Considered by RBWM on 5/6/2025
24/00381/FULL – Liquid Leisure Horton Road Datchet Slough SL3 9HY
PROPOSAL: Regularisation of Unauthorised Facilities and Change of Use to include Non Water Polluting Activities and Non Propelled Watersports, use of Boat House as reception/shop and storage for hire and maintenance equipment in association with water based activities
DECISION: PERMIT
The YouTube Zoom video of the meeting can be found here
This is what I said at the meeting:
My name is Ewan Larcombe. After 20 years living in Wraysbury I have lived in Datchet since 1977 and been a member of Datchet Parish Council almost continuously since 1986. Today I am also on both Horton and Wraysbury Parish Councils. I am now in my 7th year as RBWM Datchet, Horton and Wraysbury Ward Councillor.
Decades ago – I was sitting as a Parish Councillor in Datchet Village Hall when the applicant at the back spoke about ‘two small gas powered boats.’ In my opinion this was the ‘thin end of the wedge’. Over the years the activities on this site expanded significantly accompanied by some planning applications and some enforcements. The original single disused gravel pit is now divided into two.
Soon after the incident in August 2022, the flowers placed at the Horton Road entrance were removed. That single act exposed the primary objectives of the management.
In practice Liquid Leisure has failed to follow the rules for decades thus I see no justification for retrospective planning approval.
Even if retrospective approval was given, I have no confidence in their ability or willingness to comply. This is a cultural shortcoming but not unique to Liquid Leisure.
Does it need a sign outside the gate that says ‘Kyra Hill was unlawfully killed here?’ This RBWM Committee simply needs to demonstrate that it has learned and I invite you to reject this application now.
END