Jolly Boatman plan 'not the answer'

4:30pm Wednesday 6th August 2008

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A campaign group has hit out at the new plans for the Jolly Boatman site near Hampton Court and has urged residents to register their objections.

The Hampton Court Rescue Campaign (HCRC) has also called for a public inquiry to decide the future of the derelict site.

Last month, Gladedale Group submitted updated designs for the area to be converted into a hotel, with a refurbished station building and a new care home for the Royal Star and Garter charity, which provides accommodation for ex-service men and women.

But a spokesman for the campaign group said: “Molesey residents have endured the state of the Jolly Boatman for long enough, but this development is not the answer.

“We are pressing for a public inquiry to decide the future of the site. HCRC is campaigning against this development because of its detrimental effect on the community of Molesey.

“It is very easy to be taken in by Gladedale’s recent ‘newsletter’ - the artist’s impression tempts with its low level, sweeping view of the station setting, masked by copious tree cover - but this is very misleading.

“This is a huge development - the actual height, scale and dimensions of the hotel complex will be much more imposing and will overwhelm the Thames riverfront.”

A spokesman for the developer claimed the proposals had received a lot of positive feedback from residents.

Paul Lemar from Gladedale said: “Over the past three years we have made substantial changes to the plans in response to comments from the public and Elmbridge Council.

“The development has been moved back from the riverside, scaled down in size and we have made changes to the design.

“For 30 years, the site has been a derelict eyesore. The council now has an opportunity to do something about it. If the council adopts the HCRC’s position, the site risks remaining derelict for another 30 years.

“Five hundred local people have written to Elmbridge Council to express their support for the new design. Many local people clearly want the development to go ahead.”

The plans are currently going through a public consultation process, which ends on Friday.

Residents can have their say by writing to: Head of town planning, Elmbridge borough council, Civic Centre, Esher KT10 9SD or by emailing tplan@elmbridge.gov.uk quoting the planning number 2008/1600.