Category: Updates

The sudden announcement that Thames Water must build a major new sewer has caught out London Boroughs who knew nothing of the imminent plan.

The tunnel needs to follow the route of the River Thames so that the pipe can be connected to the combined sewer overflows that are located along the riverbanks. The Thames Tunnel will protect the River Thames from increasing pollution.

The Thames Path will be affected in at least two places needed for works: King’s Stairs in Rotherhithe and Tideway Walk between Vauxhall and Battersea Bridges where the barge Maria is moored.

Downstream a worksite is planned next to The Ship at Wandsworth Bridge although this will not affect the line of path. Barn Elms will also have a worksite next to the towpath.

The reserve list of sites includes Durand’s Wharf (near Surrey Docks Farm) which was closed once before for the Jubilee Line construction. On that occasion the Thames Path was diverted on to the road.

King’s Stairs Campaign

Residents in Rotherhithe have been looking at how the works site at King’s Stairs Gardens would change the riverside during and after the works.

The wide grass area between the arcaded path and the Angel pub would be closed for seven years. The Thames Path would probably be diverted down Elephant Way and along Paradise Street close to St Peter’s Church.

Afterwards there would be an above ground  ventilation shaft with vehicle access.

The Save King’s Stairs Gardens campaign has started a petition.

See page 25.

Sculptor Andrew Baldwin can be seen on Thursday morning sailing his ‘Walking Boat’ from Trinity Buoy Wharf, at the mouth of the River Lea opposite the Dome, upstream to the beach in front of Tate Modern.

Look out for the red and white vessel. It’s due on Bankside just after low tide at 12.30pm.

See pages 14 and 33.

Today was a lovely sunny October day and perfect for walking so I went to check out the changes at Wandsworth.

After passing under Wandsworth Railway Bridge and returning to the river one can now stay by the water for most of the time. There is no need to see the main road again.

At Falcon Wharf you continue ahead to a new path which runs inland down the side of Battersea Heliport. A right turn takes you past an hotel before a return to the water. You do miss Prices Candle Factory which is maybe a pity but the Thames Path stays by the water all the say to new steps at Wandsworth Bridge.

Traffic crossing the river was unrelenting as always so you must go left down to the traffic lights at the junction to get across the road and then walk back up the other side to reach steps leading to Pier Terrace and The Ship. It’s an annoying diversion but there is a handy McDonald’s at the junction.

See pages 43 & 44.

Lack of public conveniences is a major issue on Bankside and the South Bank in central London.

There are no public lavatories at Borough Market.

Walkers will be pleased to know that the Garden Museum next to Lambeth Palace allows free use of its toilets as part of Lambeth Council’s Community Toilet Scheme. The museum is paid an annual fee and you don’t have to pay the admission charge.

And you can visit the cafe without paying the entrance fee.

See page 39.

The view from the Barnes towpath just upstream of Hammersmith Bridge is of Upper Mall and Furnival Gardens with its old houses known to JWM Turner, HG Wells and Graham Greene. Artists now living there include Sir Peter Blake.

From the rural feel towpath you think that Hammersmith across the water is a small town.

That illusion is under threat from a plan to build 14-storey  blocks inland in King Street. As many as 320 ‘luxury’ flats would loom behind the riverside scene.

Next week there is a protest meeting staged by a group calling itself Save Our Skyline.

To see the effect of the planned development look here.

See page 51.

Those wondering how much longer we shall have to suffer a diversion away from the river and past the Battersea Dogs’ Home on the stretch between Vauxhall and Battersea Bridge will be interested in today’s news.

A planning application has been submitted to Wandsworth Council to continue the path from Elm Quay to Battersea Power Station. The price is five blocks of up to 20 storeys as part of the development.

See page 41.

News just in about the muddled situation on the western side of the Greenwich peninsula.

Darryl’s blog post is here.

See page 16.

The 2011 Good Beer Guide edited by Roger Protz and published by CAMRA (£15.99) is a good guide for those of us who are travellers using pubs for vital refreshment as in days of old.

Those recommended on the River Thames include the White Cross at Richmond and Boaters just before Kingston Bridge.

Near the Thames Path start there is a mention for the Pilot Inn and the Pelton Arms. The latter is on the temporary diversion at the back of Lovell’s Wharf. The 150 year old Dog & Bell at Deptford is rightly described as ‘much loved’. It’s unique.

The Crown Inn at Lechlade, which gets a mention for its Halfpenny Brewery named after the town’s toll bridge, is a good place for bed and breakfast (£45 or £55 double).

Hugo Vickers was at Southwark Cathedral on Sunday morning for the presentation of a seat.

After the Choral Eucharist there was a procession out of the cathedral into the Millennium Courtyard on the north side where Hugo Vickers, chair of the Jubilee Walkway Trust, formally handed over the seat.

The Walkway passing the courtyard gates is also the Thames Path. The seat provides a good spot for walkers to pause and rest or eat sandwiches. Food is available from the Refectory opposite the seat.

After the 1977 Jubilee it was the many walkway signs pointing inland round buildings that help to highlight the lack of a proper riverside path.

The London-SE1 website has a report from the cathedral.

See page 31.

Last night I was at Southwark Cathedral alongside the Thames Path so I missed BBC1’s Countryfile report on the source of the Thames.

I have now watched the programme on the BBC iPlayer. The Thames item is at the beginning of the programme and offers a simple explanation for the often lack of water at the official source.

Sadly the camera did not look downstream from the source to show the indentation in the field but the presenter does walk the dry bed south of the Fosse Way main road. The filming was at the end of last month when water could not be found until Ewen.

We are told that in very dry periods water has not been found until Ashton Keynes.

Watch it here.

See page 211 to 213.