Best interests of the waterways

THE Canal & River Trust (CaRT) Chief Executive, Richard Parry, has claimed that a proposed sell-off of part of the Lee ‘is in the best interest of the waterways'.

In a letter (dated 22nd January 2016) to Del Brenner, the chief executive states that selling water space to developer Vastint is justified because the developer will provide a riverside park (CaRT selling the waterways).

Already proving riverside park

In a second letter to Del Brenner, Secretary of the Regents Network and member of the London Waterways Commission , CaRT's chief executive has acknowledged that a new waterway wall can be built on Vasint's land without encroaching on public waterspace. However, he claims that selling off waterspace which enjoys a public right of navigation is justified because Vastint will build a riverside park which will provide alternative public benefit.

This is a rather bizarre excuse rather than a justification. Under the 2012 planning consent for the site, conditions C5 and C6 the developer will provide a riverside park anyway. It is not conditional upon CaRT selling off part of the Lee!

Bow Free Wharf

The chief executive's further letter reiterates the Trust's intention to maintain Bow Free Wharf and states that the sell-off will not have any adverse impact on its future use. Our photo shows the wharf in use (on the right) with craft including a ‘Land and Water' barge moored against the Vastint owned land and over the waterspace which CaRT intends to sell off.

CaRT will be submitting a request to DEFRA for consent to sell-off part of River Lee adjoining Vastint's land in the near future.