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The Environment Agency has acquired part of the Thames and Kennet Marina at Caversham Lakes, Reading, Berks.

The site acquired by the Agency - made up of a hard standing area and various storage units - will be used as a strategic river access point and will strengthen the Agency's ability to provide a 24 hour emergency response to incidents on the River Thames.

The site, off Henley Road, has many benefits. Not only does it provide a direct access to the lakeside but there are also off-river moorings available for tugs, barges and specialist craft. It will be used for receiving obstructions and debris taken from the river or off the local weirs, for inspection and maintenance of Agency craft, and storage of key equipment and materials to deal with a range of incidents arising from flooding, stranded vessels and pollution.

Through this deal, which was completed on 1 June, the Agency will regain important aspects of its river access capability that were given up in October 1998.

At that time, Thames Water Utilities Ltd required the vacation of the wharf and workshops which formed part of the site on the River Thames that is currently under redevelopment next to Reading Bridge.

During the intervening period, the Agency has relied on temporary arrangements to manage its operational requirements for this stretch of the River Thames, but was keen to restore a permanent access point.

The Caversham Lakes site was chosen for its good road-to-river link, which is essential for the Agency to undertake its job properly, in carrying out various river maintenance activities and works associated with its Navigation duties.

A river access point will be created alongside the existing boat lifting facility that will allow the loading and unloading of materials and equipment to better tackle emergency and routine river works.

Marina berth-holders will still have the opportunity to use the hard-standing area to store and work on their boats.

In taking over this part of the site, the Agency is seeking to restore those aspects of its previous depot that are essential to its operational requirements in the Reading area. The two other strategic river access points for the River Thames are located at Osney in Oxford and at Sunbury-on-Thames in Surrey.

Neil Watson, of the Agency's Thames Region water management team, said: "This purchase is good news for the Environment Agency. It has secured a permanent site for river access allowing us to meet our operational and emergency needs."

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