Sports Clubs 'Evicted' From Chiswick Boat House

Legal options being considered as rowing club faces losing access to facilities

Dukes Meadows Club House

Sports clubs using the Chiswick Boathouse near Dukes Meadows are saying that they have been evicted without warning from the facility by Hounslow Council.

A representative from one of the clubs said the move this weekend came as a ‘bolt out of the blue’ and was doubly unexpected because repairs had recently been carried out to the roof at the facility.

Thames Tradesmen’s Rowing Club which is based at the boathouse is one of the oldest rowing clubs in the world having been in existence for over 100 years. They say that they are currently looking into their legal options.

Other clubs that operate from the boathouse include Old Meadonians and Barnes Hockey Club which use the facilities to change when playing on the pitches at nearby Riverside Lands. A spokesperson for Old Meadonians said, "Old Meadonians are aware of all current developments and are working positively with London Borough of Hounslow to reach a desired outcome for all parties. The Club has agreed continuing occupation in the medium term under a licence . We are deep into our pre-season schedule and haven't been affected by recent developments. We are looking forward to a successful season both on and off the pitch."

The redevelopment of the Chiswick Boathouse was part of the Dukes Meadows ‘masterplan’ which is seeing significant investment in sports facilities in the area. The current boathouse is to be demolished and replaced with upgraded facilities and a café on the ground floor. It has been assumed that the sports clubs currently making use of the existing facility would make a transition to the new building but this has been made less certain by recent events. There have been claims made that the Council now wish to turn the facilities at the boathouse into a private members’ club.

The original masterplan for the sporting facilities on Dukes Meadows was been developed in partnership with the Rugby Football Union, The Football Association and the Football Foundation, British Rowing, London Youth Rowing, England Hockey, Sport England. The new Chiswick Boathouse for Thames Tradesmen’s Rowing Club was to become the West London base for London Youth Rowing.

The plan was substantially changed when Parklife, the arm of the FA which funds artificial pitch facilities for public use, pulled out of the scheme. There followed a dispute between Old Meadonians and the Council about the future management of the pitches which was resolved amicably this June.

There will also be a significant upgrade of the changing facilities on Riverside Lands currently used by Chiswick Rugby Club but as this has largely been paid for by the RFU it is not clear whether non-rugby sports clubs will have access to it.

We have contacted Hounslow Council and local Councillors involved with the Dukes Meadows ‘Masterplan’ for comment but have not received a reply.

August 20, 2018