The era reports that punts the picturesque river cam – a tradition that has lasted over a century – can lead to a heartbreaking end as an authority that appears to be facing financial ruin.
The River River Guardian (CAMCON), who has managed six miles of rivers since 1702, warns that two nearby Rock Islands, which control water levels, are on the verge of collapse. If they give way, the idyllic stretches known as the Buck – boasting the world-famous views of King's College, Bridge of Sighs and the Wren Library – are left as muddy trickles and panting becomes impossible.
And it's not just tourists who feel the loss. The row handlers further north of the prestigious university were able to find that it was based on volatility in water levels and clogging weed choking channels.
Parental Chair David Goode said: “A river that extends along the back between Mill Pond and the Lock of Jesus, the water levels are artificially held high by the gates of the Lock's waterway. In the charm and economy of Cambridge.”
Good added that both the island of Yes Rock and Bait Bite Rock, located a few miles above the river, are in need of emergency repairs. Baitbite Lock has already been closed for over a year, with many boat owners locked up.
“Last year, there were reports that Jesus Rock's island was in the face of imminent danger of collapse. If it was imminent a year ago, it wouldn't get better,” he said.
Camcon said emergency stabilization costs around £1.5 million per Rock Island, with a full replacement going up bills from £10 million to £15 million. Without cash, parents fear that they cannot continue.
In the tough update to residents, Camcon, which employs only three full-time staff, said it could not perform any more critical repair work on the Lock “without the threat of bankruptcy.” The message is, “The reserve may still need to be incorporated into another organization or simply unfeasible and operational.”
The agency is restricted to fundraising powers by legislative actions. Its main income comes from fees for using the river. Paddleboards cost 315 pounds per year, while 20 metres of ships cost up to 3,000 pounds. But the leader wants to change the funding model so that it can raise funds from local people, businesses and universities.
Ammiller, co-chair of the Cam Valley Forum, which campaigns to protect the river, said the university needs to help more. “If it's a sludge that the river has, tourists don't want to come. The university along the river will suffer,” she warned.
“We're a technical city. From Microsoft to AstraZeneca, we have a lot of billionaires, wealthy universities and wealthy businesses.
