Unauthorised moorings and abandoned boats tackled

The "biggest obstacle" to clearing unauthorised and abandoned boats from the River Thames is a lack of funding for the Environment Agency (EA), said a council officer.

A Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) came into force on 17 June, restricting mooring to 24 hours with no return within 72 hours at five locations in Elmbridge, Surrey.

On Wednesday, council, police and EA officers visited boats moored at Cigarette Island, opposite Hampton Court Palace, to serve trespass notices to overstaying vessels.

Ian Burrows, head of culture, leisure and environment at Elmbridge Borough Council, said the PSPO was intended to provide a a "long term solution to clearing this area up".

He said: "We want this to be clear and open and shiny for all our residents to enjoy and people visiting the palace to look over and enjoy as well."

The council will put £100,000 in to clearing unauthorised moorings this year, he said.

But the "biggest obstacle" he said at the moment was Environment Agency (EA) funding.

"They don't have the funding to do similar work up and down the Thames, so we are still pressing the EA and Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) to provide adequate funding to carry on this work and resolve this problem in Elmbridge once and for all," he said.

A spokesperson from the Environment Agency said they welcomed the opportunity to assist in the enforcement operation on Wednesday.

"We understand the concerns raised by both residents and river users and will continue to take lawful and proportionate action," they added.

"We are committed to a partnership approach that provides for long term and sustainable solutions."

As well as PSPO enforcement, abandoned and wrecked boats along the river are being cleared away.

Molesey East councillor Kevin Whincup said the issue of unauthorised moorings along the river had been ongoing "for years".

"Residents would like to see the boats gone and the river back to its normal use," he added.

The PSPO is in place at Ditton Reach, Albany Reach, Cigarette Island, Cowey Sale , Hurst Park and Surrey County Council's land adjacent to Hampton Court bridge (Parrs mooring).

It had previously been challenged in the High Court, amid claims the terms of the order were too "vague" to be enforceable, but the council won the case.

The National Bargee Travellers Association previously described the rule as "draconian" and said it would "punish people for the simple act of living in their homes".

Esher and Walton MP Monica Harding said: "We've got movement with the Environment Agency and the minister and now I'm pleased to see Elmbridge taking action.

"This is great news, but it will only sort out the parts of the river for which Elmbridge is responsible - the Environment Agency now need to step up for the rest of the riverbank and the river."

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