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Funding plea to rebuild 'unsafe' Cam locks

Dotty McLeod & Dave Webster
BBC News, Cambridgeshire
Tom Jackson/BBC Helen has short black and white hair with hints of pink. She is wearing earrings and a blue jacket with the Conservators of the River Cam branding on the breast pocket. She is standing in front of a brick building and a fence, On the wall is a green sign reading Baits Bite Lock.Tom Jackson/BBC
Helen Cleary from Conservators of the River Cam said a full rebuild was needed on both locks

The group that manages a city waterway say they could go bust if they are unable to find the money to repair two unsafe locks.

The Conservators of the River Cam want financial help to carry out full reconstructions of Baits Bite Lock, north of Cambridge at Milton, and Jesus Green Lock in the city centre.

Both were closed for repairs more than a year ago, effectively trapping some boaters on the stretch of river between them which is only a few miles long.

The Conservators claim that, should the locks fail, the river flow could be reduced to a trickle, impacting boating and punting elsewhere on the Cam.

The organisation had started a project to temporarily stabilise Baits Bite Lock island, which was forecast to cost between £1.3m and £1.5m.

Tom Jackson/BBC The lock gates in Milton are open and the river is all one level. There is a red lock closed sign on the railings at the side of the lock. The lock is a narrow rectangular shape with brick walls. Tom Jackson/BBC
Both locks were said to be unstable and vulnerable to collapse

But Helen Cleary, its chief executive, said a full rebuild was needed at some point on both locks.

She said the organisation was limited by its funding model, which came from fees paid by boaters on the Cam.

"We have been walking that tightrope in order to get the Baits Bite Lock open as soon as we can and that's where our financial focus is," she said.

Ms Cleary has called on other organisations to step in to provide more help.

"It's almost unfair that in a wealthy environment such as Cambridge, [boaters] are the people we're solely reliant on for getting an income to resolve these problems," she said.

'Pick up the tab'

Ian Farrell, a boat owner near Baits Bite Lock, said the situation was "deeply frustrating".

He said the Conservators had allowed the locks to fall into disrepair, but sympathised with the lack of funds.

"Their funding model is clearly inadequate," he said.

"It's not a new problem, that's what's frustrating, why weren't they talking about this ages ago?"

Martin Smart, the city council's cabinet member for nature, open spaces and city services, ruled out the authority stepping in to provide money.

"They clearly need help, but it's not for us to pick up the tab," he said.

He said the council had provided two of its "top officers" to work with the Conservators to come up with a plan.

A spokesperson for the Environment Agency said it was aware of the situation.

"We are working closely with [the Conservators] who lead on this, as part of a multi-agency group supporting them with this issue to ensure a coordinated and effective response," they said.

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