington, bypassing a new weir across the river. A lock-keeper's house had been built by 1782 but the present house dates from the 19th century. In 1807 an Elvington trader regularly used the navigation and in the mid 19th century coal yards lay on the river bank near the bridge.
The navigation ended c. 1900 and the Derwent was closed as a public waterway in 1932. The lock subsequently decayed, but it was restored for pleasure craft in 1972, and has been used since.
You can have your say on the online petition: