Work continues at Thames Towpath breach

The Kew Society’s Environment Lead, Dr Sarah Clarke, along with engineers, ward councillors and other interested parties recently attended a site visit to the Thames Towpath breach between Kew and Richmond that occurred on Saturday 19 October 2024 .

Tow Path Breach between Kew and Richmond

At the site visit, the group was informed by Cllr. Alexander Ehmann, Chair of Richmond Council’s Transport and Air Quality Committee, that new safety barriers have been installed at either side of the breach to prevent people bypassing signage to view what is a dangerous and unsafe location.

Safety barrier at Thames Towpath close to Richmond Lock

The engineers described the emergency temporary works that had been put in place to prevent further damage to the towpath which has become a gaping hole since the original breach in October.  This includes shoring up the ancient boundary wall (forming a landscape feature known as a ha-ha) that runs along edge of the Royal Mid-Surrey Golf Club

Flood water on the Royal Mid-Surrey Golf Club course

The breach, which is close to the boundary line between the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the Golf Club, has had a considerable impact on the course which is flooded more than usual at high tide.

With preliminary designs in place to start the consents process for the repair work, the council is “hopeful to start the real work in April” with aspirations that the towpath can be reopened during the summer.

However, it will not be possible to allow access while the permanent repairs are being carried out and this much loved walk from the Kew Gardens to Richmond remains out of bounds.

Residents and visitors are advised to continue to use the diversion details of which can be found here

View the latest update from Richmond Council on the breach here

Site visitors being escorted back to Richmond Lock

Kew Society’s previous reporting about the Towpath Breach is available here

It’s out of bounds to everyone at the towpath!