Essex Wharf in the balance - High Court challenge

Challenge in the High Court

Although they had thought they had seen off the threat to Essex Wharf, the locals and park authorities are now faced with the only route open to them for a rescue job, that is by making a legal challenge through a Judicial Review in the High Court, otherwise we end up with gross blocks of flats which will blight the environment of the Lee Valley Park and Lee Navigation for ever more.

The Judicial Review will give the option of challenging the Waltham Forest Planning Committee's unreasonable and flawed consent for the four blocks of flats, or slamming the government's feeble and inadequate refusal to intervene in the protection of Essex Wharf and the Lee Valley Regional Park. Or both could be challenged.

Judging by the mood of the locals, councillors and authorities as well as waterway groups including CBOA Commercial Boat Operators Association and the Regents Network, they are up for the challenge.

Historic tug revisits Essex Wharf

The well-known historic 42ft dock tug Major revisited Essex Wharf at Lea Bridge recently on a nostalgic trip up the Lee Navigation. Over the years it had towed hundreds of trains of barges to numerous destinations on the busy navigation, and at the time when Essex Wharf was a hive of activity.

Interest in reviving the wharf also comes from the crew of Major, and the tug was skippered on the visit to Essex Wharf by James Bill of busy coal boat Archimedes from the Candle Bridge Carrying Co, and Michael Askin of the magnificent Royalty Class working boat Victoria. (The photo is of the tug at Essex Wharf.)

Standing on the back deck viewing the unused and deserted wharf is experienced waterman Jamie Spinks who served his apprenticeship on Major when it was heavily engaged in the construction period of Canary Wharf in London's Docklands.

Happy thoughts

Jamie may also have been thinking of the regular runs made by the tug up the Lee Navigation when Essex Wharf was very alive, when he commented:

"Those were the days when London's canals were made good use of, and there is every reason for bringing them back into use again. It is a mystery that it has not happened."

Apart from ruining the pleasure of a cruise up the waterway having four huge blocks of flats on the site of Essex Wharf rather than a view of Walthamstow Marshes, it would be nonsensical not to use it as a wharf again. The waterway is in working order, the roads are chocker, and the environmental benefits of using water transport are well known. Jamie is not the only one who thinks it would make good sense.

A very strong case is being made for Essex Wharf to be brought back into use for water freight, as well as a leisure amenity and an active asset for the Regional Park's waterways.

Del Brenner