BARRY Smith states that "dredging the river is not the answer" (You Say, December 4) then talks of sluices.

These would be of no use if the river wasn't dredged. The sluices already exist in the locks. In other years, these have been used as he suggests, but for some reason, this didn't happen in this last flood.

For them to be effective, the downstream gates are left open. Buy a copy of the Great Flood,see page 17 and you will notice the picture of Holt Locks shows both sets of gates are closed.

M SIMPKINS, Droitwich.