The statement went on to say no action will be taken to sell or rent lock houses until these negotiations on the full review are completed. 'We anticipate that this will take six months but this guarantee will continue until all negotiations are completed or 1 January, 2009, whichever is latest,' said the EA, which will then review the position on lock houses with lock-keepers and their representatives and with the MPs group.

The EA took the decision to sell 10 of its 57 lock houses – and rent out a further 12 – was made early in May after they were identified as not being needed for 'operational reasons'.

The IWA went immediately on the attack, mobilising its not inconsiderably parliamentary lobby to force an Early Day Motion tabled by Ian Taylor MP ( Esher and Walton) stating 'That this House is concerned about the Environment Agency's proposal to dispose by sale or letting of 22 lock-keepers' homes along the Thames; recognises the importance of lock-keepers being resident in homes adjacent to locks to maintain safety on the river; fears for the welfare of the lock-keepers and their families...'

The EA responded with Eileen McKeever, Thames Waterways manager, insisting: 'lock staff will not be made redundant under plans to review the way in which the River Thames is managed'.

The EA said it had been running the river in the same manner for 40 or 50 years, and it needed to modernise its working practices.

'Speculation about jobs being lost as a result of these changes to the lockhouses is just not true, and I want to categorically state that we will not be making people redundant,' said Ms McKeever, pointing out there will still be lockkeepers on site during normal hours and we will still be providing a lock keeping service as we always have done.

Ms McKeever added the EA will not be making people homeless. 'We will ensure that all staff and their families have a suitable house to go to.'