boatone
regular
Reged: 29/07/2001
Posts: 6862
Loc: Surrey uk
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Last year the EA commissioned a survey of Boaters - you can see the results HERE
Worth reading but only around 1,000 people took part. There are just over 30,000 registered craft (82% of which are on the Thames) and all licence holders were invited to participate.
Did you complete the survey??
Did anyone in this forum participate in the workshops that were conducted as part of the exercise?
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"Don't tell me why not, tell me how..."
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apollo
regular
Reged: 12/09/2003
Posts: 1222
Loc: Thames
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I completed the survey although I am really struggling to see how the EA have taken any notice of the results!
Top priority for most respondents was to deal with Maintenance, overhanging trees and surprise surprise dregding.
I reported a tree last winter which was wedged under my boat, it was almost 50foot long! EA came eventually after several calls ane emails and measured the pontoon I was on for Rates purposes against the marina!
Then told us to let the tree go! Both myself and the marina questioned this as it would have blocked the next weir down, but no joy.
Eventually the marina I am moored in arranged for it to be craned out an chopped up.
Obviously was not a high priority item to EA.
Now, I have asked AngleaQ several times in the last couple of days to confirm whether the Shoals mentioned already above and below Benson Lock have been dealt with or scheduled to be dealt with.
Presumably the team leader like the other 50million people in this country has a mobile phone? You would have thought so as modern communications are being sited as a reason for ditching lock keepers housing?
And I am still waiting for an answer......
If they are this slow on the highest priority items, what chance is there for the river?
It really saddens me how much the river has been run down in the last few years, money spent in all the wrong places and emphasis on glossy brochures rather than the things that matter.
The powers that be should hang their heads in shame.
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Chris_d
regular
Reged: 15/06/2001
Posts: 1656
Loc: Oxfordshire
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I completed it, but it was very difficult to answer in the way you wanted, the wording of the questions and the limited multichoice answers gave you limited options. For instance do you think the EA spends enough on marketing?
A: Yes
B: No spend 10% more
C: No spend 20% more
D: No employ a consulant to determine the amount to spend on marketing, analysis the target demographic, design a new website and conduct a survey to determine the marketing proportional spend. Design a suitable logo to promote the marketing effort and give it an identity the target demograhic can relate to, probably a wavy line of some sort reminiscent of the rivers path or relaxing rivery ripple etc, etc....
Sorry boatone i'm bleating and ranting again 
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boatone
regular
Reged: 29/07/2001
Posts: 6862
Loc: Surrey uk
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Don't think you're bleating or ranting at all.
In fact, a valid and constructive response compared to many on here 
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"Don't tell me why not, tell me how..."
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apollo
regular
Reged: 12/09/2003
Posts: 1222
Loc: Thames
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Just received this back from Angela......
Hi - I've spoken to the team leader about this. Apparently the shape of the river around benson makes it particularly susceptible to shoals. We spent £35k in winter 06.07 removing the shoals only for them to return with the high flows in the summer and in January. It's an ongoing problem and we are trying to keep a log of customers who have any problems to help raise it as a significant issue that needs a longer term solution. We over dredged it when we did dredge to try and prolong the reoccurance of the shoal but nature is against us. We are trying to sort it out. I can't say when this will happen but we are aware of the issue and will do all we can. In the meantime let us know when/if you have issues and we will keep a log of them to help up the ante on it.
Thanks again Angela for coming back to me on this.
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Ramage
regular
Reged: 09/07/2006
Posts: 590
Loc: Hampton Hill
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Quote:
Apparently the shape of the river around benson makes it particularly susceptible to shoals.
Its the wrong sort of river!!!
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Paul
http://www.braycruiserclub.co.uk/
http://www.birchwoodboats.aceboard.com/
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DogsBody
regular
Reged: 19/02/2003
Posts: 394
Loc: Thames
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Quote:
I can't say when this will happen but we are aware of the issue and will do all we can. In the meantime let us know when/if you have issues and we will keep a log of them to help up the ante on it.
So what we need is lots of people to ding their props at Benson, then send the bill to the EA, so that they can make it enough of an issue to sort it then.
Go on then Mike trip up to Bensons, I'll follow you (with my legs lifted).
Darren.
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www.braycruiserclub.co.uk
Help save your local lock keeper www.saveourservice.org
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Brayman
regular
Reged: 27/11/2006
Posts: 1402
Loc: Bucks
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I can ping mine every time, and it sounds like I don't even have to try these days.
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How come I am over the hill but I never made it to the top?
http://www.braycruiserclub.co.uk
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byron
regular
Reged: 16/05/2001
Posts: 6844
Loc: UK -Berks
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Quote:
Just received this back from Angela......
Hi - I've spoken to the team leader about this. Apparently the shape of the river around benson makes it particularly susceptible to shoals.
As far as I am aware this shoaling problem only commenced about 6 years ago. So who changed the shape of the river there, it looks the same to me as it did when my wife had the house nearest the Weir built about 20 years ago.
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http://www.oceaneagle.fsnet.co.uk
www.alexander-advertising.co.uk
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steve_clayton
regular
Reged: 22/05/2003
Posts: 2527
Loc: king; I did RAF training there
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We would go through Benson regulary between 1994 and 2001 and never heard of any shoal problems then.
The 'shape' of the downhill run into Benson and the weir is straight with the gentlest of curves to the right taking you into the lock cut. It doesn't narrow either so I don't see how it is the wrong shape causing the problem??
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Much work still remains to be done before I can announce my total failure to make any progress
www.seraph-sailing.com
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