Cash and engineering for the Trent

JAMES Henry wrote 'A survey will do nothing, for what will the results from people who have not used the tidal section know what is or is not required or what is wanted? I just do not see the point, as there is nothing anyone can do about a tide, it is purely in the hands of nature—and the moon!'. Repeats Paul Burke.

 

A survey on its own will do nothing, but a simple assessment of needs, a lot of hard negotiation, and some commitment of cash and engineering could.

Series of tides

There is not a prior reason why the trip from Torksey to West Stockwith or Keadby should have to be a single fraught step. Numbers of temporary moorings along the river would allow the less adventurous to take this on a series of tides.

Since the landing stages would have to rise and fall with the tide, they could be self- indicating—set off NOW when the level is right. And having no reason to be connected to land (unless of course the local community demands it), they would be immune to overstayers and thus acceptable to the brass polishers.

Include river moorings at West Stockwith and Keadby too, like at Torksey, then it doesn't become a disaster if you miss the psychological moment..