Thames - A Personal Notebook

Sunna's Stronghold to The Place of the Shepherds:

A few words on this reach before we get started. The Thames Path is interrupted here by a ferry which, in effect, becomes part of the path The ferry runs daily 0900hrs to 1800hrs with the exception of Sundays when it runs from 1000hrs to 1800hrs. There can be further limitations, one, if the river is in spate and the ferryman judges the crossing to be unsafe or, if the ferry itself has developed a fault of some nature. So,if one is on foot, an alternative has to be found if it is necessary to reach Shepperton Lock. Note: It would not be easy to make it by cycle either (maybe all right for a mountain biker)...but, for the dedicated wanderer, here is a solution..not necessarily the correct one.. but certainly interesting....

Sunbury Lock to Shepperton Lock This map can help with your route.


Click on the picture and go for a walk..
Shepperton Lock
D'Oyly Carte
Desborough Island
Lord Desborough A little larger than life..
Walton Bridge
A New Walton Bridge ..

Here is some of the history of this dispute but it intrigues me for one very good reason... If this site is so important to the palace...Why did they not purchase it many years ago and protect it for posterity? I am fascinated...
The argument could well continue .. but it really is time to draw a line under the proceedings so far and put the case to the vote (at least locally)...The difficulty has been in the inability to come to a decision over what should be done with this derelict site, i.e. "The Jolly Boatman" site and which has currently taken twenty years to even partially resolve....
The Hampton Court board have done their homework and have produced the following well documented plan, clearly stating their case: Hampton Court management plan If you can find the time to study it - browse away at the offered downloads on this link..
This has been backed by the Hampton Court Rescue Campaign

Personally, I applaud the effort that has gone into this study but I feel that here has been too much emphasis on planning policies and proposals listed in the Elmbridge Local Plan (2000)..HRP appendix 5, and specifically item ENV27 which relates to Strategic Views and Key Landmarks. Policies in the UK, I believe, are for guidance..they are not carved in stone... We will see...eventually..

The MP's View
The Residents Association View (as was )

Support for Gladedale (the developer)
English Heritage
CABE design review

At present events have started to become a little more serious, have rapidly become less "pie in the sky" and are now drawing-in to a full Council planning appraisal on December/18/2008.

As an aside here,if you have scanned the Richmond to Teddington Thames Path walk, you might recollect this particular picture Star and Garter Home. Also this link ,with its' attached video..Star and Garter Homes This proposed move could well be a neat solution if accepted and incorporated.

Traffic evaluation Delays?
No Public Enquiry?
Yes/No Jolly boatman?
Delay for Public Enquiry
Summary - 20 Years On

From my point of view the residents of the area deserve an early resolution.
The Go-Ahead! Finally - Sanity! But it was a close run thing...and I shall keep this one open until built..Something tells me that is not quite yet the end of the story.....?