With all ‘out and about’ activities suspended because of the Coronavirus Pandemic, here is a wonderful chance for one lucky RTS member to own a unique wooden table 'The Silver River' featuring the River Thames in silver leaf and for all those who buy tickets to help an important River Thames charity.
About the table
Mike Orme has carved the river from source to sea in this beautiful table of Sheesham wood, illuminated in silver leaf, 1400 mm long, 465 mm wide and 455 mm high.
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Chairman: Hilary Pereira
020 8892 5086
Hon Secretary: Pat Speight
020 8948 0643
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The Upper Tideway branch has a limited social programme of talks, walks and picnics, some together with other local groups.
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We have a presence at various annual events, such as Tidefest, the Great River Race and Richmond Fair, and currently host the RTS cutter alongside a vintage craft just below Richmond bridge. With other local groups, we engage with the Thames Landscape Strategy, supporting and enhancing on our special local Arcadia.
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We have an interest in planning matters, trying to preserve what is best about the river, and are ever watchful for applications, including any new non-mobile houseboats, that appear to encroach on precious river space.
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The river authority for us is the Port of London Authority We responded last year to their proposals for changing the legislation under which they operate, but have yet to hear how they propose to proceed.
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We are a small branch in terms of the length of the river we cover, but hope we punch above our weight, for example in relation to policy matters.
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Current Activities - Branch Update (September 2024)
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The big local event coming up is the Great River Race on Saturday 21st September. This year it is a bit later in the month as well as later in the day than usual, all to fit in with the tides: sorry, we got the times too early in the branch calendar as printed in the Thames Guardian. The first boat away from near Greenwich is expected around 13.15, with the faster boats setting off later. The first boats to arrive in Richmond may be around 16.30 – at least that’s when the local river gets closed by the PLA to routine through traffic. Some of us from the RTS will be around the finish at Ham, to greet the RTS cutter which is taking part. There is food and drink and loos set up for spectators and participants at Ham, but there are lots of other places from which to watch the race, with Chiswick Pier another excellent spot.
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The joint meeting ‘Richmond under Thames’ held with the Richmond Society on the 25th April reconfirmed that flooding remains a pressing local concern. We followed our visit to the Leg of Mutton nature reserve on the 15th May with visit to Isleworth nature reserve on the 13th July, as reported on in the latest Thames Guardian. The most recent branch event was a picnic by the river at Buccleuch Gardens on 17th August. Some RTS members also enjoyed Chiswick Pier Trust’s Party on the Pier on the 21st July. Tidefest is coming up on the 8th September, with activity around Kew Bridge, but this year without any special events put on by the RTS.
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Planning decisions on the Peggy Jean restaurant based on the Jesus College barge by Richmond Bridge and on the River Thames Visitor Centre went the way the RTS had advocated, but the situation on the river appears to be unchanged. Scope for appeals is limited and time running out. The RTS has also commented on the latest iteration of the proposed rebuilding of ‘The Boathouse’ right by the Thames on Ranelagh Drive, which is in a conservation area, flood plain, Metropolitan Open Land and close to the grade II* heritage asset of Richmond lock and sluices. We will be watching carefully to see what happens, as always advocating for good planning decisions that protect our precious river from inappropriate development. So it is fitting that the next scheduled talk to the branch covers planning control on the river, scheduled for the 1st October, 7.30 at the Twickenham Club in Church Street, Twickenham, jointly with the Twickenham Society.
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The Port of London Authority (PLA) uses the PLA Act 1968 to control the tidal river. It intends to change this Act, using a procedure called a Harbour Revision Order (HRO). A process has been going on now for some years, with the RTS and many others responding to various consultations. The latest consultation was on the supposed impact related to the Equalities Act. We understand there is to be a public inquiry into the remaining objections to the HRO, date as yet unknown. In the meantime, the old PLA Act remains in force and we are still uncertain where the new version will differ.
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As has been reported on in the latest Thames Guardian, we have been in discussions with local interests about registering Brentford as a Heritage Harbour. This was promoted at the Brentford Canal Festival on the 22nd June, with further meetings subsequently of a small organising group, which includes representatives of the Upper Tideway branch of the RTS. The waters in Brentford of historic interest include Watermans Park, where we note with dismay the slow progress in developing the moorings that had been promised. We continue to press Hounslow Council on this.
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Please see details of planned events on the Events page.
