Open Meeting of the Weir Action Group: 5th May 2010 

Approximately 30 people, including the Clerk of Northmoor Parish Council and District Councillor Dudley Hodinott, attended an Open Meeting of the Weir Action Group on Wednesday 5 May at Appleton Village Hall.

The meeting was chaired by Carole Bateman, who gave a report of the History of the project:

8 March Parish Council Open Meeting in Village Hall. EA plans for replacement of weir revealed.

13 March Meeting of all people concerned with the proposals and the Weir Action Group formed. It’s concerns were: the cost to the taxpayer; whether the work would help the flooding in upper Thames; Health and Safety issues stated concerning operation of weir (as this was given by EA as major reason for replacing weir); damage to properties and drains in the village as proposed weir access through middle of the village. It’s ambition: To postpone the work while proper consideration could be given to the EA’s proposals.

18 March Meeting with local MP, Ed Vaizey and Simon Hughes, Area Manager of EA.

23 March EA organised Open Evening to explain work to be done – attended by more than 100 people. 30 March Simon Hughes met with WAG and announced that work would be postponed for a year to allow the EA to work with WAG and the Parish Council to find the best solution.

13 April A letter was sent to Keith Hutchence (our contact at the EA) requesting further information on, among other things: progress on drainage surveys in Badswell Lane; alternative access routes explored and progress of discussions with David Gow regarding the lock road access.

The letter also outlined the WAG’s suggestions for 5 working groups (Health and Safety; Flooding; Heritage/Conservation/Environment; Access; Communications/publicity)and requested details of how EA’s envisaged the timetable of events.

The EA were invited to the Open Meeting and in response, advised that they were prohibited from communication on issues of a political nature during the period prior to General Election.

It was also reported that the Parish Council has appointed the WAG as a working group of the Parish Council and they will write to Keith Hutchence advising him that the WAG are the people with whom he should communicate and that the WAG will report back to the Parish Council.

Nick Withers explained the importance of trying to work positively with the EA: matching their expertise with our own, debunking their own facts; checking the EA’s figures and their methodology. EA have chosen to take a linear route – only working on one solution. The WAG needs more manpower.

Some of the other comments and questions:

• What is the main objective of the WAG? Is it to stop the weir replacement entirely or is it to do it differently? (Pursue all avenues, hoping to find flaws in the EA’s argument for replacement and make the project unneccessary.)
• Colin Buddin, retired Northmoor lock keeper, said that EA have wanted to replace the weir since 1974 and that he had always argued that it was important as it is the only one on the towpath which people can easily view when out walking.
• Councillor D. Hoddinott advocated seeking an alternative, mechanical solution rather than a civil engineering solution - retaining the paddles and rymers but providing mechanical assistance to the weir operator e.g. with a power steering wheel – at a lower cost. The EA has a ‘duty of care’ and we need to look at the middle ground.
• Concern with 2007 flooding – flooding at Bablock Hythe affecting Northmoor. It was felt that nowhere would have been safe during such extreme conditions.
• Important to have clear objectives and to target appropriate people in the new government.
• Legacy issues – if the EA is going to go ahead the WAG needs to make sure there are conditions in place that would be of benefit to the community.
• Why use Badswell Lane when the EA has tubs and barges?
• Why not use an access route with less environmental impact?
• Weir operation – has the potential of using water power been considered by the EA as an environment friendly option?
• Other Health and Safety issues – have the concerns with the danger by traffic to children in the village been considered? (Alternatives of Oaksmere and Netherton Rd have been discussed but the EA do not appear to appreciate the roads! (they have suggested traffic lights).
• Oaksmere has been flooded too. Drain surveys need to be done there as well. Surveys are being done. Those that were already contracted have been done (i.e. Badswell Lane). All the others have been put on hold.
• Simon Hughes was reported to have been impressed by the amount of research that had been done by villagers, their involvement and undertaking.
• Unanimous approval was given by the Open Meeting to backing the Weir Action Group in their moves to work with the Environment Agency.
• Volunteers for working groups - attendees to the meeting signed up to work in areas of their particular concern.