Detailed guide: River Medway: conditions, closures and restrictions
Updated: New notice to mariners added.
River conditions
Current condition on the River Medway:
Green: all clear (effective from 9am 6 September 2018).
What the conditions mean
Red: strong stream. We advise users of all boats not to navigate because the strong flows make it difficult and dangerous.
Green: all clear. No stream warnings are in force, all boats can navigate the river freely.
This web page will only be updated during business hours (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm). Outside these hours, customers should call Allington Lock on 01622 752864 for the latest stream information.
Dragon Boat Races, The races will begin at the bend after the sports ground and finish at Big Bridge, approximately 200 metres downstream. There will be 2 boats in each race (3 in the final). The event will commence at 07.30 hours and finish at 17.30 hours. Would all other river users please give the racing crews unhindered passage during these times.
Sunday 23 September 2018
Maidstone Invicta Rowing Club to St Peter’s bridge, Maidstone
Maidstone Invicta Rowing Club will be holding the Maidstone Spring Head Race. The races will be run on a timed basis over a course from just upstream of the Malta Inn, Allington to just before St Peter’s bridge, Maidstone. There will be four divisions starting at 09:00, 10:45, 12:30 and 14:15 hours. Each race should last between 30 and 45 minutes.
Planned lock closures
There are no current planned closures on the River Medway.
The Environment Agency sends email updates on planned River Medway closures and restrictions. To subscribe to this service, email allington.lock@environment-agency.gov.uk with ‘subscribe to notice to mariners’ in the subject line.
Detailed guide: River Thames conditions, closures, restrictions and lock closures
Updated: Notices added for Fallen tree in Windsor reach, Weybridge Silver Skulls, Isis Winter League, Autumn Fours and Nephthys Regatta.
River conditions
Find out the latest river conditions and strong stream warnings by:
Weybridge Silver Skulls: the navigation channel will be established on the Surrey, left hand side of the river.
Sunday 28 October 2018, from 1pm to 5pm
Iffley reach
Isis Winter League: in between racing divisions a clear navigation channel will be in place along the centre of the river.
Sunday 4 November 2018 from midday to 6pm
Iffley reach
Autumn Fours: in between races a clear navigation channel will be in place along the centre of the river.
Friday 16 November 2018 from 1pm to 4:30pm and Saturday 17 November 2018 from 9:30am to 4:30pm
Iffley reach
Nephthys Regatta: in between races a clear navigation channel will be in place along the centre of the river.
Wednesday 21 to Friday 23 November 2018 from midday to 4:30pm and Saturday 24 November 2018 from 11am to 4:30pm
Iffley reach: Folly Bridge to Iffley Lock
Christ Church regatta 2018: Regatta boards will mark the upstream and downstream extent of the course. In between races a clear navigation channel will be in place along the centre of the river.
Sunday 25 November 2018, from 1pm to 5pm
Iffley reach
Isis Winter League: in between racing divisions a clear navigation channel will be in place along the centre of the river.
Sunday 20 January 2019, from 1pm to 5pm
Iffley reach
Isis Winter League: in between racing divisions a clear navigation channel will be in place along the centre of the river.
Sunday 3 February 2019, from 1pm to 5pm
Iffley reach
Isis Winter League: in between racing divisions a clear navigation channel will be in place along the centre of the river.
Sunday 17 February 2019, from 1pm to 5pm
Iffley reach
Isis Winter League: in between racing divisions a clear navigation channel will be in place along the centre of the river.
Planned lock closures: updated 17 August 2018
The Environment Agency carries out a programme of works on the River Thames every year between October and Easter. This often results in the closure of a number of locks for relatively long periods.
So that river users can plan their winter cruising and boat movements well in advance, the Environment Agency publishes the first issue of their programme of works in August each year.
This programme of work is subject to change, due to weather and other circumstances. Revised issues of the programme of works are published throughout the winter, so customers can keep up to date. To receive this information, sign up to the email update service by emailing riverthames@environment-agency.gov.uk.
Listed below are the locks that will be closed during the 2018 to 2019 investment programme. The locks will be closed from the first date listed and re-open on the day after the final date:
When
Where
What’s happening
29 October 2018 to 31 January 2019
Molesey Lock
Replacing the timber sheeting on the face of each lock gate.
29 October 2018 to 15 March 2019 (Passage may be possible from February 2019)
Caversham Lock
Refurbishing the lock chamber’s concrete walls and timber edging. Replacing the wet boat shed roller shutter doors upstream of the lock.
29 October 2018 to 15 March 2019
Teddington Lock (launch)
Refurbishing the lock chamber concrete walls and replacing the lock side rubbing timbers and bollards.
1 November 2018 to 15 November 2018
Cookham Lock
Refurbishing the concrete sill of the tail lock gates.
1 December 2018 to 1 March 2019
Rushey Lock
Replacing the timber sheeting on the face of each lock gate.
