For around 40 years, a stretch of Oxford free mooring on the Thames between Donnington Bridge and the Isis Farmhouse has supported a mixed boating community of liveaboards and visiting boaters. Now, six boaters are in negotiations to privatise a part of this space with the landowner, The Harley Trust. The discussions are reportedly being facilitated by one boater acting as an intermediary between the trust and other boaters.
The proposal would introduce a limited number of paid moorings, potentially with water and electricity for those spaces only, while visiting continuous cruisers would receive none.
There are also concerns this move is linked to possible evictions from moorings closer to the centre of Oxford. If boaters are displaced there, they may move downstream, and this stretch could be privatised in advance to prevent that. https://oxfordclarion.uk/the-
Many fear this follows a familiar pattern: open riverbank → restrictions → paid moorings → long-standing boating communities pushed out.
The question is how will access for visiting boaters be protected?
If you care about keeping the Thames accessible:
- Share this article
- Ask for transparency about these negotiations
- Request clear answers from The Harley Trust – Decisions about river access should not happen behind closed doors.