After realising we have all these opportunities the big question then becomes how do we deliver these and get the river back in use.
The main players in this are
1 Riparian Councils
2 Developers
3 Port of London Authority
4 Environment Agency
5 Investors
6 The not for profit sector
7 You?
It would only be with the cooperation, coordination and buy in of the majority of the players that we will actually see even a simple mooring ring provided.
The key point to realise though is that regenerating the Thames is doable we just need to make a start.
The role of the Borough Councils is probably the most critical as they are responsible for setting the strategic direction for any development and regeneration on the land immediately adjacent the river, it is only if the council have fully considered the sites potential and created clear strategies for how the sites should be developed will we ever start to see regeneration of the river. If the councils do not have experts in marine regeneration then they will need to buy this in, I am sure a land based planner with 20 years experience planning housing estates and factory sites will be the first to confess the multi faceted uses of the river require a different area of expertise.You wouldn't have an ENT surgeon in a maternity ward after all.
Developers are an important player but often their contribution will be dictated by the local councils development plans and briefs, typically land based developers again will look to do what they know best and if the local council hasn't put any planning requirements to maximise the use of the riverside location to actually regenerate the river the developer won't, that is why we have ended up with miles and miles of sterile waterfront lined by flat upon flat. Local councils should show leadership and laydown requirements for each riverside development that can be delivered as planning gain (typically S106 agreements), they could provide as little as mooring rings or slipways in some locations, to even more grander pontoons and landing stages where location permits.
The Port of London Authority play a very valuable role in development on the river and managing the Thames as a national resource.
The Environment Agency are responsible for flood defence and biodiversity issues along the lower Thames, although they are responsible for recreational infrastructure on inland waterways across the UK and receive many millions from the government to invest in this arena for the lower Thames they have devolved this responsibility to the PLA but unfortunately the funds allocated to UK recreational boating infrastructure hasn't been fairly distributed to the Lower Thames, these funds for instance haven't been made available to the PLA to invest on the Governments behalf, these funds aren't distributed to the riparian boroughs either. One could quite rightly claim the Lower Thames has been short changed and has not had its fair share of funding. That said the EA have commissioned a study which may evidence the need for a fairer distribution of funding.
Investors, the Thames is ripe for the picking, there are numerous locations,some mentioned on this website for instance, where marinas, boatyards, sailing schools and so on could locate, we need to explode the myth that the Thames is closed for business, there needs to be mid point marinas and facilities to make the journey to London a pleasure rather than a slog, the Thames needs to be marketed and the South Coast marinas need to daisy chain up along the North Kent Coast so you can leave Ramsgate and Dover and stop off somewhere off the Isle of Sheppey, hop up to Gravesend or Grays, then up to Greenhithe, Purfleet, Dartford, Erith and beyond.
The not for profit sector, this may be a real alternative or a partner to the EA, PLA local Councils, it may be that the not for profit sector can tap into funds not available to developers and the like, for example Heritage Lottery Funding could help bring back into use some of our historic treasures, Sports funding is there to be applied for as well as all the various community grants and so on, if this floats your boat and is something you would like to help in get in touch.
You, you could lobby your council, lobby your MP let them know that the status quo of the greatest river in England not having any public slipways, landing stages, marinas, usable berths and moorings and so on is not acceptable and that they should do something about it.
If you want to back work in the not for profit sector you could make a donation to Thamesbank Trust who will be fighting this corner. (Thamesbank Trust, 80 Dover Road, Northfleet, Kent DA11 9QD)
In the meantime if you have any queries or comments please don't hesitate to contact myself at broadley@btinternet.com or 0756 219 4757