We know how much our riverside sites are important to residents and visitors, offering great walks and green spaces. With the increased number of visitors, we also have an increased number of unauthorised moorings along the riverbank and we want to make sure that the riverside spaces can continue to be enjoyed by local people and river users.
Previous consultation and concerns raised
Consultation was undertaken from February to June 2023 on a possible Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) to restrict mooring to 24 hours (no return within 72 hours) at Ditton Reach, Albany Reach, Cigarette Island, Cowey Sale and Hurst Park and Surrey County Council’s land adjacent to Hampton Court bridge (Parrs mooring). This was considered by Cabinet on 5 July 2023.
While there was overall support (85% either agree or strongly agree), there was also some opposition to the proposal (13% disagree or strongly disagree). See the full results:
Respondents were generally supportive of a PSPO to help to manage the riverbank and allow for a busy active riverbank. However there was a number of concerns about the potential targeting of boaters, and possibly making boat owners homeless. Some of these concerns are being considered further in the current consultation.
Current second phase consultation
To be transparent, to address concerns from the previous consultation and to ensure that due process for a PSPO is met, we are now conducting a second phase of consultation. This consultation has more detail as to how a potential PSPO for unauthorised moorings would be implemented and enforced and will be considered alongside the results already received from phase 1.
The documents below provide more details on the potential PSPO:
Riverside sites affected by PSPO:
We would welcome views and comments from residents, users of the river, or stakeholder groups on any of the above consultation documents, and how the council envisages such a PSPO could be implemented (if agreed).
Please send your comments, as well as indicating whether you do or do not support the proposed PSPO, to consult@elmbridge.gov.uk by Friday 29 December 2023.
This consultation is also being advertised on the proposed sites, with printed copies also being made available at Hurst Pool, Molesey Centre for the Community and the Molesey, Walton and Dittons libraries as well as being emailed to the stakeholders previously consulted.
Next steps
Once the consultation closes, the responses will be analysed and a report will be considered by Elmbridge Cabinet in February 2024.