Get the latest river information before you go boating. Call the Environment Agency Floodline on 0345 988 1188 and select option 1 for river information for boaters. When prompted enter one of the quick dial numbers below for the area of the river you want to hear about:
Quick dial codes
Area
Description
415000
Upstream of St John’s Lock to Radcot Lock
St John’s to Radcot locks, including Buscot and Grafton locks
415001
Rushey to Godstow Lock
Rushey to Godstow locks, including Shifford, Northmoor, Pinkhill, Eynsham and Kings locks
415002
Osney to Iffley Lock
Osney to Iffley locks only
415003
Sandford to Clifton Lock
Sandford to Clifton locks, including Abingdon, and Culham locks
415004
Day’s to Mapledurham Lock
Day’s to Mapledurham locks, including Benson, Cleeve, Goring and Whitchurch locks
415005
Caversham to Shiplake Lock
Caversham to Shiplake locks, including Sonning Lock
415006
Marsh to Boveney Lock
Marsh to Boveney locks, including Hambleden, Hurley, Temple, Marlow, Cookham, Boulters and Bray locks
415007
Romney to Bell Weir Lock
Romney to Bell Weir locks, including Old Windsor Lock
415008
Penton Hook to Chertsey Lock
Penton Hook to Chertsey locks only
415009
Shepperton to Teddington Lock
Shepperton to Teddington locks, including Sunbury and Molesey locks
415010
River Kennet upstream of Blake’s Lock
River Kennet for upstream of Blake’s Lock and down to the confluence with the River Thames
The Environment Agency sends email updates on River Thames closures and restrictions. To subscribe to this service, email riverthames@environment-agency.gov.uk with ‘subscribe to harbourmaster’s notices’ in the subject line.
Know your river conditions
Any river activity poses a greater risk when there are strong currents, high river levels or cold weather conditions. River flows can increase even during the summer months – never assume sunny weather means the conditions are not hazardous.
Warning boards may be displayed at locks to inform river users of the conditions. Read the explanations of what these mean for you. Don’t take risks and never underestimate the power of the river.
When these red boards are displayed on lock gates, we advise users of all boats not to navigate because the strong flows make it difficult and dangerous.
People in hire boats arriving at a lock where these boards are displayed should stop immediately and contact their hire boat operator to ask for instructions.
Strong stream warning
When these yellow boards are displayed on lock gates, we advise users of all unpowered boats not to navigate and users of powered boats to find a safe mooring. This is because river flows are likely to strengthen, and red boards could be displayed very soon and without further warning.
Stream increasing warning
When these yellow boards are displayed on lock gates, we advise users of all unpowered boats not to navigate and users of powered boats to navigate with caution.
Stream decreasing warning
Dealing with changing river conditions
Read this section carefully to find out what to do if you find yourself in conditions where we advise you to stop navigating. Remember, not all conditions will be serious enough to require all the measures suggested below.
Please take the advice to stop. Even the most experienced boater can be caught out, so think about those who could be put in danger if they have to help you.
Moor your boat in a safe place, preferably in a marina or at a recognised mooring. Limited space may be available at some locks. Moor against high banks if you can.
Ensure your mooring lines are fastened to secure fixings such as bollards, rings or even trees; put out extra lines for additional security and allow enough slack for a further rise in river levels; don’t rely on your own mooring pins or stakes, they might not hold.
If possible, put extra fendering (eg scaffold poles or strong timber posts) between your boat and the bank side, to prevent your boat drifting onto the river bank and becoming caught up when levels drop.
Make sure you have a safe exit ashore from your boat. If not, you should consider returning home or finding alternative accommodation until conditions improve.
If you are running low on essential supplies or have other safety concerns and are not able to vacate your boat safely, treat this as an emergency and dial 999 to ask for evacuation.
Those in hire boats: if you are advised to stop navigating, you should stop immediately and contact your hire boat operator and follow their instructions.
Please remember your life is more important than your boat
The Environment Agency does not provide emergency services and is not able to carry out search and rescue, or provide supplies to stranded boats.
Guidance: Waste classification technical guidance
Updated: Updated Waste classification technical guidance. Appendix C revised to reflect requirements of Council Regulation 2017/997.
Technical guidance WM3 applies in England from 1st July 2015, when the legal requirements change.
This document provides guidance on waste classification. It is a comprehensive reference manual for anyone involved in producing, managing and regulating waste. You need to be competent in hazardous waste and have some knowledge of chemistry to fully utilise all aspects of this guidance. Appendix A includes the waste classification codes, also referred to as LoW (List of Waste) or EWC (European Waste Catalogue) codes for hazardous and non hazardous waste. This document does not provide guidance on the packaging and labelling of waste for transport.
Guidance: What happens if TB is identified in your herd in Scotland and Wales
Updated: Updated Wales document – compensation section
All cattle herds are classed as Officially TB Free (OFT) if their TB tests are up-to-date and there is no suspicion of TB infection. If TB is suspected, then cattle is put under restrictions and the OFT status is suspended (OTFS). A veterinary officer or inspector from APHA will complete a disease investigation to asess the TB breakdown, its possible origin and implement control measures to prevent the spread to other herds.
These documents explain in detail what happens if bovine TB is identified or suspected in a cattle herd. It provides information on: