Thames Area assets

In the Thames area we have a wide range of assets, including locks, weirs, flood defences, boat moorings and monitoring stations for air and water quality. Flood defences can include embankments, walls, flood gates and flood diversion channels. Our assets help to protect people, property, and the environment from flooding, drought and pollution.


We regularly receive enquiries about our work. This page will highlight the assets that we we receive the highest level of interest for. You will find asset information, frequently asked questions, and latest news. If you are interested in an asset not given here, please email our enquiries team.

To ensure you receive notifications about our most recent work for these sites, register with us and then subscribe to follow this page. Links to do this are in the information bar.

The Environment Agency can carry out maintenance, improvement, or construction work on main rivers to manage flood risk and protect the environment. This is done using our permissive powers under the Water Resources Act 1991. You can learn more about the Water Resources Act 1991 through this link. Any work we carry out using these powers is subject to available funding and resources.

Responsibility for maintaining main rivers ultimately remains with the riparian land owner. All watercourses not designated main river are ordinary watercourses and the Lead Local Flood Authority has similar permissive powers on these. To find out more about riparian responsibilities visit the two links below:

In the Thames area we have a wide range of assets, including locks, weirs, flood defences, boat moorings and monitoring stations for air and water quality. Flood defences can include embankments, walls, flood gates and flood diversion channels. Our assets help to protect people, property, and the environment from flooding, drought and pollution.


We regularly receive enquiries about our work. This page will highlight the assets that we we receive the highest level of interest for. You will find asset information, frequently asked questions, and latest news. If you are interested in an asset not given here, please email our enquiries team.

To ensure you receive notifications about our most recent work for these sites, register with us and then subscribe to follow this page. Links to do this are in the information bar.

The Environment Agency can carry out maintenance, improvement, or construction work on main rivers to manage flood risk and protect the environment. This is done using our permissive powers under the Water Resources Act 1991. You can learn more about the Water Resources Act 1991 through this link. Any work we carry out using these powers is subject to available funding and resources.

Responsibility for maintaining main rivers ultimately remains with the riparian land owner. All watercourses not designated main river are ordinary watercourses and the Lead Local Flood Authority has similar permissive powers on these. To find out more about riparian responsibilities visit the two links below:

  • Temple Footbridge

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    Keeping the public safe is one of our highest priorities and the Environment Agency closed Temple Footbridge on 15 May 2023 due to numerous structural and safety concerns. We know the bridge is important to both local people and visitors using the Thames Path, and we are treating this matter as a priority.

    On Thursday 8 November 2025 the main lift to remove the centre span took place. This carefully controlled process included incrementally jacking the section upwards whilst ensuring it was not snagging on the outer spans. The central span was finally fully disconnected from the outer spans after a 9-hour seamless operation. The centre span was fully lowered and moved to a secure location for inspection and storage.

    The river is now fully open for Navigation.

    Next Phase

    For more information please visit this section

  • Ten Foot Bridge

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    Ten Foot bridge crosses the River Thames between Rushey and Shifford locks near Buckland village in Faringdon.

    Keeping the public safe is one of our highest priorities and therefore following a structural inspection regrettably closed the bridge in March 2024 due to numerous structural and safety concerns.

    Following the initial bridge inspection, a follow-up specialist survey of the bridge has been completed to fully understand the structural issues associated with the bridge.

    For more information visit this section

  • Teddington Launch Lock repairs

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    Teddington Lauch Lock Reconstruction


    The Environment Agency is carrying out improvement works to refurbish Teddington Launch Lock that will result in a reliable, operational lock.

    In September 2025, our construction partner, Bam Nuttal, mobilised to site to begin the refurbishment works. To date, the team has completed ground investigations, removed the upstream lock gates, and installed the upstream stop logs / propping throughout the lock chamber to support the lock during construction.

    Following the Christmas break, the site team have removed the downstream lock gates and have installed a temporary stop log barrier in their place. They will now begin to dewater the lock chamber to allow engineers access to the lock chamber to continue the works. Both sets of lock gates have been removed from site for inspection and repairs.

