River Thames emergency lock closure: Sonning Lock
Published 14 October 2016
© Crown copyright 2016
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When
From Tuesday 1 to Thursday 3 November 2016 between 8am and 5pm.
Where
Sonning Lock.
Details
The mains water supply to Sonning Lock Island has been damaged. In order to repair the damage, divers are required to dive in the head lock cut immediately in front of the head lock gates. This emergency work is essential in restoring the mains water supply to the lock island.
In order to carry out these operations the lock will be closed to all river traffic from 8am to 5pm from Tuesday 1 November to Thursday 3 November 2016. The lock will be open between the hours of 5pm and 8am on public power. If you are planning to travel through Sonning Lock over this period please plan your journey so that you pass through the lock before 8am or after 5pm.
We apologise for any inconvenience this emergency closure causes and thank you for your patience during this time.
Byelaws
Nothing contained in these directions shall supersede those parts of the Thames Navigation Licensing and General Byelaws 1993 as may be relevant.
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.