Shiplake wins!

Many of the Shiplake Lock Islanders managed to get to Wargrave & Shiplake Regatta this weekend, despite not having a campsite to stay in. (This year’s President, Islander David Hawkins and his wife, stayed in a local B & B; two committee members camped in a Henley campsite; others camped in a field near Marsh Lock- thanks to the kindness of local residents; others commuted from far away). 

The Environment Agency still refuses to open all campsites on the River Thames. They continue to be slow to communicate, unwilling to meet, disinclined to provide clarity on the key issues and seemingly reluctant to work with us towards the resumption of camping on Shiplake Island in 2024.

Whilst at the Regatta, a visit to the Island unveiled a bad case of fly-tipping (a fridge and a washing machine dumped on the Island), and revealed a conversation with Mill Lane residents, who had recently had to call the Police, and the new Lock Keeper having to ‘police’ the Island herself.

The absence of the camping community leaves the Island and its surroundings vulnerable to fly-tipping and littering, including human defecation, vandalism, anti-social behaviour and the unknown future of the Island.

We would like to believe that this 100 year old camping community is not only part of the local heritage, providing minimal disruption to local residents, protection for the environment and habitat, but also support for local businesses. We are sad that our absence has directly impacted our ability to support the local butcher’s shop (originally built by an Islander) and the local shop. As well as contributing to the local economy, we support the regatta in many and varied ways: three Islanders are committee members; we litter-pick the course; scrub the boats; run one of the food stalls; provide edited media footage, and help to keep alive traditional boat skills. 

The Islanders contributed the following wins at the Regatta for Shiplake: 

• Ladies & Gents Double Punting handicap; 

• Gents Punting handicap; 

• Gents Novice Punting; 

• Double punting in canoes; 

• Ladies Double Punting in canoes; 

• Gents Single Punting in canoes, 

• and The Peter Gough cup for the Under 15 Dinghy race (many Shiplake residents will remember Peter Gough who was the Lock Keeper who tragically died in 1982). 

The Islanders play a key part in conserving and passing on watermanship and keeping alive historical boating, as well as traditional camping equipment and techniques from the 1800s. 

The cessation of camping at Shiplake has damaging impacts for our local community. It is in the Environment Agency’s interests, and consistent with their aims, to maintain the current camping arrangements at Shiplake Lock. We are an active community, bringing people to the river safely, encouraging eco-friendly river usage.

You can sign the PETITION HERE, and please also write to local MP’s requesting their support in asking the EA to engage with Shiplake Steering Committee and reinstate the plotholders campsite as a matter of urgency.: 

John Howells, Email: howelljm@parliament.uk 

or Wargrave (Maidenhead) MP, Theresa May MP: Email: Mayt@parliament.uk

and please copy shiplakesteeringcommittee@gmail.com

On behalf of all the Plotholders, and with grateful thanks for your support and also vigilance on our behalf whilst we are not able to be there.

Philippa Pearson-Miles
shiplakesteeringcommittee@gmail.com

Posted by: Philippa Pearson-Miles | 08/08/2023 11:04 pm