Your letters

Devastated by mooring fees

I am writing to express my deep disappointment and devastation over the extreme mooring fees introduced by Henley Town Council at Mill Meadows during Henley Royal Regatta.

My family and I have been boating on the Thames for more than 10 years and regatta week has always been one of the highlights of our summer.

Until recent years, we, along with many of our boating friends, would spend the entire regatta week moored at Mill Meadows. It was a vibrant, joyful time — cruising along the river, watching the races, enjoying the unique atmosphere and contributing to the local economy by visiting Henley’s wonderful shops, bars and restaurants.

We always understood and accepted the need for an increased nightly mooring fee during regatta – from £12 to around £40 per night – and felt this was a fair price for the location and event.

However, two years ago, Henley Town Council introduced an inflexible and, frankly, extortionate weekly fee structure: £650 for boats more than 30ft and £350 for those under. The option to pay per night was removed entirely. This means that, even if someone only wants to stay for one or two nights, they are forced to pay the full weekly rate.

As a result, we chose not to attend last year – and again this year – when the fees rose even further to £750 for boats more than 30ft. What was once a lively and welcoming riverside during regatta has become a quiet, near-empty space. Mill Meadows, normally packed with happy boaters, was largely deserted. The river, once full of life and camaraderie, felt eerily empty. It was heartbreaking.

This approach is not only pricing out regular boaters but is actively discouraging participation in one of Henley’s most cherished events. It feels as though the town council is intentionally pushing the boating community away. I would sincerely like to understand the justification for these exorbitant charges. If the moorings are empty, how is this benefiting the town or its finances?

I urge Henley Town Council to reconsider this policy and reinstate the nightly mooring option at a reasonable rate. The regatta week should be inclusive, vibrant and welcoming – not reserved only for those who can afford a flat fee that many simply cannot justify.

There are countless disappointed boaters like myself who want nothing more than to return and be part of this wonderful event once again. Let’s not lose the magic of regatta on the river for a third year.

I have attached two photos taken this morning (Sunday, July 6) showing how empty the moorings are. In the past these would be full and some boats would even be double rafted.

I hope this is something you will consider reporting on and include in your publication. — Yours faithfully,

Jayne Laverick

Woodley

A spokeswoman for Henley Town Council responds: “The council is aware of concerns raised regarding the mooring fees and payment structure in place at Mill Meadows during this year’s Henley Royal Regatta.

“In 2023, the council introduced a weekly flat-rate mooring fee during regatta week, following a review which concluded that the site had historically been undercharging compared to nearby private moorings. This change also aligned with approaches taken by other operators along the river at that time.

“The policy was maintained for a second year to assess its longer-term impact. However, the council acknowledges the feedback from boaters and members of the public who feel that the current fee structure is too high and lacks flexibility – particularly for those wishing to stay for shorter periods.

“A full report will be prepared in the autumn, once data from this year’s regatta has been reviewed. This will include consideration of both the charging level and the administration of moorings at Mill Meadows. Feedback received will form an important part of that process.

“The council remains committed to ensuring Henley is a welcoming, inclusive and vibrant destination during regatta week and beyond.”

Outrageous taxi fares

I am writing to raise a serious concern about taxi fares during Henley Royal Regatta.

On the Friday evening of this year’s event, my son and his friend took a taxi from Henley to Sonning Common — a journey of approximately seven miles — and were charged an outrageous £80 for the fare. This is a journey that would typically cost under £20.

Sadly, this does not appear to be an isolated incident. It has become common knowledge that during regatta week, many taxi drivers do not use the meter and instead charge inflated, arbitrary prices. This behaviour is not only unfair but exploitative — particularly for young people or those relying on taxis after train services have ended.

It raises the question: is the local licensing department aware of this, and are any checks being made? It feels as though this issue is either being ignored or allowed to continue unchallenged, which is deeply disappointing.

I would appreciate a response outlining what steps, if any, are being taken to monitor taxi fares during major events such as the regatta, and what recourse the public has when faced with this kind of exploitation. — Yours faithfully,

Debbie Ashford

Sonning Common

South Oxfordshire District Council responds: “During the regatta our licensing team works with colleagues from neighbouring authorities and the police to check taxis are complying with the law and licence conditions.

“Over the past five years, 19 drivers have been prosecuted and had their licences revoked for illegally plying for hire.

“Last week’s event saw three drivers caught illegally plying for hire and formal action will now be considered. We also did some checks to ensure drivers were charging the correct tariff for journeys within the district and have identified one driver who quoted too high a fare who is now being investigated and have received a further complaint which is already being considered.

“If someone suspects that a taxi driver has overcharged them, they should contact our licensing team with the details of the vehicle involved so it can be investigated.”

