Viewpoint: Passing the parcel over sunken boats

Email Viewpoint letters tojamesp@baylismedia.co.ukor write to Viewpoint, Newspaper House, 48 Bell Street, Maidenhead, SL6 1HX.

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Fond memories of the town’s Halifax branch

No doubt many will be saddened to read of the impending closure of the Halifax in Maidenhead.

我有幸的分行经理r several years in the 1990s, at time when building societies had a much more significant role than is the case today.

With large numbers of loyal customers they were happy times, but the world today is a much different place.

I thank all the staff members who have diligently and cheerfully worked at the branch down the years, and all the customers who helped to make my time there such an enjoyable experience.

JIM TUCKER

Chauntry Road

Maidenhead

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Passing the parcel over sunken boats

The article about sunken boats on the Thames between Maidenhead Bridge and Boulters Lock sums up the tragedy of the Boulters riverside.

Since 2019 members of the Boulters Riverside Community Interest Company have restocked and maintained the flower beds at the Lock, one of which is the responsibility of the council, and the other of the Environment Agency.

This simple action by residents exemplifies that neither responsible body shows any interest in the riverside. With sunken boats it is a classic case of pass the parcel.

The council cannot easily remove boats but the Environment Agency which has the power (and resources) to do so will only act if the vessel is a hazard to navigation.

Result – nobody does anything.

The riverside is neglected and sliding into squalor. There are three visible sunken boats tied to the railings along the riverside. I am advised there are two more below the surface.

I have suggested before that the council, which owns the riverside embankment, could put up signage on the embankment saying ‘no overnight mooring’ and appoint river wardens to enforce this with authority to issue fines. This would prevent these derelict boats being left there.

In addition the boats along this stretch of river that are being lived on would have to move and thereby stop discharging waste and sewage into the river – none of the residential boats have pump-out facilities.

Riverside residents removed indolent and disinterested Conservative councillors in the last election and now want to see what our Lib-Dem councillors can do.

Can we have our flowers back along the riverside lamp-posts? Will you stop boats mooring onto the railings, often damaging them which we as taxpayers have to pay to repair? Can you provide safe facilities for pleasure boats to board passengers in Maidenhead before the boat operators withdraw their services, which I know they are considering? Will you do anything to restore our Riverside to its ‘Jewel of the Thames’ status?

Are you even willing to meet interested parties to better understand our concerns and suggestions? I have a sinking feeling myself that the answer to all the above will be a deafening silence.

MICK JARVIS

Boulters Riverside CIC

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Restore Riverside asJewel of the Thames

Further to the article on abandoned boats, I thought I would write with my experience trying to resolve the problem during my time as a Riverside councillor.

There are two aspects to this issue.

The first is the registration of the boats and the second is the mooring of the boats.

I'll begin with the registration issue.

All powered boat owners are required to buy an annual licence and display it on the craft if they wish to keep the boat on the Thames. They are also required to have third party insurance and a four-yearly safety inspection.

The Environment Agency (EA) has powers to enforce these rules and can prosecute boat owners who fail to comply.

I have had many, many meetings with the Environment Agency.

This would result in a flurry of issuing tickets, which appeared on boats for non-compliance but then seemingly were unenforced. The excuse from the EA for lack of enforcement was lack of funding.

This always struck me as odd, as stronger enforcement would lead to increased compliance and greater revenues.

The EA have taken non-compliant boaters to court on other parts of the Thames, so the council’s job will be to maintain pressure on them to enforce the legislation.

It is nearly always a non-licensed boat which is not properly maintained that eventually sinks. There can be a number of reasons for this.

In any event the outcome is the same – a submerged boat which is a pollutant and hazard to river traffic.

The EA says that it won't take action against a submerged boat unless it is causing pollution or represents a navigation danger.

My argument was that any submerged boat surely meets both the criteria.

The EA says that the sunken wreck is the problem of the landowner of the bank to which the boat is attached.

Unbelievably, leaking fuel, oil and a ton or so of fibreglass and metal does not constitute serious enough pollution.

If the EA enforced licences effectively boats would have to be properly maintained with a safety certificate and insurance.

Nevertheless, the Borough arranged the removal of several sunken craft during my time but it is an expensive, yet necessary process.

The second part of the issue is around mooring.

一个运行良好的系泊方案将提供收入the Borough, and will introduce control and regular monitoring of the riverbank.

Overstaying, unlicensed craft and antisocial behaviour can be quickly identified and dealt with.

This will encourage visiting tourist craft to stop and use local businesses and any mooring profit can be spent on improving the riverside facilities.

Maidenhead was slightly more complicated, with ownership of parts of the riverbank in question.

However, shortly before the end of my term in office, it was confirmed that the borough could introduce a mooring scheme at Maidenhead.

I arranged a meeting with new Riverside councillor Richard Coe so he could take matters further and I hope he does.

