Brian on Harnser wrote: >lockman35 expressed precisely : >> Strange,I phoned BW London Office at 09.10 yesterday to speak to John Guest. >> Got straight through to him and discussed the sign. Ditto with Jamie France >> a >> couple of minutes later >> >Perhaps that is because you are not Adrian:-)
A reasonable theory. However, I hadn't given my name at the time, and the person answering the phone didn't know my voice. "Ray Butler" wrote: >As the "brains" behind the Folly Bridge protests of 1980 - 82 (girders were >placed under the bridge reducing the headroom to 3 ft 6 because a lorry had >knocked a hole in the pavement) that got the bridge reopened after *that* >BW foul-up I find the crass ignorance that this displays absolutely >appalling. > >It took 2 years and 2 blockades of the navigation (Conveniently located for >the Old Barge Pub) to reclaim the winding hole last time. Yes. What a needless hassle for everybody. Except perhaps the pub (recommended, even through it no longer has a luxemotor on its sign). >Folly Bridge has restricted headroom (in that you have to go through with >the chimney down but - If I remember aright - not the cans No, it's actually the lowest on the river, at 2.1 m above weir crest. As a result, I avoid attempting it during the winter. It used to be higher at one time, but that doesn't matter much as Mill Road (former rail) bridge further along the pound is only very slightly higher. . >AFAIR The Lee is a commercial waterway with a public right of navigation up >to the proper head which is the TOWN BRIDGE above Folly Bridge. Actually, it's the weir above Town Bridge. The whart for the (vanished) Town Mill is above the bridge. However, as it has no official navigation authority above Folly Bridge, I think it doesn't have a commercial classification. EA Recreation notionally has a role, as in all such cases, but in reality doesn't seem to care except wrt flood management. So, in effect it's a common law navigation, which East Herts Council eventually accepted a few years ago and so abandoned plans for a fixed low-level bridge across it. However, don't think that means it's a trove of free moorings, as all the bank on both sides, much of which is former wharves, is privately owned (no towpath above Folly Bridge) except for a small park. Much by McMullens brewery, which is somewhat anti-boat, as can be seen from its fencing off the wharf of the Woolpack pub at Town Bridge. All are closely guarded. Adrian Adrian Stott 07956-299966
