Visitor Mooring on Thames

[Big Ade]

We arrived at 24 hour visitor moorings in Wallingford to see a handwritten note pinned to the mooring post stating that the 90 foot of space, the only space left, was reserved for (can't read the writing). Rang the Environment Agency (EA) and spoke to Graham who was very helpful and he said that he was not aware that visitor mooring could be reserved. To be sure he contacted the local lock keeper but all he would offer was the 24 hour fee. Another EA chap called me back a little later and told me that you can book space but only on the less popular mooring sites. The very busy or high demand mooring sites are simply filled on a first come first served.

It turns out the (can't read the writing) were a bunch on canoeists, so the 30 foot behind me is plenty for them.

Ade

[cereal tiller]

1 minute ago, Big Ade said:

We arrived at 24 hour visitor moorings in Wallingford to see a handwritten note pinned to the mooring post stating that the 90 foot of space, the only space left, was reserved for (can't read the writing). Rang the Environment Agency (EA) and spoke to Graham who was very helpful and he said that he was not aware that visitor mooring could be reserved. To be sure he contacted the local lock keeper but all he would offer was the 24 hour fee. Another EA chap called me back a little later and told me that you can book space but only on the less popular mooring sites. The very busy or high demand mooring sites are simply filled on a first come first served.

It turns out the (can't read the writing) were a bunch on canoeists, so the 30 foot behind me is plenty for them.

Ade

Are you meaning the Town Council moorings at Wallingford? was not aware of any EA moorings in or near the Town.

[nicknorman]

Personally I would ignore any such handwritten note. Or typed note, unless it's clearly official. Chancers!

[Big Ade]

We are on the mooring just upstream of the three arch bridge.

Just been told that the canoeists are only using this until Salted Steamers return to this space later tonight.

That doesn't sound like casual usage to me, in fact it seems more like commercial use.

Ade

[cereal tiller]

7 minutes ago, Big Ade said:

We are on the mooring just upstream of the three arch bridge.

Just been told that the canoeists are only using this until Salted Steamers return to this space later tonight.

That doesn't sound like casual usage to me, in fact it seems more like commercial use.

Ade

Salters have that top mooring on a permanent basis,the rest of the Mooring space is Public and subject to a 5 pounds Fee for overnight mooring,Mooring during the Day is free.

Boats can stay on the Moorings for up to 2 Weeks.

Edited August 2, 2017 by cereal tiller

[Mike on the Wey]

We are moored halfway between Cleeve and Moulsford ... the Salters boat went upstream a little while ago.

[Murflynn]

since when do canoeists need a mooring?   bunch of chancers.

when I was canoeing we pulled in where no-one would notice us - that was half the fun.  

 

 

[Big Ade]

Thanks for the heads up on the Salter mooring. I tried to call the Town Council to get some verification but no joy so to avoid any issues we moved and moored at Shillingford and rewarded ourselves with a hotel dinner (used the Tastecard so mitigated the cost a little). The meatballs and spaghetti has to wait for another night.

Thanks for the info this really is a good place to find things out.

Ade

[mark99]

2 hours ago, Big Ade said:

Thanks for the heads up on the Salter mooring. I tried to call the Town Council to get some verification but no joy so to avoid any issues we moved and moored at Shillingford and rewarded ourselves with a hotel dinner (used the Tastecard so mitigated the cost a little). The meatballs and spaghetti has to wait for another night.

Thanks for the info this really is a good place to find things out.

Ade

Did you think "1970's" re the dining room? 

[Big Ade]

Yep, it was "1970's" and I felt right at home, but chips in a basket! Who thought that was a good idea? So I did the proper thing and tipped them out onto my plate.

[Paringa]

I didn't fancy starting another thread with this information but coming up river I have noticed a couple of locations now adding NO MOORING signs.

Eton college has put them upstream on the tight bend opposite the racecourse up to the footbridge. There were a couple of spots there that you could get into if Windsor was full.

The islands at Cliveden - a beautiful reach just above Boulters lock and Maidenhead - are now being charged at £10 a night although the signs don't have that info on them, I had to ask. You also can't have a fire and a couple of spots on the islands are no mooring. They had no boats moored on them...

Edited August 6, 2017 by Paringa
Spelling

[GUMPY]

Cliveden always was chargeable its only in the last few years when the old boy that did it retired and HSE said there had to be two people involved in the boat collecting the fee that it stopped 

[NigelMoore]

This might be an appropriate place to highlight another Thames Council's intention to introduce byelaws along their own waterfront -

PR 8779

04 August 2017

For Immediate Release

Views needed on new borough-wide moorings byelaw

Residents are being asked to give their views to Hounslow Council on a proposed byelaw to prevent unauthorised mooring of boats along the banks of the River Thames in the borough.

The byelaw would enable the Council to restrict and control the mooring of boats along areas of Hounslow’s riverbanks with an aim to stop unauthorised mooring which causes problems to those boat owners who have prior approval from the Council.

