Volunteer lock keepers at Atherstone

In defence of Atherstone Locks, we now have a team of 16 volunteer lock keepers having had six new persons join us in August and our rota shows the flight is manned every day with at least one and sometimes up to four on duty writes Roger Hart.

Not all volunteer lock keepers work the same way and some are often to be found clearing litter and dog mess left by ne'er-do-well walkers and dog owners. Some locate at the top of the flight, Lock 1 and help any passing craft that requires assistance mostly operating the offside gates and paddles, leaving the often single crew member to work the towpath side so they can easily get off to the next lock.

Accompanying solo boaters

Others move up and down the flight accompanying solo boaters, some look ahead and set locks for approaching boats depending on direction and volume of traffic and some like myself cycle or walk the longer pounds at the bottom of the flight assisting boaters and clearing dog mess and litter.

There may be the odd occasion when on a single volunteer lock keeper's day, no one is able to attend for unforeseen circumstances, illness or urgent appointment, but volunteering is just that, voluntary, not a full-time service to negate the boaters from operating the locks themselves unless an 'Assisted Passage' has been arranged with your local waterways office.

Depending on traffic

Most volunteer lock keeper's hours are 1000 till 1600hrs but many of the lads and lassies start at 0830 and some go on till 1730 depending on traffic. I hope Victor Swift and Brian Hawkins were the only two boaters to find themselves recently un-assisted by the Atherstone Team who are out and about in all conditions helping boaters where necessary or as required.