A privately owned plot of riverside land is to be opened up to the public in a new residential development.

The boatyard in Duck's Walk, Twickenham has been bought by Leander Estates who have plans to build homes on the land.

Director of Leander Estates, Demitri Constantino said: "Many people think this land is public and open to anyone who wants to enjoy the river. In fact it is private land but people have been walking through it for so long they don't realise. We plan to open it up to the public with moorings available as well as a residential development. I think most people would prefer a quiet residential area there rather than the continuation of traffic going in and out as it does at the moment."

The boatyard was once owned by Titanic hero Charles Lightoller who was second officer on the doomed liner. He used the slipway to build patrol launches for the Metropolitan Police and died in 1952.

The Environment Trust for Richmond Upon Thames would like to see a smaller residential development built on the site with the slipways still intact and a traditional boathouse used for storage and meetings.

Project chairman Patrick Kidner said: "We need to promote access to the river and to provide storage and moorings for residential and visitors boats. We are dismayed that all traces of a hero and important personality are to be thrown away. An imaginative scheme incorporating these features would be a fitting tribute to Charles Lightoller."

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