Jetty plan for river refused a second time

Ambitious plans to provide a new river bus service between Windsor and Maidenhead have received another blow - after councillors refused for a second time to give permission for a jetty to serve it.

Bill Dax, who is chairman of the Thames Executive Charter Company, came along in person to present the plan to councillors at Windsor's Guildhall last night.

His earlier plan for a 25m by 6m jetty on the river at Jennings Wharf adjoining Windsor Eton Bridge had been decisively rejected by members of the Royal Borough's urban development control panel in August. 

But the proposed new jetty is much smaller - 15m by 4m.

Mr Dax said it would serve 20m boats designed to take about 50 passengers.

But despite the new pontoon being regarded as acceptable by planning officers, councillors said 'no' once more.

They felt the jetty would still look incongruous in a greenbelt area and would block an already congested area of footpath beside the river.

Cllr Phill Bicknell (Con, Park) said: "On balance it is still a big lump. Although it is smaller, all the reasons we gave for refusing it before still apply."