Photos by Peter Harper
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Emhrys Barrell, local organiser, writes:-
Red boards out, but still 8 boats, including Princes
Marina, passenger boat from Thames River Cruises, tugs, barges, nbs,
canoes, dinghies..
60+ people, bikes, canoes, rowers, walkers, all the local
press, 5 minute interview on Radio Oxford in morning.
Even the sun came out. Banners looked great.
Thanks to all the organisation.
Brian Roberts, IWA Central Southern Region Chairman,
adds:-
Walkers, cyclists, fishermen and even a diver ignored the
thunderous rain at Goring today lunchtime. They were in support of a large
passenger boat , two steam launches, cruisers, canoeists and a narrowboat
tackled the swollen river to protest against the DEFRA cuts to the Environment
Agency. Oarsmen had faced such an increasing stream that their eight arrived
too late to hear the impassioned speech given by local waterway campaigner
Chris Coburn O.B.E. and a message of support from the Chairman of the Goring
Chamber of Commerce.
Ironically the weirs were fully open to avert possible
flood risk . and it is expenditure on such weirs that is one of the categories
of works which is being closely examined in response to the DEFRA cuts. More
water was expected from the heavy upriver rains later in the day.
Local press were present in force and later reports will
include photographs of the protesters on both land and water. |
