Bell Weir Refurbishment Works September 2026: river restriction notice
Published 26 August 2026
© Crown copyright 2026
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bell-weir-refurbishment-works-september-2026-river-restriction-notice/bell-weir-refurbishment-works-september-2026-river-restriction-notice
When
Monday 14 to Friday 25 September 2026.
Where
Bell Weir Lock.
Details
To facilitate Bell Weir refurbishment, contractors will be assembling a temporary dam in the upstream lock cut.
The channel width will be reduced by approximately 2 metres while the dam is in place.
Marker buoys will be in place to clearly mark the dam’s position.
All vessels must navigate with caution when approaching the lock and maintain lookout for ad hoc restrictions to width of navigation.
Byelaws
Nothing contained in these directions shall supersede those parts of the Thames Navigation Licensing and General Byelaws 1993 and the UK Merchant Shipping (Distress Signals and Prevention of Collisions) Regulations 1996 as may be relevant. Particular attention should be paid to byelaws 24-42 of the Thames Navigation Licensing and General Byelaws 1993, Steering Sailing and Speed.
And Notice is hereby given, that it is provided by Byelaw 52 of the Thames Navigation Licensing and General Byelaws 1993 that:
The master of any vessel shall except in an emergency not pass any boat-race regatta public procession or gathering for the launch of a vessel or any other event or function which may cause a crowd to assemble on or by the river nor station his vessel thereon in such a manner as would risk obstructing impeding or interfering with such boat-race regatta procession launching event or function or endangering the safety of persons assembling on the river or preventing or interfering with the maintenance of order thereon.
The maximum penalty for breach of the Byelaws is £1,000.
Read our Thames Navigation Licensing and General Byelaws 1993.