No Olympic access from Regent's Canal
IT HAS been confirmed that notwithstanding the offer of moorings along the Regent's Canal by British Waterways, no boat traffic will be allowed past Commercial Road Lock during the Olympics, but will have to use the tidal Thames.
Access will only be allowed from the tideway at Limehouse under tight police control, and not from either the Regents Canal or the Hertford Union Canal.
Extreme concern
The Inland Waterways Association has written to all concerned, including the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, the Olympic Delivery Authority and British Waterways to register its 'extreme concern' at the closure of Commercial Road Lock on the Regent's Canal for the duration of the Olympics.
The association cannot understand that though boats are being allowed to pass on the Lee right next to the Olympic site from Tottenham to Limehouse, access to Limehouse should be restricted to the route via the Thames and not allowed via the Regent's Canal, which is a mile from the Olympic site at its closest point.
Navigational risks
The Inland Waterways Association considers that the entry to Limehouse Basin via Commercial Road Lock would be easy to police using whatever approach they are using at Tottenham. This would avoid the risk of encouraging unsuitable vessels to use the Thames and all of the associated navigational risks caused by attempting a downstream tidal passage.
London Region officers of the association had requested British Waterways to properly consult during the process and involve stakeholders in the discussions, remarking that regrettably despite these requests the discussions and negotiations were conducted at arms length.
Drive boaters onto Thames
Tony Bower of Camden Canals tells us:
"I wish to draw your readers attention to the nonsensical closures of the Regents Canal for the Olympics which will drive boaters out onto the Thames if they wish to move from the Lee & Stort to the Grand Union Canal."
He suggests boaters consider supporting the Inland Waterways Association campaign against the closure of Commercial Road Lock, isolating Limehouse from the main canal system.