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APPLETON FIGHTS ENVIRONMENT AGENCY

NORTHMOOR WEIR PROJECT

Appleton: March 26th 2010. Residents of Appleton are up-in-arms over the plans by the Environment Agency (EA) to modernise the nearby Northmoor Weir at a cost of £2.3m to the tax payer.

This modernisation will replace the manual paddles and rymers with an automated system for Health and Safety reasons. In 1995 the weir was refurbished sympathetically using some of the original structures and expected to last another 100 years at least.

Northmoor Lock is of unique heritage value with the lock house, lock and weir all still as they were built in 1895 in Victorian times. It is the only site in Europe where paddle and rymer workings can be observed from above and below the weir and from being on the weir itself. The money for this project could be better spent elsewhere, for example, on bringing forward the Oxford Flood Relief Scheme or on enhancing the Seacourt and Hinksey streams. We are still waiting to see proof that the new weir poses less of a Health and Safety risk than the old one.

Feelings are running particularly high on the EA’s plan to route heavy traffic through the village and along Badswell Lane – a narrow road with several houses with on-street parking only.

Carol Bateman, chairman of the recently formed Weir Action Group (WAG) said: “The first many residents knew of the project and the traffic plans was when a notice went up in early March 2010 advising us that double yellow lines would be painted along one side of Badswell Lane and there will be parking restrictions on the other! Then we find this will be between April and October this year and next!”

EA staff rushed through an “Open Evening” and at very short notice, nearly 100 villagers attended the open session, with staff explaining the project and the logistics of truck movements.

“It is a pity that the EA had not thought to hold the open evening a year ago when the project was being conceived”, commented Carol. “It was evident that EA staff had underestimated the views of the community – with many objecting to the weir plans, and most to the expected 150 truck movements per month which will be passing very close to 300 year old houses.

“I have little doubt they will roller-coaster there way through and start next week as planned. We will, in the meantime, keep the pressure on, seeking a three month “cooling off” period when we are prepared to sit down with the EA and other authorities and agree a better plan. WAG is on call to hold discussions at any time.”

Notes for editors

Appleton is a village to the West of Oxford and between Cumnor and Faringdon. It has a population of about 1,000.

Northmoor Lock and Weir is less than a mile from the village and is accessed along a road that the EA lease from a local farmer. The Lock and weir straddles the River Thames and on one side is within the Parish of Appleton with Eaton and on the other Northmoor. The current constituency MPs are, for the Northmoor side David Cameron and Appleton side Ed Vaizey.

The paddles and rymers of Northmoor Weir were replaced in 1995 and expected to last about 100 years. However, the EA claims that for health and safety reasons the paddles and rymers need to be replaced by an automated system.

For further information contact:

Carol Bateman 5 The Orchard Badswell Lane Appleton ABINGDON OX135LF 01865 863759 carol.bateman45@talktalk.net  

Information about the village on www.appletonwitheaton.org.uk  

Information about the campaign on http://www.appletonwitheaton.org.uk/northmoor_lock_2010