Rethink on 'eyesore' pontoons

Published: Monday, 22 November 2010

WITH complaints about the 'eyesore' pontoons and steel piles along Castle Mill Stream in Oxford, British Waterways is re-thinking its £90,000 scheme.

There have been many complaints that the floating pontoons are spoiling the beauty spot, and that the  'sympathetic approach' has been completely ignored, Alan Tilbury tells us.

Steel piles

British Waterways installed the pontoons alongside Castle Mill Stream, to protect the waterway wall from damage. It has also inserted four 10 metre steel piles to create a barrier which will prevent boats from illegally mooring in the stream and boats from being swept downstream.

Roger Guiver writing in narrowboatworld told that is was 'an absolute eyesore of proportions that could have safely moored the QE2! Heaven knows how much it must have cost!' We can tell it cost £90,000, and now it looks like being removed!

Something will be done

British Waterways Spokesman Sarah Ruday has confirmed that something is being done about it, remarking:

"British Waterways is currently responding to all the complaints received, and we are hoping to have an announcement on the way forward in the next couple of days.  Since installation, and following some complaints, British Waterways has agreed to make some alterations to the design of the structure."