Clearing the fog at Northmoor Weir

THE  Environment Agency has admitted poor communication with local residents concerned about the replacement of the historic and unique paddle and rymer weir at Northmoor on the Thames.

This issue was raised on narrowboatworld by Rebecca Hopkins (14th November 2011), writes Martin Cox.

 

Improved communications

At a meeting last month, attended by the local MP, councillors from the two local parishes and representatives of the local campaign, Environment Agency officials promised improved communications in the future. Key points from the meeting:

• Local properties at risk of flooding are all situated in Northmoor on the North East bank.
• The existing arrangements involve staff lifting weights three times the limit recommended by the Manual Handling Regulations. As this has been challenged in reports obtained by the campaigners the local MP will be taking action as mentioned below.
• The Environment Agency confirmed to the local MP that the project was not diverting flood risk funding from other projects in Abingdon or West Oxford.

Change its position

The local MP will be writing to the Health & Safety Executive to ask whether it will either confirm or change its current position on the operation of paddle and rymer weirs.

The Chair of Northmoor Parish Council, representing the local residents at risk of flood, confirmed that the Council was minded to support the project subject to reconsideration when the MP obtained a reply from Health & Safety.

A full report of the meeting was to be posted on the relevant web sites but has not yet appeared on either parish web site nor on the campaign site.