    Please note, the Thames path at Teddington Lock and Ham Street car park will be diverted for short periods of time throughout the works and will be clearly marked on site.

    Teddington Barge Lock will continue to be the primary lock for our Navigation customers throughout Launch Lock’s re-construction. Once the Launch Lock is returned to operational service, it will become the primary lock for Navigation.

    We anticipate the project will be on site for approximately one year, with the lock likely to reopen in late Summer 2026. The project will deliver improvements that enhance the safety, functionality, and resilience of Teddington Lock.

    We are working closely with Richmond and Wandsworth Councils to give advanced warning of any diversions and to limit the inconvenience to our customers.


    For more information visit this section

  • Marsh Head Horsebridge

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    Marsh Head Horsebridge is situated near Marsh Lock, Henley, Oxfordshire. It is one of two footbridges of similar construction in this location. The bridges carry a public right of way from Henley past Marsh Lock and are part of the Thames Path National Trail.

    A bridge was first constructed at the site in 1796, and the current bridge was last subject to a major refurbishment in 1996.

    Keeping the public safe is one of our highest priorities and therefore following a structural inspection, we regrettably closed Marsh Head Horsebridge in May 2022 due to numerous structural and

    safety concerns.

    The refurbishment of this bridge is being treated as a priority as we know how important it is to both local people and visitors using the Thames Path.

    Recent Updates

    To learn more about the closure of Marsh Head Horsebridge Visit this section

  • Abingdon Weir Walkway

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    The weir walkway at Abingdon was re-opened on 30 September 2025.

    Following further inspections and an assessment of the structure, procedures were put in place to identify the trigger points for the closure of the weir during high flows. When the hand radial gates are due to be operated, and the trigger point is reached the walkway will need to be closed until flows decrease.

    The agreed trigger level has now been reached so the walkway unfortunately needs to be closed and the hand radial gates are in operation.

    Once the flows have receded and the hand radial section of the weir is no longer required to operate there will be another inspection to assess if the structure has deteriorated. If there is no visible change then the weir walkway can be reopened to the public.

    The walkway supporting structure continues to need refurbishment in order to achieve its full design strength. It therefore remains at risk from impact damage during high flows.

    We appreciate our customers' patience while we progress this important work and remain grateful to everyone for continuing to use the footpath diversions when the weir walkway is temporarily closed.

    To learn more visit this section

  • Bridge 142 - River Thames Egham

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    Following a tree strike in 2023 an inspection of this 90 year old bridge highlighted significant safety risks caused by cracks within the cast iron structure and one of the bridge supports.

    Keeping the public safe is one of our highest priorities and we therefore closed Bridge 142 in February 2024.

    We have closed a section of the Thames path, just south of the Runnymede Bridge/ M25 bridge between the Runnymede Hotel and north of Staines. There is an alternative safe route in place.

    The Environment Agency is sympathetic to the concerns raised by the Thames Path organisation and the local community and we apologise for the ongoing disruption. We are committed to keeping everyone updated on our progress.

    To learn more visit this section



  • Penton Hook Island closure

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    Penton Hook Island remains closed to the public.

    Unfortunately, due to scale and complexity of the work required to clear the diseased and dangerous trees from the island, we have had to keep the island closed.

    We continue to work to resolve this issue as quickly as we can. However, Ash dieback rots the tree from inside, making the felling of these trees extremely unpredictable. This poses a risk to the chainsaw operator and the surrounding environment and so we must use specialist mechanical equipment, which will have to be brought to site by river. The associated enabling works to the island bank, as well as the constraints brought about by bird next season (March – September), further increase the complexity of the work.

    We are working closely with partners to explore funding options and hope to be able to arrange a public engagement event in Spring 2026 to update the local community of our overall management plan for the island.

    Keeping the public safe is one of our priorities and we apologise for any inconvenience this closure may be causing. We know the importance of this site to the local community, and we are committed to keeping everyone updated on our progress.


    To learn more please visit this section.

Page last updated: 10 Feb 2026, 11:27 AM