The success of the Riverside to Maidenhead is so important that it goes above political allegiance.

In summary, the EA need to considerably raise their game on enforcement and the borough need to remove the current fleet of sunken boats and introduce a mooring scheme.

河边就会再一次的珠宝the Thames.

GREG JONES

Former councillor

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Cllrs make new ground sound like Old Trafford

I have just read the comments by parish councillor Derek Wilson and borough councillor Leo Walters (Viewpoint, July 21) – saying Braywick Park is not big enough to accommodate the new proposed football stadium.

I’m a Maidonian of 45+ years, having played for both Maidenhead rugby and football teams – so was excited to see the town’s sporting clubs move forward.

Plus, let me be upfront…. my wife works for the football club at present, which is NOT the reason for me writing this note.

I found their Viewpoint so blinkered and misleading.

As this must have been in the planning for a number of years, their comments I presume are inaccurate and just their new point of view.

I believe a joint football/rugby facility would be amazing for Maidenhead – all right next to the new leisure centre. The councillors make it sound like Old Trafford is being built on the land!

For me, the letter from Leo and Derek is not accurate and unfairly influences people’s perceptions – which is wrong.

The hypocrisy of the situation: I’m going to flip this to Maidenhead Golf Club. I was a member there for many years and feel the need to question Derek and Leo on this based on the letter they submitted.

I’d love to know what they think about building 2,000 homes on the golf course, destroying this wildlife sanctuary for the benefit of new housing? Not to mention the effect on the local community?

Is the golf course site big enough for 2,000 (yes 2,000) new homes and everything else this would bring with it?

I THINK NOT!

Is it all about money? Maybe this is what’s missing from the football/rugby situation?

My opinion is that building 2,000 homes on Maidenhead Golf Course would be a long-term catastrophe for the area.

I’m sure Braywick Park is certainly big enough, and that it would be great for Maidenhead sports fans.

I get frustrated when I read these off-the-cuff comments which are inaccurate and sway people’s thinking.

Come on Maidenhead council!

JUSTIN LANCASTER

Maidenhead

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How can council afford to refuse club’s cash?

Supporters of Maidenhead United and many of your readers will be dismayed by RBWM’s decision to renege on their commitment to lease part of Braywick Park for a purpose-built football facility.

Others will be surprised to learn that this ‘cash strapped’ council have refused £460,000 from a local football club while telling us that there will be ‘tough choices’ within their budget.

I do hope that councillors will debate this dodgy decision and explain to residents how they can afford to refuse a large sum from a local sports club while telling residents that they have ‘no choice’ but to cut services.

ED WILSON

Bryer Place

Windsor

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No longer proud to say I’m from Maidenhead

I wanted to endorse Jean Fuller’s letter last week (Viewpoint, July 28) on what could be done to make Maidenhead a better place, albeit I think it’s currently becoming beyond help in several areas and certainly not the town I moved to 38 years ago.

I was once quite proud to say we lived in Maidenhead but sadly not anymore. Where do I start?

1. Perhaps the state of the depressing characterless High Street with its increase in empty shops and dearth of all those independent butchers/grocers and clothes shops that used to exist and make it actually worth coming into the town centre.

Contrast that with the very vibrant, always bustling High Street in Marlow, with their many varied collection of shops…

2. Since the closure of the Nicholsons car park the remaining parking facilities have been disgraceful, and not fit for purpose – Sainsbury’s car park has had a downward travelator out of action for WEEKS and the ticket machines, having increased in price TWICE this year, are constantly not working, but who in authority seems to care?

For those with young children in buggies or the disabled, forget it.

Waitrose and Tesco car parks are far more user-friendly.

3. Seems we are playing ‘spot the postman’ yet again, having had no post for four days and I am awaiting an urgent letter sent on July 20 (10 days ago as of writing) which has not yet appeared. It can’t be blamed on COVID or strikes this time.

Try getting through to the sorting office and waiting 20 minutes before it cuts you off!

4. And last but not least (don’t get me to comment on all the town centre tower blocks resembling the banlieue monstrosities in the outskirts of Paris), an accident is waiting to happen approaching the Cookham Road narrow bridge where the Right of Way arrows sign is completely obliterated by foliage.

Just cross your fingers and hope as you go through …..

PAMELA SMITH

Shifford Crescent

Maidenhead

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Film studio car traffic will hit cycling hard

The Marlow film studio has yet again put in another application.

I am writing to object in my capacity as owner of Saddle Safari which has been the bike shop in Marlow for over 30 years.

My three decades as both cycle shop owner, campaigner and local resident probably qualifies me above anyone to speak on the impact the studio would have on cycling in Marlow.

The cycling provision proposed by the studio is woefully inadequate and the projected extra 4,000 car journeys a day would only have one consequence.

