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.
Update – June 2025
Elmbridge Borough Council has been exploring the introduction of a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) to limit mooring to 24 hours (with no return within 72 hours) at the following locations:
- Ditton Reach
- Albany Reach
- Cigarette Island
- Cowey Sale
- Hurst Park
- Parrs mooring (land near Hampton Court Bridge owned by Surrey County Council)
This proposal was approved by the Council’s Cabinet on 7 February 2024, following two phases of public consultation. The council adopted a new Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) on 21 February 2024.
Legal challenge and court ruling
After the PSPO was made, a legal challenge was submitted within the allowed timeframe. The Council defended the PSPO in court in November 2024, and voluntarily suspended its enforcement during the legal process.
In February 2025, the Court ruled to quash the PSPO, because the order’s wording did not clearly state that restrictions would not apply during stream warnings in certain upstream areas. Although this was clarified in the Council’s Environmental Enforcement Policy, the Court found the PSPO itself needed to be clearer.This means the PSPO could not be enacted in its current form.
Importantly, the Court upheld the Council’s position on all other 14 grounds, confirming that:
- The PSPO was otherwise clearly worded
- The process was rational and fair
- Public consultation was properly conducted
- The Equality Impact Assessment was adequate
Third Phase of Consultation
To ensure transparency and proper procedure, a third phase of consultation was held from 25 March to 25 May 2025. This invited feedback from residents, river users, and stakeholders on revised documents and the proposed implementation of the PSPO.
Next Steps
All feedback from the third consultation is now being reviewed by the Strategic Director, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Culture and Commercial Strategy.
If they are satisfied that legal conditions are met, the Council may proceed with making the Elmbridge Borough Council Unauthorised Mooring PSPO. If approved:
- Details will be published on the Council’s website
- Signage will be installed at affected locations to inform the public
*Riverside sites affected by PSPO:
Previous consultation and concerns raised
Two phases of consultation were undertaken from February to December 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 were 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.
Second phase consultation
To be transparent, to address concerns from the previous consultation and to ensure that due process for a PSPO is met, a second phase of consultation considered more detail on how a potential PSPO for unauthorised moorings would be implemented and enforced.
The documents below provide more details on the potential PSPO: