Agenda item

Ocean Diva

A Member referred to the proposed operation of the Ocean Diva (a 1,500 capacity, three-deck high party boat – on the River Thames. He noted that the application for this sat with the PLA but that a future planning application at Swan Lane Pier to facilitate the mooring of the vessel at Swan Lane would be considered by this Committee in due course.

The Member went on to question what control, if any, this Committee might have over the size of the proposed vessel which would be 3-4 times the size of existing party vessels that utilised the river.

The Chief Planning Officer and Development Director confirmed that the vessel would be regulated by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency with the application regarding Swan Lane Pier currently due to be considered by this Committee in July/September 2019. The application would facilitate the mooring of the vessel at Swan Lane if the pier were to be reconfigured as proposed. It was noted, however, that the vessel could operate on the river, subject to other consents, from other existing piers regardless of this.

The Chairman noted that, as the recently approved Transport Strategy included use of the river, it was right that this Committee should have an eye to this in terms of river traffic and have further details on this and any other lawful considerations within any future report accompanying the planning application.

The Chief Planning Officer and Development Director articulated that it was within the power of this Committee to control what happens landside in terms of the hours that it was possible for vessels to dock and be serviced and that these aspects would be reported on.