Lock’s £3m project to boost fish with a special fast lane
A £3 million refurbishment of a lock on the Medway is set to provide a special fast lane for fish.
The Environment Agency (EA) is carrying out the work to East Farleigh lock, designed to boost the structure and help wildlife.
There have been concerns about dwindling numbers of lampreys and eels over the years and results of surveys into their numbers are yet to be announced.
The Medway near East Farleigh is also home to pike, perch, roach and common bream.
So engineers are building a special gate, which will allow fish to swim through the lock and weir to reach new spawning grounds.
Fish passes add in an extra lane to the lock structure and mean fish can safely navigate the changing water levels. It is also hoped this will encourage sea trout to breed.
The project, which began on Monday, is being funded by the EA and the refurbishment is the first major work carried out on the lock for more than 100 years.
It is part of a scheme to improve 10 locks along the Medway and nine of them will have fish passes when work is complete.
East Farleigh is the second lock boaters arrive at if visiting from the tidal river and heading upstream.
Philip Munslow, waterways operations manager, said: “It is a testament to the previous lock refurbishment that it has lasted over 100 years, especially in such a harsh environment.
“The construction is made more complicated by the confined nature of East Farleigh lock.
“However, working with our suppliers we are pleased to be able to invest in this site and bring the lock up to modern standards.
“The completion of these works will secure this structure for the next 100 years.