Cam Conservancy statement on Baits Bite and Jesus Lock islands24 October 2024

The state of the lock islands at Baits Bite and Jesus Green is presenting challenges to the Conservancy. Visual and underwater camera surveys show that the fabric of both locks is unstable and vulnerable to collapse. Both lock islands carry public footpaths over the river, and the footpath at Baits Bite was closed by Cambridgeshire County Council at the same time as the Conservancy closed the lock and remains closed.

Both locks will require stabilisation work to make them safe in the short term and rebuilding in the medium term. The immediate stabilisation work is likely to cost around £1.5 million per lock, with the need greatest at Baits Bite. Rebuilding the locks is likely to cost at least £5 million each, probably more.Funds for the immediate stabilisation work are not readily available to the Conservancy, and the medium-term rebuilding of the locks is beyond the Conservancy’s financial means.The Conservancy’s income comes almost exclusively from fees, which just cover routine operations and it receives no additional funding for capital works.

As a result, the Conservators are exploring potential sources of external funding.Since the damage was reported, the Conservators of the River Cam have commissioned further surveys and appointed an external project management team, beginning with the immediate stabilisation work at Baits Bite to reopen the navigation safely as soon as possible. The Conservators are about to appoint the principal contractor for the work.

The Baits Bite stabilisation project will have four phases:Planning and preparation. This includes the appointing of the project management team, principal and other contractors, and ensuring that all regulations governing building work, and Construction (Design and Management), health and safety at work, etc. will be met.Enabling works. These include investigation, preparation, and assessment of the site, and ensuring an appropriate design and understanding of the scope of the works required.Stabilisation works. Even just the lock island stabilisation is a significant engineering project.Monitoring. When the stabilisation works at Baits Bite are complete there will need to be a monitoring phase to ensure that the lock is safe to reopen.

The Conservators will use the experience gained at Baits Bite in the Jesus Lock stabilisation project.The Conservators want to be in a position to safely re-open the navigation as soon as possible, but it will not be possible to open the Locks until this work has been done. The Conservators’ principal concern is safety – the safety of members of the public, river users, and the Conservators’ staff and contractors.

The Conservators will give regular updates during the Baits Bite stabilisation project.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE22 August 2024 Further update

The Conservators of the River Cam are currently in the process of appointing appropriate contractors and professionals in order to undertake the stabilisation of the lock islands. We are hoping to appoint the relevant experts as soon as possible.At this present time we have no indication of when the locks might open again.We do appreciate this is very frustrating however The Conservators are working to address the situation.​

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Stakeholder Closure Statement24 July 2024Update​

Over recent weeks, since we first closed the locks, the Conservators have sought further expert reviews regarding the threats to the historic lock island structures, the impact of opening the locks on the structures and the nature of the work required to stabilise them. Based on this expert advice and in view of the increasing movement at the lock islands, particularly at Baits Bite, Conservators consider that in the interests of public safety we cannot justify opening the locks or lock islands until the lock islands have been stabilised.  We recognise that this will cause great concern and inconvenience for powered boat users. The lock islands are being monitored regularly in the meantime. In the coming weeks additional information about the repairs will be clarified and this will be communicated as soon as possible.​​

21 MAY 2024Temporary Closure of Baits Bite and Jesus Green Locks.

Due to safety concerns regarding the structural integrity of the lock islands at Baits Bite and Jesus Green, the decision has been taken to temporarily close the locks until further notice. More detailed structural investigations will be undertaken and a plan for remedial works developed urgently. The Conservators are engaging with the Environment Agency and Local Authorities to seek a coordinated approach.

 

Further information:The Conservators of the River Cam are responsible for the navigation (the river) from Mill Pool in Cambridge to Bottisham Lock (Waterbeach) and the locks in between, namely Jesus Green Lock (JGL) in Cambridge and Bait’s Bite Lock (BBL). ​Each lock has an island between the lock chamber and the sluice and weir structures, which it supports. At both Jesus Lock and Baits Bite Lock, the Conservators own the lock and lock island, while the Environment Agency (EA) own and operate the sluice and weir. In addition, the lock islands support footbridges and public right of way in these locations, which are managed by the relevant Local Authorities.​

Following observations of cracks in both lock islands, early in 2024 the Conservators of the River Cam commissioned structural surveys.​

The consequent reports identify significant structural fragility in the lock islands and a need for reinforcement work in the short to medium term.​

The Conservators have collectively reviewed the reports and are urgently drawing up a detailed risk assessment, commissioning more detailed surveys, and developing a project plan for remedial works.