ENVIRONMENT AGENCY 042637 NRA National Rivers Authority Thames Region Guardians of the Water Environment "Navigation on the Rivers of pleasure Today, the River Thames and its Thames has been tributaries are among the most popular pleasure-boat waterways in subject to legislation the country. It wasn’t always so. In the distant since 1350. ” past, the Thames had more serious business to handle. For the Romans it was a valuable trade route. The Saxons sailed up it to establish their settlements. The Vikings used it for their raiding expeditions. Then, for most of the next thousand or so years, the Thames became the pre-eminent commercial thoroughfare of south central England. It brought the produce of the up-river farms down to London. And it brought the products of the city back to the country. Because this navigation was so important, it was strictly controlled. In the eleventh century, Edward the Confessor’s ‘Ancient Laws’ emphasised the importance of navigation rights on the Thames and demanded the removal of obstructions. The first Act of Parliament specifically concerned with navigation on the Thames was passed in 1350, and navigation on the Thames has been subject to legislation of one kind or another ever since. All change A crowded The coming of the railway in the lock - middle of the last century no fu n drastically reduced the role of the without Thames as a commercial highway safety between the country and London (although the tidal Thames grew in importance as a international port). So far as the inland transport of cargo was concerned, the railway was obviously better, quicker and cheaper. But the railway also carried people, making the whole length of the river accessible to thousands of would-be navigators (of one kind or another) from London and its suburbs, indeed from towns and cities all over the country. MOT for boats? from a wrecked boat to a about fishermen who have etc etc. Licences are currently only granted overhanging tree that looks likely Disputes of all kinds are still to boats that comply with our to fall into the water at any common between one or other stringent regulations on moment. group of water users. construction and the provision of -We have to watch over regattas A particular common form of safety equipment (such as fire held on the rivers in our Region. argument is between riparian owners extinguishers). With British Henley Regatta is just one of them, and boat-owners - because, as there Waterways and the Broads the best known, but there are up to is no right of navigation on the Authority, we are now working on 400 others, all of them requiring tributaries of the Thames, the a National Boat Safety Scheme. It our supervision and guidance. permission of the riparian owner is will work rather in the same way as needed before the river can be used Levels of service the MOT car testing scheme. Boats for boating or canoeing. will have to be tested at regular So far we’ve talked a lot about the We are more than happy to offer our interv als - perhaps every four years. responsibilities of river users and expertise, experience - and The NRA will oversee the boat­ the rules and regulations they must independence - to help reach yards and others that carry out the follow. test. It is anticipated that the new agreements in any kind of disputes scheme will come into operation The traffic, however, is two-way. over competing rights or interests. In during 1995. We in the NRA have duties and fact we see this intermediary role as responsibilities to you. A leaflet one of our most important functions, We patrol the river entitled ‘Navigation Levels of one we are uniquely suited to fill. Our patrol launches can make spot Service’ aims to list the ways in We are, after all, in the business of checks on all vessels on the rivers which we aim to help you, and establishing a workable balance in our Region that come within our defines the levels of service that we between all river users. authority - and generally enforce try to achieve. You may want to Searching for better ways the rules of the river, including have your own copy. If you write Research and development within the speed limits. We have 14 such to us, we'll send you one. vessels, all of them purpose-built NRA is a national responsibility - with and easily recognisable, even by Here are examples of the levels of every Region benefitting from the those new to the River (we like service we aim to achieve: work. R&D covers two main areas: people to know that we’re - We will provide staff to help river management and technology. around!). users through each lock. Management’ research covers, for But regulation is only part of their - From April to October, we will instance, the development of duty. The main aim of our patrol provide bulk water supplies on monitoring and survey techniques crews is to help and advise anyone average every ten miles and that will help us to improve the about the river, and particularly sewage disposal points on average facilities we offer and the levels of navigators, whenever help or every 15 miles. service. advice is needed. - We will inspect all hire launches ‘Technology’ research includes the development of environmentally Navigation means more than that once a year. Our work extends beyond what the acceptable boat propulsion, bank word ‘Navigation’ is normally taken - We will inspect the River by protection systems, better to mean. We are, in fact, patrol launch and report and/or engineering methods for navigation responsible for managing the deal with all relevant issues in installations and design standards rivers. accordance with the following generally. minimum criteria: -We operate locks - and our lock i) Inglesham-Oxford - once per The next thousand years keepers have the task of guiding fortnight As we said earlier, the Thames has craft safely on their way. ii) Oxford-Teddington - once per been a much used, much loved asset -Our Inspectors and lock keepers week for a thousand years. have a further vital job. By the - We will attend all major The next thousand years starts now. control and operation of weir gates, organised river events or activities water is held back by the weirs to ... to ensure optimum benefit to all fibre. straw from on paper manufactured Printed 810273 0672 Company & levels needed for navigation and river users. abstractors, nearly always the water companies. Without weirs holding - A recorded ‘Navigation the water back, the Thames in Information’ service is available at summer would only be about two all times on 0734 535520. NRA foot deep, compared with the Settling differences National Rivers Authority produced Dent by average present depth of eight feet. Rivers have always been a source Thames Region & -Our patrol boats and our lock and of contention. From the very Kings Meadow House weir keepers have to be constantly earliest times, mill-owners have Kings Meadow Road on the alert for obstructions in the complained (or worse) about Reading Berkshire RG1 8DQ Designed river - which could be anything navigators who have complained In the last 100 years, as working The River has many vital practical hours shortened and holiday times uses. It is essential for land lengthened, and as rail transport drainage, for irrigation, as a source improved (road transport too), of drinking water, and as a disposal people became increasingly able to system for the treated outfalls from savour the delights available on sewage works. and around the river. Yachtsmen, It is home to a wonderful variety of oarsmen, punters (in the literal Inspecting wildlife. sense), people who just like a launch messing about in boats and people It is also an international landmark who just like sitting in boats while - one of the most famous rivers in someone - or something - else the world, and part of our national propels them, were all able to do heritage, as well as a valuable their thing on the river. community asset for those living on or near its banks. Thousands of boats The river’s popularity with amateur So, looking after the Thames is an inland sailors has continued to immense privilege and an grow, until today no fewer than extremely demanding one. Not 19.000 boats are registered with surprisingly for such an important NRA Thames Region. Two thirds of Operating asset, a management responsibility them are motorised craft. And there weir gates emerged over the centuries, mainly are another 6,000 craft visiting the but not wholly concerned with Thames from other waterways navigation. The NRA inherited this (they only need a short-stay responsibility. Our task is to bring certificate). it in line with today’s needs, adding where necessary, but above all Registration is important - and protecting it for future generations. compulsory! Every pleasure boat, including inflatables and tenders The authority (‘tenders’ are small boats towed or As the navigation authority for the carried by another larger boat), River Thames between Cricklade must be registered with the NRA near the source and Teddington before being used in any way on Lock where the river becomes tidal, the River Thames upstream of the NRA is responsible for Teddington Weir. Moreover, every providing a wide range of services boat with an engine must also have for river-users and for managing a licence to navigate. These the river on behalf of the whole licences are issued free to “The Thames is an community. registered boats. The task of balancing all the varied Without control, there would be international landmark- needs of all the different river-users conflict and danger.