Illegal moorings along the Thames riverbank have been a longstanding issue for riverside residents, especially in Molesey and Walton. Last year, John Cope brought the Environment Secretary down to Molesey to see the unauthorised moorings for themself and they agreed to keep up pressure on the Environment Agency to tackle the issue as they have the ability and powers from the government to do so.
Therefore, it is great news for residents in Cherry Orchard Gardens and the surrounding area that the Environment Agency has won their court case against ten defendants – the owners of unauthorised moorings in this area. There is a period pending for a further hearing in July where the dependants can apply for appeal, but this is a good step forward to tackling illegal moorings on Environment Agency owned land.
I will continue to support the Molesey Riverside Action Group to keep pressure up on Elmbridge Borough Council and the Environment Agency to see this approach taken across their land in Elmbridge and I will also continue to engage with DEFRA to make sure the government is holding them to account.
You can read more about our success in tackling unauthorised moorings in Cherry Orchard Gardens here.