Houseboat death
THE tidal River Thames houseboat community has been rocked by the recent death of Rainer Cole, writes Allan Richards.
It is feared that he might have taken his own life following a long running dispute with the Port of London Authority (PLA), being the owner of St Michael, a former fishing vessel moored at Tideway Village, Nine Elms Pier in Wandsworth which is under threat from adjacent flat developers. (Rainer's boat is the blue and white one in the background.)
Further problems
However, Rainier had further problems as he was also deeply involved in a long running battle with the PLA over an increased River Works Licence fee demand.
Rainer, who is understood to have been paying £1,200 per year to the PLA for a River Works Licence (on top of fees payable elsewhere) was subjected to a new demand for a revised fee of £7,000. This represented an increase of almost 600%. Rainer, told friends that he could not afford the increase on his limited income but the PLA were intransigent.
The PLA however tells us that this matter had been settled at the amount proposed by Rainer, and it was no longer in dispute and the the houseboat was multi tenanted.
No knowledge
OPLAC, the organisation that represents PLA customers (PLA climbdown on fees—31st August 2012) were not aware of Rainer Cole's dispute. Speaking for OPLAC, David Beaumont, stated Rainer Cole's name was not on the list of those being subjected to increases given to the organisation by the PLA during recent fee negotiations.
It is understood that the matter will be taken up with the PLA.
Tideway Village was created about ten years ago to provide affordable housing in a traditionally expensive part of London but its future is uncertain due to development in the area. The village consists of about 100 people on 30 boats.
The community has successfully fought a plan by St James, (part of the building giant, Berkeley Group) to replace the boats with a floating garden but still has no commitment from the developer that the village will be retained.