Shades
regular
Reged: 23/04/2008
Posts: 19
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I have it on good authority that the starting wage for a lockkeeper is £13k, with a top of the scale lockkeper earning £18k....
They really do mean it when they tell you that they don't do the job for the money....
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No_Regrets
regular
Reged: 09/07/2007
Posts: 1389
Loc: Welwyn Garden City, Herts UK.
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Including accomodation? 
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The scourge of Windsor, and notorious founder member of the 'Upper Thames Birchwood Massive' now outlawed by the EA and River pressure groups, currently planning a nice comfy retirement in the aft cabin of a Broom.
Now can anybody recommend any non-marking slippers?
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Shades
regular
Reged: 23/04/2008
Posts: 19
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I am told that a resident lockkeeper generally banks on average about £1k a month after stoppages, but that includes payment enhancements for working 5 out of 7 weekends, that is Saturdays and Sundays for 5 consecutive weeks. They are also obliged to work MOST bank holidays
They are then responsible for Gas, Electric and Telephone bills in the houses they are in. I am told that leaves barely enough money to feed a family and perhaps run an old banger.
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Grehan
regular
Reged: 11/06/2001
Posts: 1167
Loc: Inland France
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Quote:
The EA would indeed prefer to rent them out but their hands are tied.
I'm an outsider to this conversation, but in France the VNF has a similar asset/maintenance problem and lots more lock cottages, many in a parlous condition following the inevitable reduction in canal manpower and the 'automation' of locks. The cottages are regarded as a national treasure, maybe not on a par with the Louvre, but valued nonetheless. So they are not being sold off (a very few were, on non-VNF waterways).
The VNF is currently trialling letting them on long-term leases for a modest rent, the twin provisos being (a) you have to spend your own money on the renovation and (b) they have to be then used to benefit the locality and the network. More info > www.frog-property.com <
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___ Grehan :: French Waterways information ___
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BrendanS
regular
Reged: 11/06/2002
Posts: 38389
Loc: Me: Wilts. Boat: Lymington
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Seems like a very reasonable compromise, rather than losing them forever.
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See http://www.frappr.com/ybw to add yourself to the forum map
and as everyone else is doing it
www.plaintalkconsulting.co.uk
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