Urgent repairs to Cambridge river lock near completion
The county's Combined Authority pledged £500,000 towards the lock
Work to repair a lock on the River Cam in Cambridge is nearing completion, according to the county's Combined Authority (CPCA).
In September, the authority approved £500,000 of the £1.5 million needed to help stabilise Baits Bite Lock through its UK shared prosperity fund allocation from national Government.
“The work being done at Baits Bite Lock is an urgent and a positive step in saving the River Cam," Paul Bristow, mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said.
“I put forward this funding bid to my Board because the Cam is an integral part of life in Cambridge and its collapse would be catastrophic for the city."
The £500,000 would go towards the Conservators of the River Cam, which manages Cambridge's waterways - who would make the repairs to the lock.
Previously, the Conservators claimed if locks like Baits Bite in Milton aren't open, water levels could drop significantly, which would impact punting and access for boat users.
Some of the work involved includes reinforcing the lock island by filling large voids and repairing major cracks and brickwork, to help make the lock safe for navigation and protect its structure.
Rod Ingersent, of Scudamore's Punting Company, has told us that "the natural level of the river if it was not dammed up by having locks and sluice gates would be a mere trickle."
The CPCA has said similar work will also need to be done at Jesus Green Lock to stabilise the structure ahead of longer term work to fully rebuild and restore the locks.
Mr Bristow said these works is part of his efforts to "boost tourism right across the region" and will look to find a long-term solution for protecting the River Cam.
In June, the Conservators said replacing the current infrastructure on the River Cam is beyond its financial capacity.
David Goode, chair of the Conservators of the River Cam, admitted the group has had to use “all our available funds to stabilise Baits Bite Lock and get the navigation reopen.
"This grant from the mayor has been a lifeline for us, offsetting almost one third of the cost, and allowing us to invest in improving operations on the Cam.”