Lock keepers' houses to be sold

Lock keepers are on the lookout for new homes after plans were revealed to sell a host of lock houses.

The Environment Agency-owned properties in Boulters Gardens and the Ray Mill Road East area are on the market as part of a plan to sell off 10 of its 57 lock houses. A third house in Marlow has also been put up for sale and a further 12 properties, including one in Cookham, will be privately rented as they are no longer needed for operational reasons.

None of the properties is on the lockside. Eileen McKeever, Thames Waterways manager at the Environment Agency (EA), said the group needs to ensure it is spending public money wisely while operating the river efficiently. She said: “We will not be making people homeless.”

The EA said many staff do not live in EA accommodation. Mrs McKeever added: “We’re aware this is a very emotive issue, but we’ve been running the river in the same manner for 40 or 50 years, and we need to modernize our working practices."

The group will continue to man locks and there are plans to increase staff numbers at the busiest times in the summer.