Planning Permission will be needed for each lock and likely approved before a fund application can be made for full grant funding. Likewise, an Environment Agency (EA) permit will also be needed and with Creeting Lock being Grade II listed the Trust will require permission from Historic England to carry out any restoration work. Indeed the new gates may be required to be an exact design based on the original gates. The Trust have received three Lock Gates quotes, each were based on original photos supplied, but Historic England will have the final say.

The EA have previously advised that they would like to see a passive solution to encourage fish and eel passage through the different levels of river ‘pounds’ when gates are installed. The Trust will work with the EA to achieve this.