Month: June 2014

This weekend the Queen’s row barge Gloriana is travelling upstream from St Katharine’s Dock to Henley for next week’s regatta.

She will be at Bray on Sunday night ready to arrive at Henley on Monday.

The Secretary of State for Transport has upheld the approval for a pedestrian/cycle bridge across the River Thames at Reading.

The controversial scheme involves building the crossing between Reading Bridge and Fry’s Island. It will link Christchurch Meadows on the left bank with the towpath on the right, the town side.

In April there was concern raised about felling 30 year old trees on the meadows and  a Green councillor raised objections.

The Thames Path will gain little except more local walkers enjoying a circular walk from Caversham.

The Trout Inn at Tadpole is included in The Times 50 Best Pubs For Summer.

The pub, much changed since the 1980s, now charges from £130 for  a double room bed and breakfast. Being a remote area some walkers might be tempted. A pint of bitter is £3.60.

Kate Ashbrook has produced the best report I have seen on the situation at Maidenhead where the council intends not only revoking its own decision to reopen the towpath but also reducing green open space.

There is also a link to a petition.

‘Thames Path – with no view of the river’ by Kate Ashbrook can be read here.

There is growing concern in Greenwich about the future of Enderby Wharf on the Greenwich Peninsula.

This is where the world’s first telegraph cables were made enabling people to send and receive messages in minutes rather than days or weeks.

Much of the wharf is being redeveloped by Barratt Homes and the focus of concern is the future of Enderby House which was built in about 1835 by Charles and George Enderby.

Elizabeth Enderby was the mother of General Gordon of Khartoum who spent his last night in England at the house.

Updates on the situation and consultations can be found on a new Enderby Wharf website.

Bugsby’s Reach, the first reach on the Thames Path, is not going to be renamed Waterman’s Reach.

The idea of marking the 5ooth anniversary of the Waterman’s Company sounded  a good idea but losing the name Bugsby’s meant losing a link with the mysterious past.

The move was first reported announced last year by the Port of London Authority and the consultation in March this year.

It’s a welcome and surprise decision. It is also surprising that only 47 people responded to the consultation.

The decision notice has been issued by the PLA.

There is increasing dismay at the council plan in Maidenhead which will not only leave the towpath closed but also reduce a much valued green space.

A  report by the Sport and Recreation Alliance confirms that outdoor recreation is the UK’s favourite pastime.

The Reconomics report reveals:

People spending their day enjoying outdoor recreation spent £21 billion in 2012/13
Walking tourism supports almost a quarter of a million jobs
Outdoor recreation can make a significant contribution to tackling the cost of looking after unfit people.

Key proposals for government action also published by the Alliance includes a call for better public transport in rural areas.

The announcement, made on Wednesday 12 June at Westminster just yards from the Thames Path, is supported by British Mountaineering Council, Campaign for National Parks, English Outdoor Council, Living Streets, Open Spaces Society, Outdoor Industries Association (Britain on Foot campaign), Ramblers, Sport and Recreation Alliance, Wild Network and the Youth Hostel Association.

The deaths reported early today at Deptford took place at the new flats next to Paynes & Borthwick Wharves where at present the Thames Path runs along the street behind the riverside buildings to the junction with Watergate Street.

Eel Pie Island summer open weekends are Saturday 28 & Sunday 29 June and Saturday 5 & Sunday 6 July.

The island, reached from the Twickenham bank, is open 11am-6pm.