STORY
The Environment Agency has warned that repeated vandalism of locks, sluices and other water control structures is putting lives at risk and making the effects of drought more difficult to manage.
The warning follows a series of incidents on waterways during the summer, with damage and interference causing water levels to fall, disrupting navigation and affecting wildlife and habitats. Drought has been declared in Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, increasing concerns about unnecessary losses of water.
Ashton Lock near Oundle has been among the locations affected. Its winding wheel was damaged and removed for repair before a temporary replacement was stolen. The lock’s guillotine gate was subsequently tampered with, allowing water needed for navigation and wildlife to drain away.
In a separate incident at Ashton Lock, a life buoy and its rope were removed from a safety station. The rope was then used to hold open the lock doors while the guillotine gate was raised, causing water upstream to drain. The Environment Agency said similar incidents had happened repeatedly and had been reported to the police.
Problems have also been reported on the River Nene, where lock paddles have been manually raised, draining stretches of the river above them. The section between Upper and Lower Barnwell locks has been particularly affected, with water levels able to fall quickly and taking longer to recover during drought conditions.
Other reported incidents have included attempts to break into control panels, people climbing onto guillotine gates and individuals entering locks despite hidden hazards. People have also climbed onto or broken into weed-cutting boats left on riverbanks during maintenance work.
The Environment Agency is using volunteers at sites on the Great Ouse to discourage vandalism, while CCTV is operating at some locations. Additional safety inspections are also being carried out.
Environment Agency Area Manager Ben Thornely said the vandalism was putting lives in danger and having significant consequences for wildlife and navigation. The public has been asked to report vandalism and antisocial behaviour at Environment Agency infrastructure to the police and the agency.