Hampton Court eyesore

There seem to be few admirers of the planning proposal on the site of the Jolly Boatman pub and car park adjacent to Hampton Court station, and overlooking the Thames

Beauty may lie in the eye of the beholder, but there can be few admirers of a planning proposal on the site of the Jolly Boatman pub and car park adjacent to Hampton Court station and overlooking the Thames.

The site is directly opposite Hampton Court Palace and clearly visible from the Palace grounds. CPRE Surrey has objected in the strongest possible terms. We acknowledge the site is currently a mess but it has great potential for a landmark scheme which will enhance the area and respect its unique setting. Instead we have an over-dominant hotel structure with layers of hard standing leading down to the river. At a time when there are pressures to improve access and landscaping along the banks of the Thames, this is a very disappointing solution. Let us hope Elmbridge Council refuses the application and a better scheme emerges.