Thames towpath remains diverted following collapse
The Thames towpath between Richmond Lock and Kew Gardens car park on Ferry Lane is still entirely closed following the collapse of a section of the towpath on Saturday 19 October.
In an update on 7th November, Richmond Council said that its engineers are still “undertaking ground investigations” and have been working with specialist contractors to “explore temporary and permanent solutions”. Initial findings suggest that the collapse is likely to have been caused by an unusual combination of high river levels and winds.
Richmond Council says that whilst it is only one of a number of organisations with interests and responsibilities in the damaged section, they have “consciously taken the lead on this very complex project”. The council is working with other bodies to re-open the path as soon as possible, although no timescale has been given.
In the meantime, the diversions already in place will remain, with fencing still in place at either end of the closure.
Residents and visitors are asked not to go onto the towpath in the affected section, as it is not safe. 
Barriers have been installed with signs showing diversions on what is a very popular walking and cycling route.
For the latest update see Richmond Council’s website page
Diversions in place between Brentford Gate and Richmond Lock (on 7 November 2024) are:
- For towpath walkers and cyclists, a route is shown on the map here, on the opposite side of the river, crossing at Richmond Lock
- For a more direct route to Kew, pedestrians and cyclists can take Kew Road (A307)
- Diversion signage is in place at Twickenham Bridge and at Ferry Lane
The National Trail information page is here
Cycling: There is no suggested alternative off-road cycle route. Both Kew Road (A307) and Twickenham Road (A316) have cycle lanes and would be the most direct routes.
The Port of London Authority has issued an alert to river traffic in Syon Reach, warning of navigation hazards and reduced depths because of debris washed into the main channel. The notice runs until 31 December 2024.
On the 19th October 2024, torrential rain caused a torrent of water to surge through a section of the path on the south side of the river, opposite Syon House.
The flow washed away a 4 metre stretch of the bank, leaving startled joggers and walkers stranded on either side.
See BBC News report
In what turned out to be a timely intervention, Jason Debney, Co-ordinator of the Thames Landscape Strategy, had told Kew Society members at our AGM just 3 days before, that due to the impact of climate change, in less than 10 years flooding on our stretch of the Thames could become critical, unless action was taken immediately.
He noted that simply raising the height of flood barriers along the towpath was not a solution as their height would destroy the character of the Arcadian Thames, prevent people using the towpath and obstruct the magnificent river views we all enjoy.
What was needed, he suggested, was a “re-wilding” of this stretch of river to create a series of nature-based flood risk management projects which would restore lost flood plains along the Thames. This he said, would re-connect water, people, heritage and wild life with the natural cycles of the River, in normal times, during floods and drought.
The TLS’s ideas have received strong backing from the renowned naturalist and broadcaster Sir David Attenborough, who is a patron and lives in the area.
This approach would, for example, enable wetlands at the Old Deer Park to mitigate flooding and drought conditions through the year, while allowing pedestrian access on a raised broad walk even when the area is flooded.
The Kew Society is committed to supporting the work of Thames Landscape Strategy through its future environmental activities and participation in the Community Advisory Group to the TLS.
For more information on TLS check out their website
