Issues resulting from government coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions
Wednesday 20 May 2020 until further notice
In response to and in line with revised government coronavirus guidance, we are working hard to ensure that the non-tidal River Thames is safe for navigation, and that lock breakdowns and obstructions to navigation are now dealt with, as quickly as possible.
The pace at which we are able to do this will, in some cases, depend on the availability of specialist contractors.
We are carrying out surveys of each individual reach, to replace hazard marker buoys which were dragged out of position by the winter’s flood flows, and to install marker buoys where we find new hazards in the main navigation channel. We are doing this as quickly as we can and as soon as we are satisfied that each reach can again be navigated by all forms of vessel, we will confirm this via an update to this notice. We will also reinstate the public power facility at locks, as each reach survey is completed.
The current status of each reach (upstream of the lock) is set out below. Where reach surveys are shown as completed, we aim restore the public power facility at the lock by 12pm on Thursday 21 May, once appropriate system checks have been carried out. Dates of planned surveys may change based on the availability of launches and crews.
- St John’s, Buscot Surveys planned for Friday 22 May
- Grafton, Radcot, Rushey, Shifford Surveys planned for Thursday 21 May
- Northmoor Survey completed - all forms of boating can resume
- Pinkhill, Eynsham Surveys planned for Friday 22 May
- Kings Survey completed - all forms of boating can resume
- Godstow, Osney Surveys planned for Thursday 21 May
- Iffley Survey completed - all forms of boating can resume Please be aware: a van has sunk mid-channel approximately 150 metres upstream of Folly Bridge. No attempt to navigate should be made in this area.
- Sandford Survey planned for Thursday 21 May
- Abingdon, Culham, Clifton Surveys planned for Friday 22 May
- Days, Benson, Cleeve Surveys planned for Saturday 23 May
Please click here to download the Environment Agency advice on Lock & River restrictions on River Thames