A pub landlady has been ordered to remove an outdoor marquee after claims it is preventing boats mooring on the river.
Amanda Cooper has been ordered to remove the giant marquee covering her decking at the Boat Inn pub, where punters can enjoy a pint with the riverside views, after boatsmen said it was damaging the market town’s heritage.
But the drinking spot has been criticised by the local boat club for obstructing access to the river bank.
The marquee was erected at the watering hole in Chepstow, Monmouthshire, to provide an outdoor space in 2020, when planning rules were relaxed to allow al fresco dining during the pandemic.
A pub landlady is fighting to keep a marquee on the riverside after she was ordered to remove following complaints from boatsmen that it inhibits boats from mooring on the river
The large covering was originally erected during the Covid pandemic, when rules were relaxed to support businesses with al fresco dining
But the local boat club says the drinking spot is obstructing access to the historic river bank
Amanda has now taken her case to the Welsh Government after Monmouthshire County Council refused an application to keep the structure in place permanently in 2023.
Chepstow and District Yacht Club and the Chepstow Boat Club said the beauty spot ‘has historically been used for the laying-up of boats since the time Chepstow was truly a port.’
They said there had been an agreement on shared use of the area when the pub reopened in 1997.
Members say without ‘full access’ to the pontoon for maintenance it would have to be removed – meaning boats could no longer be moored on the river.
The riverside in Chepstow, Montgomeryshire has been ‘historically used’ for the laying up of boats since the town became a port, campaigners have said
Landlady Amanda Cooper is taking her case to the Welsh Government after her application to keep the covered seating area up was refused by the local authority
The club said the town has lost its deep water wharf to new housing and added: ‘We must not lose the only remaining evidence of our maritime history or the ancient port of Chepstow will become just that -history.’
Chepstow Town Council had also objected to the original application on the grounds it would ‘compromise safety access to the pontoon’ and isn’t in keeping with the area.
A final decision will now be made by an inspector from PEDW, the Welsh planning body.
