Lashbrook / Wargrave moorings

[Teddy]

Does anybody know what is happening to these moorings? The signs have been removed as far as I can see, and there appears to be some red "no mooring, private land " signs up at various places. Are they not EA moorings anymore?

 

[plumbob]

Another loss. I thought the same thing a couple of weeks ago. But we know what thought did.

 

[boatone]

To the best of my knowledge these moorings remain available as EA 24 hour visitor moorings. Current charge is free for 24 hours and £5.50 per extra 24 hours, max stay 72 hours. Pay at nearest lock - Marsh or Shiplake.
Since the EA took moorings management back in house there are no definitive signs at many EA moorings but the above info holds good for all 24 hour visitor sites.
TVM continue to list these sites as a public service but have no involvement in their management.

 

[Gibeltarik]

In the absence of EA signage it is not unknown for fishing clubs and some boaters (!) to take it upon themselves to put up their own signs.

 

[Chris_d]

Those moorings are very poorly defined and signed, there is a privately owned section at the upstream end near where the footpath comes in and then it becomes private again at a some point downstream and behind the islands. As there are no EA signs defining the extremities you can only see the private no mooring signs at either end.

 

[thamesS23]

we moored there on our holiday recently.



As far as we could make out, the downstream end of the footpath (which is a dead end), was probably always a private mooring, but recently it looks like the landowners have sold of that small end plot of land and had a small property built on it. They have also cleared the trees to give that new property a riverside frontage. I’m guessing they don’t want boats moored at the end of their garden, so have now put up no mooring signs.
Further upstream next to the EA moorings (were we are in that image), again the landowner has cleared the trees to give a view of the river. I suspect the owner, judging by some new internal fences near that mooring, is looking to sell that small plot of to build a property on, and again is promoting a river view. The difference here is there is EA moorings at the end of the new plot. They haven’t put up no mooring signs here, but the EA ones have disappeared? Maybe to discourage boats appearing at the bottom of a plot he is maybe thinking of selling?

 

[Outinthedinghy]

The footpath used to go to a ferry which crossed the River just above Hennerton backwater.

There has always been a cast alumimium Thames Conservancy mooring permitted sign near where the boat is in the picture above.

I think from memory it had arrows showing where mooring was and was not permitted.

Further down seems to be private but most of the actual bankside not adopted apart from where they have built the dwelling with the landrover outside.

And I think those wooden mooring posts are probably from Thames Water days but whether the EA actually own the land is of course a slightly different question.

 

[DWT]

I think the TVM mooring signs disappeared quite some time ago. A no mooring sign went up on a tree a little way downstream from the gate to the footpath but disappeared quite quickly.
This spot is a long way from either Marsh or Shiplake lock and I doubt the keepers there ever monitor the site.
Interestingly the wooden posts continue quite a long way downstream, but are lost in the undergrowth.

 

[oldgit]

Is there a map online anywhere showing all EA public moorings.
Do recall going past some perfectly acceptable moorings with EA signage but rarely ever with any boats moored there.

 

[Scapegoat]

Is there a map online anywhere showing all EA public moorings.
Do recall going past some perfectly acceptable moorings with EA signage but rarely ever with any boats moored there.

There was a list provided by EA when the DE contract was introduced - but no map

 

[DWT]

Thought I’d revive this thread. Lashbrook is one of our favourite spots, quiet but an easy walk to the St George and Dragon pub at Wargrave.
There is a strip of land in the middle of the moorings which was sold a few years ago. I recall the sale particulars made it clear the land did not come with any mooring rights. The owner has put up a small fence and a couple of flower boxes to define the boundary, but has also put up a “private” sign which makes it look like the mooring is private. There is a small dayboat permanently moored there which I assume belongs to the landowner.
There are also two quite decent looking Freemans moored just upstream which rarely seem to move and appear to be unlicensed plus another small open boat just downstream. These together with a quite large scruffy looking boat on the farthest downstream end now severely restrict the available space. We’re just squeezed in next to the boat outside the “private” section and there’s a hire boat on the only other available spot.
Given these are supposed to be EA 24 hour moorings is there anyone to report this to? I appreciate the EA have bigger issues and probably nothing is likely to happen, but it’s worth a try.

 

[Scapegoat]

If for any reason you wish to make a complaint to the EA, especially matters about the management of the non-tidal Thames, the email address to use is: enquiries_THM@environment-agency.gov.uk

This email address routes your complaint directly to the Customer Engagement Team in Red Kite House, Wallingford.

Cc enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk

Put COMPLAINT in the header

Published procedure:-

Complaints procedure

 

[Chris_d]

Unfortunately I doubt the EA have any incentive to sought these moorings out they have much bigger issues elsewhere! The landowner with the small section in the middle recently applied for planning permission to build a landing stage and this was approved by the local council, haven't noticed if anything has been built yet.

 

[DWT]

Thanks for the info Scapegoat.
I’m sure you’re right Chris that the EA have more pressing problems. No sign of the landing stage going up yet, but really disappointing that’s been approved. It’s surely the thin end of the wedge.