New Dock for River Medway Tours Receives Approval

Approval has been granted for a new dock intended for boat tours on the River Medway. Medway Council submitted an application to establish the platform at Limehouse Wharf, situated just east of Rochester, on a parcel of land that has been disused since 2007. Jetstream Tours has committed to operating services every Sunday between April and September, traveling from Southend via Queenborough to the new dock. Additionally, the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society has confirmed its plans to conduct two annual sailings of what it calls “the world’s last sea-going paddle steamer – the Waverley” from London to Rochester. An official opening date has not yet been established, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. The council intends for this provisional platform for riverboats to operate for a period of three years, pending the construction of a more enduring structure. The local authority states that the wharf, which was previously utilized by large vessels for transporting industrial goods into the area, possesses significant potential. The dock will be situated within the park area of the new Rochester Riverside development, comprising 1,400 homes. The local authority views the platform at Limehouse Wharf as a potentially cost-effective and sustainable substitute for Rochester Pier, a section of which collapsed in 2022. The proposals for the dock were submitted in June.