Safer on the Avon

THE Avon Navigation Trust (ANT) has dramatically increased its high-tech protection for boaters, and it's proving to be a big hit with nature lovers and fretful riverside dwellers too, writes Juliette Kemp.

The innovative Trust has doubled the number of Avon-watching webcams for its River Watch service, which has become a "must see" for thousands of river users who want to check conditions before setting out.

Checking water levels

But thousands of boat watchers—and people who just enjoy the pretty views—from all over the world are also clicking on to the live videos, together with more local residents keen to check out the water levels in heavy rain. The picture shows Eckington Bridge.

The service, via www.FarsonDigitalWaterCams.com, has also been boosted by additional useful information and functionality.

Crucial tool

Explains Avon Navigation Trust (ANT) General Manager Clive Matthews:

"River Watch is already a fundamental and crucial tool for us and for our boaters, and the new website makes it even better.

"As well as the extra cameras, it is a much more integrated product that gives you rainfall, pressure, temperatures, levels and much more... And if people sign up for the paid-for version, it makes money for the Trust too."

Anyone can use

Anyone can log onto the cameras via the website and get information for free. But signing up to the paid-for portal removes the sponsored rolling adverts, offers many useful extras and ANT gets a donation for each of its spotlighted cameras. The picture is of Strensham Lock.

The Trust now has webcams at Tewkesbury, Avon Lock, Strensham, Eckington, Wyre Piddle, two at Evesham, Offenham, Bidford on Avon, Welford on Avon and Stratford Upon Avon. The top watched, including Bidford and Strensham, are now averaging 100,000 unique visits a year.

Screens streaming

ANT also provides screens streaming the action at its HQ in Wyre Piddle and at its visitor centres at Stratford and Tewkesbury.

Clive tells of how it all started:

"Just after I joined ANT, someone called up to ask whether the river was in flood—and we had to look out of the window and phone contact downstream to find out. That's when I thought of cameras."

"Now we have a full picture, literally, and all the statistics we need to give advice, and we can react quickly at any time if we see problems or people in trouble."

Clive checks his camera network as soon as he gets up every morning, and regularly through the day, even when he's on holiday, and yes, he's hooked too.