Northmoor Weir work postponed

THE first round in the fight to save the unique Northmoor Weir on the Thames has been won by the protesters.

Regulars readers may remember that it is the only paddle and rymer weir left in the world that spans a whole river, which the Environment Agency wants to replace with a modern radial gate system.

Cost £3 millions

The agency admits that it will cost £3 million to replace, yet its replacement will have no effect on flood management at all.  But now the whole scheme has been postponed, Martin Cox tells us.

Another blow to the Environment Agency is the result of a poll run by the Oxford Times, with the question:

Is the Environment Agency right to spend more than £2m on a modern replacement for historic Northmoor Weir?
The result was 'Yes' 16%, but 'No' a resounding 84%.

Want money returned

The agency have confirmed that the proposed replacement of Northmoor Weir with a modern radial gate system is postponed, and will therefore not happen this year. The protesters are now pressing for the money to be returned to the flood prevention budget and used for that purpose.