Drought Restrictions Sunbury and Molesey Locks 2026: river restriction notice
Published 21 August 2026
© Crown copyright 2026
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/drought-restrictions-sunbury-and-molesey-locks-2026-river-restriction-notice/drought-restrictions-sunbury-and-molesey-locks-2026-river-restriction-notice
When
9:30am Monday 24 August 2026 until further notice.
Where
Sunbury and Molesey Locks.
Details
Temporary Navigation Restrictions – Sunbury Lock and Molesey Lock
Due to prolonged dry weather, sustained high temperatures and reduced river levels, temporary navigation restrictions are being introduced at Sunbury and Molesey Locks. These measures are necessary to conserve water resources, maintain navigable water levels and support essential public water supply abstractions. The Environment Agency is actively managing available water resources to balance the requirements of navigation, the environment and drinking water supplies.
Restrictions to Navigation
From Monday 24 August, the following restrictions to navigation will be in place:
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during Lock and Weir Keeper hours, lock passages will be limited to one upstream movement and one downstream movement every 30 minutes.
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Lock and Weir Keepers will coordinate vessel movements and pack locks wherever possible to maximise the number of craft passing through each lock cycle and minimise water loss.
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overnight lock closures will be introduced to allow affected reaches to recover and recharge. Lock gates will be closed and chained 30 minutes before the end of Lock and Weir Keeper hours of duty and will remain closed until 30 minutes after they start work the following day.
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boaters are advised to plan their journeys carefully and ensure suitable overnight moorings can be reached before lock closure times.
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boaters may use lock lay-bys for mooring during overnight closure periods, free of charge, if they reach a lock after it has been closed for the night.
These arrangements will remain under regular review and may be amended in response to river conditions and water resource requirements. Further updates will be issued, as necessary.