Every study of cyclist’s behaviour and every experience by city and town planners in the UK and throughout the world show the same thing.

If you reduce the amount and speed of traffic, people feel safer to use their bike and cycling increases, together with all active travel. Our lockdown experience of a huge boom in cycling shows us that.

When the cars returned after lockdown the bikes sadly returned to the shed.

Therefore any extra influx of cars will only cause a reduction in bike journeys.

More cars mean less bikes. It really is as simple as that.

ANDREW RACKSTRAW

Saddle Safari

Dean street

Marlow

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Massive profits don’t really improve service

An open letter to the chief executive of Centrica:

Many congratulations on the half-year profit figures reported for Centrica last week and, in particular, the massive growth in the profits from British Gas.

Hopefully, none of your board will suffer the indignity of a cut in bonus of the kind borne so stoically recently by the boss of the Post Office, following some whingeing by disgruntled former employees.

Now that the bank-balance of British Gas has been so boosted, may I ask you to use your good offices to persuade them to invest in a stamp and an envelope, and to reply – however belatedly – to the various letters I have sent them over the last three years, seeking repayment to me of a small amount of money overpaid by me on their bills before I ceased being a customer of British Gas in 2020.

These letters include one dated 17th April 2021, which started:

“REFUND CHEQUE RETURNED HEREWITH: PLEASE CALCULATE CORRECT AMOUNT AND SEND THAT.

Thank you for your letter of 8th April, 2021, and the cheque ....

Unfortunately, you have taken no account of either my 23rd June 2020 letter to you, or my 27th January 2021 letter (see Appendix, for ease of reference) to you, which explained the error in your calculation of how much you owe me... While the sum of money involved is to a multi-million-pound business such as yours or British Gas – trifling; it is MY MONEY, not theirs.

It is not clear to me why your British Gas colleagues should think either that, if they keep ignoring me I will disappear; or that it is better to wait for me to issue proceedings in the County Court under the Small Claims Procedure, than to return my money to me in a proper, business-like manner. Thank you for your time. I remain, sir, a dissatisfied former customer of British Gas.”

Centrica

Customers of British Gas, draw near;

Engorge their profits, with all good cheer.

Never expect British Gas may hear

Their error explained: there is no fear!

Reading letters costs money, you know.

Ignoring them is cheaper; just so!

Complaints, they may come and go:

Addressing them is glacially slow!

JAY FLYNN

Moneyrow Green

Holyport

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Time to let grown-ups take reins of power

In a concise contribution (Viewpoint, July 28), DR Cooper berates the Conservative Party for risking the union of the four home nations to gain ‘a low value special trade deal with the European Union’.

It should be remembered that many former supporters of the Leave vote stated they’d be happy to witness the breakup of the UK in order to leave the EU.

What seems strange is to criticise the Tories for deceit about the party's stance on the EU, since Winston Churchill and his successors have all encouraged greater European integration.

Prior to the referendum in 2016, the vast majority of Conservative MP’s were in support of Remain.

It is only since the Johnson putsch of 2019 that voices of common sense and moderation have been expelled or deselected.UK exports to the EU have diminished since 2020 because the UK is now a third country to our closest markets.

There will be many agreeing with DR Cooper in thinking it inconceivable to vote for the Tories again as government ineptitude, corruption and lies have been so destructive to our country.

It’s surely time to let grown ups take our the reins of power.

JAMES AIDAN

Sutton Road

Cookham

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’Tiser in naughty corner

Both Simon Werner and the Advertiser should be ashamed of themselves.

In his comments on the BLP, which you reported on page 6, the word he and you wanted is ‘straitjacket’. ‘Strait’ as in ‘the Straits of Gibraltar’ or ‘Strait is the gate and narrow is the way’ (Matthew: 7, 13/4).

‘Straightjacket’ is a regrettably increasing error but I was sure you both knew better!

BILL PERRY

Sutton Road

Cookham

Editor’s note:Strait back to school for us. My apologies for the error.

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Look out for waymarks

A leaflet detailing the route of the Millennium Walk (Hurley to Maidenhead Riverside ) has been in existence since 2012 and was updated in 2022 to show the new link across Battlemead Common.

Devised as a project by Maidenhead Civic Society (MCS) and East Berks Ramblers (EBRA) to celebrate the year 2000, the route until now has not been waymarked. With funding mainly from the two societies, and help from the Parish Paths scheme of the Royal Borough and Rotary Bridge, waymarking has now begun, masterminded by Tim Burt of MCS.

It will take a while but we hope to have the main route completed by the beginning of September. As the Millennium Walk mostly follows the Boundary Walk from Pinkneys Green to the river, the new signs will be seen by those doing the Boundary Walk in October. The link to Marlow will be done later as funds allow. So, look out for the blue and white waymark when out walking.

Ann Darracott

MCS