Stephen Kearney: "We must fight for these riverside heroes"

5.25.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Sun 15th Jun 2008

Stephen Kearney has hit out at the Government's crazy policy of selling off lock keepers' cottages. A plan to sell off or rent out local lock keepers' cottages including those at Wallingford, Buscot, Little Wittenham, Sandford-on-Thames, and Culham is being considered.

The sell off, which will mean lock keepers and their families have to move home, is to raise funds for the Environment Agency.

One local resident said:

"The danger of flooding is bound to increase if lock-keepers are not living on site. If the river level rises quickly, access to weirs could be dangerous or simply impossible."

Stephen, a boat owner himself, is passionate about the future of the waterways. He said:

"I applaud the work of those who helped rescue those in distress on the river over the past few weeks. But each of the recent accidents on the river could have been very serious."

"The recent hazardous conditions are a perfect example of why we need our local lock keepers, and why they need their cottages. They provide help for river users, vital expertise and advice for the Environment Agency and can even help prevent some of the hazardous conditions."

Stephen met with Lib Dem Leader Nick Clegg in Henley recently to discuss their new 10 point flood plan and how it will help areas like Henley.