Problems caused by unauthorised moorings include:

Inability to move the boats without resorting to lengthy legal action

Appearance/condition of the boats which is a nuisance to the area

Illegal and anti-social behaviour

Interference with residents/visitors to enjoy the public open space

Many owners are using the boats as either permanent or as rentals accommodation, meaning the unauthorised boat owners are profiting at the Council’s expense. 

Councillor Steve Curran, Leader of Hounslow Council said: “Boats that are moored unlawfully are being unfair to those owners who pay their mooring fees and those who visit our waterways.

“This consultation will give us a platform from which we can develop the byelaw to prevent unauthorised moorings. 

“There is a huge amount of regeneration taking place in Hounslow and we want to make sure we have a clean, safe and accessible environment that can be enjoyed by all.”

To give your views please visit www.hounslow.gov.uk/consultations  the consultation runs until Friday 3 November.

[NigelMoore]

Another item that ought to be of interest to those using the tidal Thames – years ago, when local amenity groups were objecting to the proposed development on the north bank of Kew Bridge, we succeeded in getting a condition that a visitor mooring pontoon be installed. Since being built, however, the gates have remained locked, and no bollards were provided, with no advertising of its availability to the general public anyway, and with certain design flaws that endanger local canoe club users.

I and others have met with local councillors to urge improvement of safety aspects and making it available for public use as was the intent, but with concerted antagonism from the canoe club and some local moorers and residents, planning consent for demolition has been applied for.

Really, it is down to boaters to contribute to opening up an improved version of this pontoon for their benefit, on the grounds that the Blue ribbon Network policies of the London Plan insist on preservation of such facilities [ LP Policy 7.27 ].

Date: Our Ref:

25/07/2017 P/2017/3113

TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT 1990

PLANNING (LISTED BUILDING AND CONSERVATION AREAS) ACT 1990

 

Site:	LAND ADJACENT TO KEW BRIDGE KEW BRIDGE ROAD BRENTFORD
Development:	Demolition of the pontoon.

The Council has received an application for planning permission to carry out the development described above and you are invited to comment on the application before a decision is made. 

 If you wish to comment, please note the following points:

 The application and any supporting plans are now available through the planning pages of the Council’s website at www.hounslow.gov.uk/planning .

 Hard copies of this application will not be kept at the Civic Centre, or your local library.  You can find this application by clicking on ‘search planning applications’ and entering the planning number shown at the top of this page (or by entering the relevant postcode) into the planning application search facility.  Comments on this application can be made directly from these pages on the web.

 If you would like more information about the application the case officer’s details can be found on the Council’s web site. Objections can be sent directly to the officer or registered on our website.

 Comments must be received in writing within 21 days of the date of this letter.  Comments received after this date will still be considered if a decision has not been made.  Objections made on previous applications will not be taken into account.  Please note when making comments on this application you need to quote the above reference number on all correspondence.

 In deciding whether to make any comments on the application, you may wish to take into account the following advice on what are relevant PLANNING considerations which the Council can take into account in making a decision to grant or refuse planning permission:

 1.       Any planning application has to be evaluated against the Council's planning policies, which are set out in the Local Plan which is available on the Council’s website: http://www.hounslow.gov.uk/index/environment_and_planning/planning/planningpolicy.htm   There is a presumption in favour of applications which comply with the Plan.

2.       The Council also has a number of other adopted guidelines against which relevant planning applications have to be judged, such as guidelines on House Extensions.  Copies of these documents are available for inspection on the Councils website:

http://www.hounslow.gov.uk/index/environment_and_planning/planning.htm

3.         Other planning matters such as overlooking, loss of light, visual appearance and traffic and parking will be taken into account.  These planning matters do not include matters to do with loss of property values, the personal circumstances of the applicant (except in certain exceptional cases) or property boundary disputes.

 An acknowledgement will be sent for all objections received via email through the website.  Due to the large volumes of correspondence received in connection with applications, no other communication will be sent.  All comments will be taken into account in the assessment of the application. If the application is to be recommended for refusal, or objections are made against an application, this application is then placed on a weekly list called Pending Decisions, posted on the council website at the end of the working week.

http://www.hounslow.gov.uk/index/environment_and_planning/planning/pending_decisions.htm

Councillors can ask that applications on this list be referred to Area Forums for discussion, giving planning reasons why they are making this request. The Area Forum will decide whether the decision to approve or refuse the application should be made by Planning Committee, or by planning officers. Should the application be reported to Committee for decision and you have made written representations, we will notify you of the date of the committee meeting.

 You can follow the progress of this application by clicking on ‘search planning applications’ and entering the planning number shown at the top of this page (or by entering the relevant postcode) into the planning application search facility Decisions on planning applications  can be found from viewing the weekly lists of decisions.

 In the event of an appeal against a refusal of planning permission, any representations made about this application will be sent to the Secretary of State, and there may be no further opportunity to comment at appeal stage.