Blocking Paddington Basin

[WJM]

http://www.narrowboatworld.com/index.php/news-flash/9610-blocking-paddington-basin

 

 

Given that the basin shown in the illustration is already completely blocked by the new lift bridge then this article really misses the point. There has been no boat access to the end basin at Paddington in over a decade!

 

[dmr]

Yes but its still a very silly idea to turn "open" water into land, London has lots and lots of land but very little water.

 

................Dave

[Mike Todd]

I did point this out to Tom C but he declined to make the point openly. However, there is hope in that at least one additional mooring is provided! (Or will it be trip boat?)

 

My experience of that area is that the part right at this end of the arm is never that sunny as it is very much overlooked by the tall buildings.

[matty40s]

Bloody 'ell, the cheese boat got in there fast......

[Jess--]

given that the boat has graphics on it saying "something Coffee - Merchant Square"

I don't think that there is a usable mooring planned, just a floating coffee shop.

[Ray T]

Wot no railings! Just think all those peeps may fall off the boarding and drown.

Edited February 2, 2017 by Ray T

[matty40s]

25 foot drop there.....

[dmr]

Wot no railings! Just think all those peeps may fall off the boarding and drown.

 

No they wont because I can see a security guard waiting ready to pull them out. Anyway they won't fall in, they will jump in for a swim because the water is a lovely blue and crystal clear just like a swimming pool.

 

..............Dave

[system 4-50]

nice. Not a dog to be seen! Anyone got a stirring Smilie?

[8 Hairy Feet]

...and there is something else not

to be seen....

[matty40s]

...and there is something else not

to be seen....

Floating carrier bags, cans, green slime and cormorants

[FadeToScarlet]

 

No they wont because I can see a security guard waiting ready to pull them out. Anyway they won't fall in, they will jump in for a swim because the water is a lovely blue and crystal clear just like a swimming pool.

 

..............Dave

To be fair, the water in Paddington Basin is the nicest I've had to get into! (clearing the blade on a Bantam tug)

[peterboat]

I can see it 5 years down the line all of the London canals filled in and nice expensive buildings erected on the land

[Bewildered]

The article says the pontoons will be built in Cumbria and taken by road to Uxbridge then brought down to Paddington by canal. Are there any canal carrying companies left to do the last leg of the journey, and have they even been asked to tender for the job?

[BWM]

A mad, grandiose scheme. The money would have been better spent on st, Marys hospital next door imo.

[Tim Lewis]

The article says the pontoons will be built in Cumbria and taken by road to Uxbridge then brought down to Paddington by canal. Are there any canal carrying companies left to do the last leg of the journey, and have they even been asked to tender for the job?

Yes there is a canal carrying company in the Uxbridge area.

 

Tim

A mad, grandiose scheme. The money would have been better spent on st, Marys hospital next door imo.

The scheme to redevelop St Mary's was canned when the costs got to a billion pounds, not sure if a garden would have made that much difference!

 

Tim

Edited February 2, 2017 by Tim Lewis

[cuthound]

How long I wonder before the local angling club pegs it out?

[Tonka]

At least there is going to be Radio Controlled Sailing at the venue

[Martin Megson]

It's not clear from the article but it seems to be only the section beyond the fan footbridge which isn't available to boaters. Anyone know if the existing moorings will remain.

[matty40s]

Coffee drinkers will need to be tethered to the trees it's so windy down that bottom end......even on a calm day, it has its own weather systems...☺

[Peter X]

The Merchant Square website offers us this explanation:

http://merchantsquare.co.uk/news-posts-archive/floating-garden-proposed-canal/

Basically the developer European Land and Property Limited wants the garden there because their residents will like it.

As with the lift bridge, I suspect it's because anything which makes it less likely that boats will be there gets their approval.

To me the key paragraph is this:

 

Robert Davis MBE DL, Westminster City Council Deputy Leader said: “Merchant Square’s plans to create a floating park in the Paddington Basin will rejuvenate a forgotten section of the canal and create a peaceful oasis for people to enjoy. Our canals were once the arteries that brought the industrial revolution into the heart of London before modern technology left many stretches unused and unloved. The council welcomes this ingenious reinvention of the waterway which gives this part of the Grand Union a new purpose – attracting more businesses and visitors to the area.”

 

He ingeniously neglects to mention that the basin is now only unused by boats because it's not available to them. It wouldn't be unloved for long if it had visitor moorings, which I imagine would cost a lot less than the park.

[ditchcrawler]

The Merchant Square website offers us this explanation:

http://merchantsquare.co.uk/news-posts-archive/floating-garden-proposed-canal/

Basically the developer European Land and Property Limited wants the garden there because their residents will like it.

As with the lift bridge, I suspect it's because anything which makes it less likely that boats will be there gets their approval.

To me the key paragraph is this:

 

Robert Davis MBE DL, Westminster City Council Deputy Leader said: “Merchant Square’s plans to create a floating park in the Paddington Basin will rejuvenate a forgotten section of the canal and create a peaceful oasis for people to enjoy. Our canals were once the arteries that brought the industrial revolution into the heart of London before modern technology left many stretches unused and unloved. The council welcomes this ingenious reinvention of the waterway which gives this part of the Grand Union a new purpose – attracting more businesses and visitors to the area.”

 

He ingeniously neglects to mention that the basin is now only unused by boats because it's not available to them. It wouldn't be unloved for long if it had visitor moorings, which I imagine would cost a lot less than the park.

When the first bridge was put in I was assured by BW that it would be open to boaters unless there was a special event being held in there. I didn't believe them them ether .

[Jambo]

They did let a bunch of trader boats in there for a week of markets about 6 or 9 months ago or so but yes, generally it is inaccessible.

[Phoenix_V]

When the first bridge was put in I was assured by BW that it would be open to boaters unless there was a special event being held in there. I didn't believe them them ether .

When the basin was first openned the basin was full of pontoons which the openning bridge rather implies boats were the plan though at the time we understood the intention to be long term moorings.

Maybe an foi request?

Maybe someone took a bung.

[widebeamboy]

according to a recent post on one of London FB pages a boater has moored outside Paddington Station and been advised by Head of Security for British Land to move on as they have leased the moorings from CRT making the 3 moorings at the Northern end theirs. Nothing to confirm this other than some private signs having been put on the rings apparently. Just thought would mention it in case anyone knows anything else or it impacts any forthcoming plans