We have run a number of pieces on the battle at Shepperton Lock by resi-dents and their claim to rights to access their park-ing. The right to use the car park itself was not disputed, but a small strip, 6 foot wide, had to be driven over to access it, and Spelthorne Council claimed that it was theirs and that residents may not drive over it. They erected a post, effectively closing the car park and causing problems for residents and visitors alike who could no longer park close to the lock, and Hamhaugh Island.
But victory has been secured after some te-nacious battling and onerous legal proceed-ings.
Stadbury Meadow Car Park has defeated Spelthorne Borough Council at long last at the Land Registration Tribunal. This marks the end of the long-running and wholly un-justified parking war over the ‘ransom strip’ the Council asserted from the Towpath public highway to our residents’ park-ing lot above Shep-perton Lock.
The ruling was in favour of Stadbury on the basis that the 1932 Thames Con-servancy Act burdens the land at Shepper-ton Lock, now owned by the Environment Agency and leased to the Council, with public free liberty with vehicles. The Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng MP played his part in bringing Section 77 of the 1932 Thames Conservancy Act to the attention of residents. Having a statutory basis for their defence against the council’s demands was a critical turning point and has now proven decisive in the ruling.
Spelthorne Council has been ordered to pay Stadbury’s costs.
Campaigners said “We are all delighted here on the Island to get such good news!”