Unsightly houseboat in Lower Upnor on the Medway

[LittleSister]

Driving piles below the HW line is a matter requiring a licence from the Marine Management Organisation rather than the council planning office. You could check the MMO website to see whether these works were licensed. If not, I suspect whoever undertook the work could be instructed to undo it.

Peter.

It is a planning matter. The HW limit is to seaward. Enclosed waters, which would include a river, are subject to planning control. Permission is needed for building and engineering works, which driving piles would be, and for any material change of use, which stationing a houseboat (or floating offices or whatever) would almost certainly be.

Permission would also be needed from the navigation or harbour authority, and often Environment Agency (depending on the particular legal status of the river).

I think, but don't know for sure, that MMO's responsibilities and controls would not extend to a river.

 

[PeterWright]

MMO control extends to all tidal waters, including estuaries, except that a statutory port authority is exempt. Don't ask me why that's just the way our nautically competent MPs wrote the law. Any body other than a statutory port authority can't even haul out a pontoon, maintain it and put it back in again in exactly the same way without a licence from the MMO.

Peter.

 

[oldgit]

Scurrilous suggestions that the owner(s) of the "shed-on-a Lighter" in Upnor is not yet done and will now attempt to use the site for some type of mooring purposes not in quite the same manner as before.

 

[oldgit]

Lighter now appears to be on houseboat moorings just upstream of Medway Bridge Marina.
The 15 piles, the landing stage and the fencing still remain in situ.
One of the reasons given in the Public Enquiry for the appellant to have constructed the mooring at Upnor was a lack of moorings for houseboats in the area, one fortunately suddenly became available ?
Of some interest might be who will be drawing those piles, the company who put them in , probably fully aware there was no planning permission or somebody else.

 

[Malish]

will be nice to see them gone.....

 

[oldgit]

piles, landing stage etc.............. still there .

 

[PeterWright]

Scurrilous suggestions that the owner(s) of the "shed-on-a Lighter" in Upnor is not yet done and will now attempt to use the site for some type of mooring purposes not in quite the same manner as before.

If he had no licence to drive the piles in that location from the MMO those piles are illegal whatever purpose they get used for. Since the piles are sited on tidal water below the High Water line, they are within the scope of MMO control and require a licence. To obtain the licence the application will be reviewed by a range of statutory consultees whose views must be considered by theMMO before the licence is issued.

 

[oldgit]

Appellant allowed a specific period of time to remove all works and to restore the site to its original condition.

 

[Malish]

Appellant allowed a specific period of time to remove all works and to restore the site to its original condition.

Happen to know when that expires?

 

[oldgit]

Do have a download of the court decision "somewhere", 6 or 9 months from date of judgement ?
Perimeter fencing was still up and couple of small trailers stored on site.

 

[Malish]

any update on the piles (Dr..... )

 

[John_Silver]

any update on the piles (Dr..... )

Pretty sure they were still there today, when I walked round to check the boat. Will look properly tomorrow….

 

[John_Silver]

any update on the piles (Dr..... )

 

[Capt Popeye]

Well recall them PILES years and years plus years ago , when Medway was my local river

Cannot see that they are any probles at all , in fact , they could be put to good Boaty use I recon ; If ground firm enough make good Scrubbing Posta , away from THAT Yacht Club nearby ; Maybe mooring posts for us that much prefer Drying Posts to Buoys

Suggest best to leave WELL alone ?

My experience is that Thames Barges used to tie up there awaiting chance to berth alongside Quays

 

[Capt Popeye]

If he had no licence to drive the piles in that location from the MMO those piles are illegal whatever purpose they get used for. Since the piles are sited on tidal water below the High Water line, they are within the scope of MMO control and require a licence. To obtain the licence the application will be reviewed by a range of statutory consultees whose views must be considered by theMMO before the licence is issued.

Might ask , is the boundaty refered to above , below MHW even MHWS ? understand that there is a difference, or used to be ?

 

[Capt Popeye]

piles, landing stage etc.............. still there .

As that area was the Training Ship / Boat the ARETHUSA mooring site for many years , indeed the Hard area above HWM was their car parking area and Drill area designated a PRIVATE area small boats were oftenallowed to Launch there , usually after a token payment to the ARETHUSA personel ; Understood that those Posts were for suitable Boat moorings associated with the ARETHUSA activities ; There was a landing stage reaching from the Small Boat parking lot down to LW mark , understood that the local Boat facility adopted it for themselves , over time

 

[John_Silver]

As that area was the Training Ship / Boat the ARETHUSA mooring site for many years , indeed the Hard area above HWM was their car parking area and Drill area designated a PRIVATE area small boats were oftenallowed to Launch there , usually after a token payment to the ARETHUSA personel ; Understood that those Posts were for suitable Boat moorings associated with the ARETHUSA activities ; There was a landing stage reaching from the Small Boat parking lot down to LW mark , understood that the local Boat facility adopted it for themselves , over time

@oldgit's post #70 gives the appeal ruling........

 

[xyachtdave]

….away from THAT Yacht Club nearby….

Hey, things have changed!

They’ve even let me join!!

 

[Capt Popeye]

Hey, things have changed!

They’ve even let me join!!

Well have they indeed ,so , has that club changed its criterior for members now ?

That suprises me somewhat

 

[xyachtdave]

Well have they indeed ,so , has that club changed its criterior for members now ?

That suprises me somewhat

I’ve been a member since 2009 and things have certainly changed. There were a couple of occasions in my first 5 years where I nearly gave up on it. Two of these were jaw dropping.

More recently they’ve lost the formal interview and adopted a friendlier, let’s show you your new club, what services can we offer you etc position.

Most clubs have realised if they insist on formal attire to use a galley for example, nobody will bother with it so it’s very relaxed now.

Like anything there’s room for improvement, people want different things out of a club, I use and enjoy the bits I need and do my best to ignore the bits I don’t.

There’s cheaper options locally but none have the facilities I need.