Unauthorised river boats must be removed - MP

Esher & Walton MP Monica Harding wants more to be done about boats moored without permission on the River Thames

The issue of unauthorised, wrecked and abandoned boats in the River Thames is set to be raised in Parliament by a Surrey MP later.

Esher and Walton MP Monica Harding has said the "overstaying" boats cause "anti-social behaviour, waste and litter" problems.

Harding has called on the Environment Agency (EA) to get tougher with the owners and remove the boats, adding: "It's practically Dickensian and nothing has been done about it - it's very unfair."

The EA said it understood community concerns and was taking firm action but a more sustainable response was needed for repeat issues and non-compliance.

Speaking to BBC Radio Surrey, Harding said the situation in the summer was "dire" as the number of boats had increased from 180 last July to 243 in November.

She said the "sunken, wrecked and abandoned boats" were "eyesores that nobody has bothered to deal with".

The "overstaying" boats are unlicensed and unregistered, mooring by the banks for months, sometimes years," she said.

Some have operated as rentals, she claimed, or erected fences with "keep out" and "private" signs along the public towpath.

It was "intimidating", Harding said, adding: "Stretches of public land that have been enjoyed for centuries by residents have become no-go areas."

MP Monica Harding said the moorers "were acting with impunity and as nothing was done, more came"

Locals in Hurst Park, Molesey, told BBC Radio Surrey they were not happy.

One said: "I'd like them moved on so we can enjoy the riverside a lot more than being intimidated by certain individuals."

Another said: "If they are in poor condition I think they should be moved because they become an eyesore."

Another man said: "I think it's a shame if people just leave the boats there because it's blocking it for someone else to be using.

"It's a loss of money as well because they are supposed to pay to moor their boats, so really it's very unfair on the owners of the land as well."

Harding said some of the boats were "derelict, unsafe and real fire hazards"

The EA said it had invested heavily in recent enforcement work and where there was a risk to navigation it would continue to take action to remove the boats and seek to recover costs from the owners.

A spokesperson added: "Over recent years there has been an increase in people living on boats and moorings along the Thames.

"We have asked our partners to work with us to develop a more sustainable and longer-term approach.

"This includes additional lawful mooring agreements for compliant users including exploring residential options and supporting local authority duties around homelessness and housing."