‘Boxy’ boat must be removed from the riverside park

WATER OAKLEY: An avid campaigner says she is 'over the moon' after a planning inspector ordered developers to remove a vessel from the Moorings, Willows Riverside Park, writes local democracy reporter James Bagley.

The Royal Borough served an enforcement notice in January 2019 to Haulfryn Group Limited (HGL), saying the vessel known as Haulfryn 1 did not comply with one of their conditions of only allowing traditional and houseboats to moor at the riverbank.

This condition was in place when planning permission was granted since 1992.

HGL appealed the council’s enforcement notice, saying Haulfryn 1 is a houseboat – but the planning inspector, Sarah Dyer, disagreed and dismissed this, ordering them to remove the vessel from the riverbank after concluding it is not a houseboat.

Due to Haulfryn 1’s ‘boxy shape’, the inspectorate also concluded it visually impacted the green belt and disrupted the view of the bank for users of the River Thames and the Thames path, harming its setting and character.

HGL was also ordered to disconnect all sewage, electrical, and water pipes from the bankside.

The inspector published her conclusion of the appeals hearing – which took place in December – on January 26.

Since 2015, HGL has had a couple of planning applications to build houseboats at the Willows Riverside Park, off Maidenhead Road, refused.

The plans were met with multiple objections by residents.

Tais Oliveria, who spearheaded the campaign against the applications, said she was ‘over the moon’ with the inspectorate’s decision.

She said: “In my view, the inspectorate was very fair in her judgement and she realised the impact that it had on all of us.

“It’s not just about the park – but it’s about the rivers, local community, the users of the Thames path, the river users, and the impact on the green belt, open space, the character of the area, and so on and so forth.”

She added: “I am over the moon with the results – but I would like to hear from the council what exactly the consequences and implications of this decision means for now in the short and long-term.”