Threat to Ranelagh SC
by Fran Gifford 6 Apr 2022 11:24 BST
Merlin Rockets sailing at Ranelagh © Ranelagh SC
Ranelagh Sailing Club and all recreational sport enjoyed on the Putney-Hammersmith stretch of the River Thames is under threat from further development by Fulham Football Club.
Fulham Football Club is proposing the erection of a pier stretching approximately 80 metres into the middle of the Thames a short distance upriver from Ranelagh Sailing Club. This is directly into our race course and an area of the Thames enjoyed by rowers, canoeists, stand up paddle boarders, sea cadets, scouts and other Thames Sailing Clubs, namely South Bank SC and London Corinthian SC.
The usage would be to take commercial boats carrying football fans to match days, presumably as part of a corporate hospitality package. It is also a stated aim of FFC that the pier will be used by Uber passenger ferries on a more regular and frequent basis. The Uber ferries already have a pier at Putney Bridge, a ten minute walk from the proposed FFC pier. FFC is also within a 10 minute walk of Putney Bridge tube station and other public transport.
If the pier goes ahead, this stretch of the river will become dangerous to non engine powered craft. The number of boats using the pier on match days would result in queues of motor boats whom then have to turn in the narrow space left available to them, rendering the river unsuitable for any form of unpowered recreational use. Uber ferries are large, with large turning circles for the relative width of the river.
Please follow the links below to read more about the proposal and to sign the petition if you consider this to be an unfavourable proposal.