Public Slipway (legal definitions and rights)

[Conrad]

Hi

Having heard several derelict unused slipways in the Thames referred to as Public Slipways I am searching hard for a legal definition in particular as to what rights there are associated with them.

Does anybody know of a source of reference, a planning rule, a statute or any other peace of literature that states precisely what duties there are for these public slipways to be made available and protected. Perhaps if anyone has any examples or case studies where it was argued that a public slipway should be put back to use and they won?

Regards

Conrad

 

[byron]

As a rule of thumb if the public highway ends at a Slipway then it is Public. I haven't seen any documentation anywhere.

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

Might be something under established custom and ptactice as well, if its been used by the general public as a slipway for 12 years or whatever.

 

[Conrad]

I wonder if this is one of those grey areas that have slipped through the net explaining why we are losing so many slipways.

Surely there must be an example of where a slipway has been saved based on a bit more than a rule of thumb, maybe us boaties are just too accepting.

I think there should be a price for the forumite that can nail that winning clause or example?

 

[alruss]

I hope you are able to find a legal definition, because I am annoyed at the amount of public
money that has been spent in Fulham, erecting bolards and then a rising barrier accross
the public slip at Broomhouse Dock. The PLA are not interested that the access has been
blocked. From what I can see, there is a moaner in the flats adjacent to the dock who seems
able to get whatever he wants, and I see it as public money being spent to keep the public
out of a public facility to keep one member of the public quiet. I would love to stop it from
continuing.

 

[boatone]

... I am annoyed at the amount of public
money that has been spent in Fulham, erecting bolards and then a rising barrier accross
the public slip at Broomhouse Dock. The PLA are not interested that the access has been
blocked.

Quite probably not a PLA matter but rather one for the local authority.

Did a quick google and found a couple of documents that refer to slipways including the one you mention - one is on the Hammersmith and Fulham website and the other the London Assembly:

http://www.london.gov.uk/assembly/reports/plansd/thames/access_thames_full.pdf
http://www.lbhf.gov.uk/Images/ThameStrat_Executive Summary_tcm21-76866.pdf

Looks like your best bet to get this looked at lies in following these up?

(googling also revealed lots of properties for sale in what is obviously a popular new development area ! Is it possible a deal has been done between local authority and developers to get some public works done at developers expense? We have a case like that on the Thames at Windsor where planning consent for some apartments near Windsor Bridge required building new EA 24 Hour moorings and allowing free access - residents committee then got all uppity and tried to make it unpleasant for us to moor there but we persevered ))

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

>>>
Is it possible a deal has been done between local authority and developers to get some public works done at developers expense? We have a case like that on the Thames at Windsor where planning consent for some apartments near Windsor Bridge required building new EA 24 Hour moori
>>>

If only it was always like that. Brother in law lives in a nice flat on one of the old wharves in Grays. The dock itself is now just a muddy inlet with the old dock sides and ladders (now safety ladders of course) when a couple of floating pontoons or even a wave deflelctor (Cobelfret ferry land!) and a few piles could have made a viable little mooring for anyone who could dry out on the soft mud,