I have submitted the following to Cambridge City Council:
I am writing to oppose planning application 15/0009/FUL : “To install a bollard and rail fence on the narrow quay running alongside Garret Hostel Lane slipway and the approach to Garret Hostel Bridge”.
I am submitting this representation late as I only became aware of the proposals following a Cambridge News article about them published on the 25th of February 2015.
My views are:
Maintaining the public’s right to access, and navigate, the river, throughout the city, is of critical importance. Public access to the river to launch boats in Cambridge is limited. This is the only public access slipway on the “middle river”.
While the plans don’t remove access to the slipway and quay they would make it harder and less safe for users as those wishing to board boats from the quay would have to climb over the fence to do so.
I think the fence will make using this facility impossible for some who are physically unable to climb the fence but would have been able to step from the quay onto a boat.
Public river access points including quayside, and the public slipways at Garret Hostel lane and at Ferry Lane / Water Street in Chesterton are of immense public value and ought be protected.
I note the quay is generally only used by those boarding or alighting from boats. It is not often used as a public footpath or viewing point given the adjacent bridge which provides river views.
Elsewhere in the country quays have been fenced off for safety reasons, but this has generally happened when there is lots of public use of a quay unconnected with getting on and off boats. Here there is almost no such use.Policy 3/9 (b) of the local plan states:
Waterside or water-related development will be permitted if it is demonstrated that it would: … maintain or improve public access to and along the waterside
This proposal clearly does not maintain or improve public access to and along the waterside; in fact it appears designed and intended to reduce such public access.
11 responses to “Objecting to Proposed Fence at Garret Hostel Lane Quay in Cambridge”
I think it’s the only way they can stop this particular ‘punt station’ from being used. The Cam Conservators have been trying for ages (as we know) to stop it being commandeered by punt companies when it’s doubtful how safe it is. There’s an entrance via the gates to the right of the lane that is better. Access to the river is one thing but public safety is pretty important too.
The only reason that this is being proposed is to stop the “pirate” punt operators. The solution to the safety issue is to limit the number of punts held by any one operator and allow less punts and more individual operators on the river. The Cam Conservancy and the council has long been in cahoots with Scudamores to prevent this, and despite the fact that Scudamores threatened and took expensive court action the council agreed some time ago to allow them to remain sole occupants at Quayside at a reduced rent. When the council originally negotiated this I believe that they tried to give a more general access to the quay. The end agreement was that non-commercial opertors can land on quayside in the middle of Scudamores jetty, and Scudamores have to keep it free for that purpose.
It is possibly no coincidence that one of the managers / owners of Scudamores is a conservator.
I don’t think access to the middle of Quayside is limited to non-commercial punts; I think anyone can use that space.
There should be clear signs explaining the rules.
Council officers have summarised the objections in their report to councillors as follows:
A condition requiring a gate, lockable in the open, and closed, positions has been included. I think this goes some way to addressing my concerns about access.
Back in 2013… Page 3
http://archive.varsity.co.uk/764.pdf