Visitor Moorings at Wallingford

[Jaysay]

A welcome piece of information: the local council has given approval for visitor moorings at Wallingford on the eastern side, downstream of the bridge. The (much needed) moorings have permission to incorporate a pump-out and fresh-water service point. The contract has been awarded, and work is expected to start about now (early March) and to last 10 weeks.

 

[Brayman]

Who's taking bets on whether they will be available come the summer?
They've been talked about for long enough, I can't see them being built in time for this season, but I hope I am wrong as Shillingford Bridge main arch will be closed in the summer, Wallingford will be top o'the river for some.

 

[byron]

Exactly where will this be Ian? If it's the east side of the river below the bridge (starboard hand going up) then it will need extensive dredging and campshedding. That is also designated flood plain furthermore it floods frequently.

 

[Brayman]

Exactly where will this be Ian? If it's the east side of the river below the bridge (starboard hand going up) then it will need extensive dredging and campshedding. That is also designated flood plain furthermore it floods frequently.

I can't find any plans or sketches but I believe it is a few hundred yards below the bridge as you suggest and I agree that it will be a problematic project or a useless facility. Supposed to be started this week and completed by May!!

 

[miket]

Confused

I was talking to a boating resident of Benson and he said the new moorings were above the bridge, stbd side.
I confess that I understood before this that it was below stbd side, but does anyone have a link to council/ EA confirmation?
What is this about Shillingford Bridge centre arch being closed.
The bl***y Thames is getting shorter and shorter!!
Needless to say no refund from EA on licence?

 

[Brayman]

I was talking to a boating resident of Benson and he said the new moorings were above the bridge, stbd side.
I confess that I understood before this that it was below stbd side, but does anyone have a link to council/ EA confirmation?
What is this about Shillingford Bridge centre arch being closed.
The bl***y Thames is getting shorter and shorter!!
Needless to say no refund from EA on licence?

I too, originally thought it was above the bridge but all I can find suggests it is below.

Re Shillingford Bridge, here is the notice published in January:
River Thames – Partial river closure
Shillingford Bridge, near Wallingford
Monday 1 March 2010 to Friday 15 October 2010
During these dates, each arch of the bridge will be closed at different times, while refurbishment work takes place. The river will remain open but navigation will be restricted.
When the side arches are closed the centre arch will be open and when the centre arch is closed both side arches will always be open.
When the centre arch is closed no mooring will be allowed within 40 metres of the bridge.
Please follow directional signage and navigate slowly and with caution in the vicinity of these works.
Gail Bradstock
Harbourmaster
22 January 2010

I queried the EA and they reckon that the side arches will be done first and the centre arch last which will make it summertime. They have tested the depth in the side arches and found nothing below 1.2m, they have also taken The Lady Ethel through the side arches, that's a Salters trip boat ( http://www.simplonpc.co.uk/SalterBros/LadyEthel-01-SB_bg.jpg) . There will be mooring restrictions of about 50 metres either side of the bridge when the side arches are being used. It's definitely a "canopy down" job for us but I'm sure there will be some boats that won't be able to make it. Narrow Boats will rule this summer it seems - in more ways than one!

 

[matt_lake]

New Wallingford Moorings

The plan is for 100+ metres of new moorings that extend upstream from the back of the Lido and up past the caravan site (immediately to starboard when through the bridge going upstream). SODC got planning approval a couple of weeks ago but there is a huge amount of sheet piling and re-profiling of the bank to be done so I guess it's safe to assume they won't be available this season.

 

[Gumpy]

Looks like they might be available after May
http://www.southoxon.gov.uk/ccm/con...ow-have-start-date.en;jsessionid=anQCZ3ZUkh36

Quote
The new moorings at Riverside, Wallingford now have a planned start date of 8 March, with completion hopefully by mid May.

On Monday 8 February the council approved funding of £221,500 and the award of the tender for the new moorings at Riverside, Wallingford. The move further demonstrates the council’s commitment to the project that will attract more visitors to the town and boost trade for local businesses.

Plans for new moorings were granted planning permission on 16 December 2009 and a has appointed a contractor for this work. The council hopes to have the moorings in place as soon as possible so the town can reap the benefits of passing trade from the river in time for summer.

 

[byron]

Riverside! That is the section above the bridge starboard hand where the kiddies pool is and where Salters run from for a few weeks each year. This section shouldn't present as much of a problem in making viable as the stretch below the bridge.

 

[Brayman]

Riverside! That is the section above the bridge starboard hand where the kiddies pool is and where Salters run from for a few weeks each year. This section shouldn't present as much of a problem in making viable as the stretch below the bridge.

I must say that this makes more sense and is in line with my original understanding. I didn't know what was known as "Riverside".

 

[ianc1200]

I should imagine mooring alongside on the starboard bank above the bridge will be as much fun as mooring next to the swimming pool in Abingdon when the sun is out; ie drop your anchor, be prepared for teenagers hanging around to the early hours etc.

I'm more worried about this closure of the central arch at Shillingford; I do read this correctly that if the central arch is shut both the side smaller arches will be open at the same time, with one for upstream, one for downstream navigation? And is there an overhanging branches issue downstream on the non hotel side?

IanC

IanC

 

[Brayman]

Yes, both arches open, one for each way. No problem with overhanging branches apparently, ahem, I personally haven't been able to check. I'm at Shillingford next Friday but it will be dark before I get there I expect, maybe someone local can chek the growth near to that arch?

 

[DogsBody]

I should imagine mooring alongside on the starboard bank above the bridge will be as much fun as mooring next to the swimming pool in Abingdon when the sun is out; ie drop your anchor, be prepared for teenagers hanging around to the early hours etc.

IanC

Last time I moored there, come sundown some local teenagers were trying to set light to the rubbish bins. They stopped when they realised I was filming them and told them if anything untoward happened overnight I'd take the film to the local police station.

Always try to moor below Abbingdon bridge these days.

 

[byron]

Yes, both arches open, one for each way. No problem with overhanging branches apparently, ahem, I personally haven't been able to check. I'm at Shillingford next Friday but it will be dark before I get there I expect, maybe someone local can chek the growth near to that arch?

Dunno about the Starboard arch (going up) but the Port arch is damned shallow just upstream of the bridge.

 

[byron]

I should imagine mooring alongside on the starboard bank above the bridge will be as much fun as mooring next to the swimming pool in Abingdon when the sun is out; ie drop your anchor, be prepared for teenagers hanging around to the early hours etc.


IanC

That side of the river is fairly quiet. The Yobs tend to be drinking the other side. To access the 'new' moorings they will need cross the bridge then walk back on themselves. I'm not saying this can't happen but generally I would say there's too much effort involved.