| Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Re:A BETTER DESIGB FOR EVERYONE - Watermans Park Moorings | |
| Posted by: | Nigel Moore | |
| Date/Time: | 29/04/16 17:45:00 |
| Answering Sarah again: “The other question which occurs is how do you establish ownership of the riverbed? I wonder because I knew of an island near Teddngton which had a chain link bridge to it and the river authority in its wisdom decided to charge a fortune for rent for the chains to lie on the riverbed. I don't know how it was resolved.” Ownership of the bed of the Thames has been a vexed question since the twelfth century, and was litigated in the 19thC for years before a compromise was reached between the Crown and the City of London. The extent and effect of the agreement as enshrined in the Thames Conservancy Act 1857 is still debated. The usual presumption in law respecting tidal rivers is that ownership vests in the Crown, but as with other rivers around the country [including the Brent], stretches of the Thames vested in private owners, such as the Bishopric of London and the Lord of the Manor of Boston and others. As I said previously, so far as constructing works in the riverbed is concerned, it makes no difference: you still need the PLA’s riverworks licence, which is why mooring chains are usually subject to that licence requirement – and there are similar provisions in the EA legislation for the upper Thames. |