The owner of a boat moorings in Caversham has been left disappointed over the rejection of a controversial plan to create an access road to his mooring.
Ivan Carter, 53, of Tring, Hertfordshire had applied to convert Mill Green in Caversham into a gravel road to provide vehicular access to his mooring.
However, Reading Borough Council’s planning committee rejected his proposal after it received 91 public objections.
In summer, he appealed for the decision to be overturned by the Government’s planning inspectorate, but the appeal has recently been dismissed.
Asked whether he wanted to stay in Reading given the failure of the plan, Mr Carter said: “Absolutely, more than ever now because I have made so many friends here.
“There are a few trolls but we ignore them. It’s like anything else, I’m the new kid on the block.
“It’s been over two years, I’m happy to entertain people who need to get a life.”
He added ‘I’ve got a thick skin’ despite the refusal and amount of objections received.
READ MORE: Reading boater's plan to create access road to his boats rejected
Relations with his neighbour, the Better Boating Company, is complicated as they installed a shipping container at the entrance of Mill Green to block vehicular access to the path.
Mr Carter said: “I think I’d like to buy the boatyard next door and do a deal if they’re interested in selling I’d like to talk to them.”
John Patey, the business owner and freeholder of the Better Boating Company said he has no intensions to sell.
The company provides permanent mooring, boat repairs, restoration, crane services and diesel and gas sales.
On Mr Carter’s suggestion that the business is dated, Mr Patey said: “We rigorously check all our lifting and cranes.
“There are fewer and fewer businesses like ours on the river. It’s one of a dying breed.”
Meanwhile, Mr Patey confirmed that the shipping container is still in place.
Furthermore, he stated ownership of the entrance and a strip of Mill Green is in dispute, and could be under his possession – giving him the right to place the container there.
Previously, staff at the Better Boating Company said the container was put in place to prevent any work on the access road being undertaken without planning consent.
READ MORE: Reading boater launches bid to build gravel road to his moorings
Mr Carter’s appeal was dismissed on November 15.
Inspector M P Howell argued the removal of trees for the works would harm “the tranquil and verdant character and appearance of the area”, and that creation of the gravel road would pose a flood risk.
Reacting to the ruling, Mr Carter said: “The inspector decided it was too leafy, green and nice, but none of the trees have Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) on them.
“The government inspector said no, but with respect, it’s one man’s opinion, it’s a process.
“With the trees, I could understand if they had TPOs but they don’t.
“But I wouldn’t reapply now.”
Earlier in the year, Mr Carter did apply for a legal certificate to confirm use of the site as a commercial boatyard through his company Duty Town Ltd.
Mr Carter said: “Reading Borough Council is the fountain of all knowledge so they can tell me what the use of the land is.”
The legal certificate has not been confirmed yet.
You can view the applications by typing the references into the council’s planning portal:
Rejected plan for access road to moorings – 210544
Legal certificate application – 220591
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