Illegal Thames Moorings: EBC's Actions vs. Raab's Delay

The illegal moorings on the Thames from Weybridge to Hampton Court have been an issue for many years. Residents living close to the areas affected have told me about the litter, pollution and antisocial behaviour associated with them, as well as the fact that they are an eyesore that blights some of our most cherished open spaces. 

For many years, the Liberal Democrat/Residents Association-run Elmbridge Borough Council (EBC) has been doing all it can within its own powers to remove the moorings while also pressuring the Environment Agency (EA) - who are responsible for much of the land along the river - to take the necessary enforcement action. In 2020, the then leader, Stuart Selleck, wrote to the EA setting out clearly that  “residents have had more than enough of engagement and discussion, they want to see quick and assertive action – and they want all the offending boats removed as soon as possible”. Fast forward three years to March 2023 and - while also running a consultation on Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) - the Council Chief Executive and Joint Leaders of EBC were writing yet again to their opposite numbers at the EA to press them to do more.

What was our local MP, Dominic Raab, doing during this time? Consistently criticising the Council on his website and in correspondence, while promoting his own hobby horse: PSPOs. This futile campaign continued right up to this summer, despite Raab being told repeatedly by the Council and the EA itself that a PSPO, as well as being costly to enforce for EBC, would have only limited impact given the EA’s responsibility for much of the riverbank. In June 2023, Raab was invited by Cllr Bruce McDonald, the new Lib Dem deputy leader of EBC to discuss the issue ahead of a proposed joint meeting with the EA; Raab failed to respond. 

For the past four years - until April this year - Dominic Raab was Deputy Prime Minister in the Conservative Government, with access to levers that are denied to local representatives in EBC. This is also the same Conservative Government that halved the EA’s budget from £170m to £76m between 2009-10 and 2019-20. Indeed, as Cllr Selleck pointed out in his response to a letter from Raab in January 2021:

“As I have repeatedly stated, it remains my concern that the EA, being a government body is clearly underfunded to be able to carry out its responsibilities along the riverbank and would encourage you as part of the government to ensure that the EA is adequately funded to manage the river bank for the wider use and enjoyment of the community.”

This August - two and a half years later - our outgoing MP appeared on the Molesey riverbank for a photo op in front of a slum boat, alongside the Environment Secretary, Therese Coffey. Coffey said she would “follow up” with the EA. I look forward to hearing more from her on this.

So, we’ve waited thirteen years for our MP to work out that the solution to a seemingly intractable local problem lies with a Government agency. After years of berating the Council, I trust Raab will now use his remaining time in office to work with - not against - EBC to help resolve it once and for all. 

Visit EBC’s page on Tackling Unauthorised Moorings to find out more on the subject, including their correspondence with Dominic Raab over the last two and a half years. Status reports on individual illegal moorings within the Borough, and where EA enforcement action has got to, is on this EBC update page.