A WATER sports company has launched a fresh bid to continue operating with swimming, paddleboarding and kayaking on a lake in Caversham.
In August 2020, the Caversham Lakes company began running events on the lake and also opened an adults only private island for hire.
However, the company does not currently have planning permission to operate.
An application to ‘regularise’ the use of the lake for watersports was refused in October last year by South Oxfordshire District Council’s planning department due to concerns about its impact on the environment, wildlife and biodiversity.
Recently, a new plan was submitted in an attempt to gain approval of its use.
Caversham Lakes planning agent, Paul Bledwell, has argued use of the lake provides families with healthy activities and an economically beneficial tourist destination.
A covering letter for the new application reads: “Should the council resolve to grant planning permission, Caversham Lakes would deliver significant, social and health, economic and environmental benefits for the local area and help to support and maintain Caversham Lakes as an existing tourist venue.”
The agents also pointed out that use of the lake for leisure and watersports is limited to its eastern bank, leaving the majority of the lake “unfettered” by the activities.
Furthermore, the agent argued the lake’s most intense use runs between the beginning of April and early October, with use limited during November to March.
So far, South Oxfordshire Council has not taken legal action to close Caversham Lake down.
However, that option is possible if the latest application is refused.
Although the lake is in South Oxfordshire, the site is accessed from Henley Road, which falls within Reading Borough Council.
Concerns in Caversham have been expressed about the access road to the site.
Commenting on the application Amanda Champion, who lives in Holybrook Close, wrote:
“The Henley Road junction which leads to the ‘road’ to Caversham Marina was already dangerous and hard to navigate, the increased traffic since Caversham Lakes has been developed has exacerbated this.
“The ‘road’ is of poor quality, very uneven, has no lighting and is unsafe for pedestrians. I would expect major upgrades to the junction and the road leading to Caversham Lakes should this application be passed.”
Neighbours who support or oppose watersports and leisure use of the lake can comment on the application by typing reference 220761 into Reading Borough Council’s planning portal.
You can also view the application in detail and submit a comment by typing in P22/S1691/FUL into the South Oxfordshire planning portal.
The public consultation on the application closes on Friday, June 24.