Messing about on the water

Half a century ago Henley Royal Regatta was an event to behold. People poured in to watch, promenade, cheer from the banks and splash about on the river in their own happy way. Traffic marshalling was capable and efficient.

Jump forward two decades and the pomp is being eased out by new money, here for the drink and parties, tents obscure the finish line watched by a rare interested few and the Hooray Henrys begin making a nuisance of themselves. The traffic is heavier and the marshalling has fallen prey to budget cuts.

Now? No marshalling, traffic chaos, the tents are full of corporate fat cats that hardly see there is a river let alone a regatta. The locals, the plebs are pushed to the outskirts and all are persona non grata on the river.

Historically, traffic was always a problem down on to Henley Bridge and from Oxford along the Fair Mile but now it takes 45 minutes to get in from Marlow and who knows from Reading. I understand that the regatta, the festivals — music and literary — all bring in money but many of the locals that need to carry on as normal, work, school, shop, doctor etc have now found it intrusive, frustrating and bothersome.

Two things we have had denied historically are the relief Thames bridge and a decent traffic and parking solution in and around Henley. Neither of these have ever been realistically addressed and we see the consequences.

Add into the mix unthinking road and service maintenance companies and our oblivious council we have the lunacy of the traffic lights on the Northfield End roundabout on Tuesday morning, the first day of the regatta.

Joined-up thinking? It would be good if there was any cogent thought whatsoever.

Take a deep breath and carry on. — Yours faithfully,

Edward Sierpowski

Henley

Closure will be monitored

Sir, — I read with great sadness your headlines of last week that the River & Rowing Museum will close its doors in September.

As your article points out, the museum does have retained reserves and the last published accounts show it has £5m of quoted investments, thus the wind-down process needs to be carefully monitored to preserve this wonderful collection of rowing artefacts.

There is one parallel precedent from which lessons can be learnt: the Maritime Museum in Exeter was founded in 1969 and contained many valuable boats and exhibits donated from around the world.

The museum ran into financial difficulties and moved its base to Eyemouth in Scotland. In 2017, it went into administration and the collection was auctioned off.

I, among others of your readership, will keep a close eye on the administration process. — Yours faithfully,

Steve Horner

The Street, Ewelme

It’s time for third bridge

Sir, — I was very interested to read the letters from Alister Jones and Amanda Chumas and also the report on the Henley HGV Watch campaign (Standard, July 4).

Once again it comes down to another bridge being required over the River Thames. If this was built, it would possibly take all the heavy goods vehicles out of Henley.

I have lived on both sides of the river so I know the benefits it would bring to all. — Yours faithfully,

Peter Giles

Earley

Words, not numbers

Editor, — The diary writer James Kelso of Watlington, Oxfordshire, recently completed nine million continuous written words. In the process he has worn out two Montblancs and one Lamy fountain pens.

Asked for the secret of his long-handedness he explained: it’s quite straightforward. I exaggerate, saying: I once tried to compute the gallons of ink per word involved in the enterprise, but the math/maths/was/were beyond me. — Yours faithfully,

James Kelso

Gorwell, Watlington

Henley retains its charm

Editor, — I have a charming and much-loved book, A Guide to Henley Upon Thames and its Vicinity which, in the introduction by Julian Berrisford of 52a Bell Street, tells us that it was first published in 1838. That is 133 years prior to this particular publication.

It is full of jewels of information of life in times past and says “very soon many of our historic towns will be swamped by progress and much of our heritage will have been lost”.

It prints the poem Henley:

Low in a vale, by wood-crown’d heights o’erhung,

Where larch and fir, and beech are careless flung,

With silver Thames slow rolling at her feet,

Lies Henley – contemplation’s calm retreat

Henley and its vicinity have done well to retain their charm and heritage in the face of progress. — Yours faithfully,

Douglas Wright

Caversham

Grateful for our hospital

Sir, — Thank goodness for the NHS and for Townlands Memorial Hospital.

Recently I had a hearing test at Townlands and then, in the afternoon, I had the pleasure of sitting in the minor injuries unit for an hour or so.

Yes, it was a pleasure, because I felt we were in good hands.

What a busy hospital we have. There was a steady stream of visitors to the various clinics, and all visitors were greeted professionally, politely and with care, to make sure they went to the right place. — Yours faithfully,

Mike Hails

Blandy Road, Henley

Wonderful gesture

To the two very kind young girls who stepped down from the balloon sculptor at Phyllis Court Family Day so that my three-year-old granddaughter could get in before he left, another huge thank-you.

It was a wonderful gesture, not enough of these nowadays. Your parents would have been very proud as I would be if my grandchildren did the same. — Yours faithfully,

Nancy Sanders

White Waltham