Water sports venue vows to fight to stay open

The site features an inflatable aqua park, swimming, paddleboarding and a private island for hire

The manager of a water sports venue has said he plans to appeal to the High Court after retrospective planning permission for the site was refused.

Caversham Lakes in Reading opened in 2020 during the Covid pandemic without planning permission.

However, general manager Martyn Edwards said the attraction would remain open despite retrospective applications being denied and appeals to the Planning Inspectorate being dismissed.

South Oxfordshire District Council said officers were reviewing the appeal decision and considering what to do next.

Mr Edwards argued that a management plan for the lake was in place when Cosmonaut Leisure took it over, allowing for "informal water recreational use for general public access".

He said he was now seeking a judicial review at the High Court.

"We've always argued that planning has always been provided," he said.

But in an appeal decision made in January, a planning inspector said the site was intended to be "used for nature conservation and not for recreational activities".

The decision also said the number of people swimming in the lake at peak times "far exceeds what could reasonably be described as an informal activity".

Concerns related to the biodiversity and character of the area, as well as the safety of the access road

Mr Edwards also argued the venue benefitted the community by providing jobs and "blue space", which the government defines as outdoor environments "that prominently feature water and are accessible to people".

"We improve people's mental health, we improve people's confidence, we reduce isolation," Mr Edwards said.

But the decision said, whilst the site "evidently benefits a large number of people", it does "not outweigh the harm" done to "the character and appearance of the area, biodiversity and highway safety".

The appeal decision ordered Caversham Lakes to stop using the land for water sports and remove "facilitating development, including trailers, outdoor furniture and buoys within four months.

But Mr Edwards said the company had not been ordered to stop taking bookings.

"There is nothing wrong with the lake," he said.

"We are still open... and we are not closing."

A spokesperson for South Oxfordshire District Council said it would be inappropriate to comment further given Mr Edwards' plans to take the case to the High Court.