IT has been part of North Yorkshire’s waterways for hundreds of years – but now a historic lock’s days of letting boats pass through its gates could be numbered.

The Environment Agency is considering whether to continue operating a facility allowing craft to travel along the River Derwent at Elvington, near York.

It is responsible for opening and closing a set of metal sluice gates at Elvington Lock, but is now looking at whether it is cost-effective to keep doing this due to the small numbers of craft using the stretch of water.

However, Elvington residents say they hope it can remain operational, saying its closure would deal a blow to the area’s heritage.

The existing lock, which also has a timber gate, owned by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, further downstream, dates back to around 1850, although a barrier has been in place in various forms for several centuries.

Ian Bailey, chairman of Elvington Parish Council, said: “It is a slightly strange situation because of the two sets of gates being owned by two different bodies.

“We would prefer the lock to be kept open, but we can understand the Environment Agency’s possible reluctance to spend money on it as there are only a small number of craft movements through it every year.”

One Elvington resident who lives close to the lock said: “Losing the lock gates would mean losing part of our heritage, which would be a shame, and I would personally like to see it renovated and kept open.”

Matt Smith, of the Environment Agency’s operations delivery section, said: “The situation is a complicated one.

“Should boaters wish to navigate the lock, they need to phone our staff at Barmby Barrage, who will then travel to Elvington Lock to open the sluice gate.

“We don’t operate Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s gates.

“It is further complicated by the lack of a navigation authority on the Derwent.

“This means that, strictly speaking, any boat navigating upstream of Elvington requires the permission of the landowners.

“Both the sluice and lock gates are in need of maintenance so we are currently looking at ways in which the situation can be resolved and our costs reduced, but no decision has yet been made.”