Caversham Lakes has criticised the council’s decision to ban the company from hosting unauthorised watersports

South Oxfordshire District Council is considering ‘formal enforcement action’ after refusing retrospective planning permission to host swimming, paddleboarding and kayaking for a second time.

A spokesperson for Caversham Lakes, which has been run by Cosmonaut Leisure without planning permission since 2020, called the decision ‘unwarranted', 'perplexing’ and ‘extremely disappointing.’

“The Council’s decision to refuse planning permission on highway and nature conservation grounds is both unwarranted and perplexing,” a spokesperson for Caversham Lakes said in a statement.

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They continued: “The Council’s decision is extremely disappointing. It's [sic] Planning Officers have refused to engage or engage positively throughout the process despite us volunteering to accept appropriate conditional planning controls and repeatedly requesting face-to-face meetings to discuss how any concerns might be overcome.”

The statement criticised the council for visiting the site “unannounced” and accused council consultees of not having a detailed understanding of the site.

In a document refusing the application, the council said Cosmonaut Leisure’s unauthorised changes to the area had resulted in a loss of biodiversity, increased traffic and inadequate highway safety.

Other objections in the report included noise, increasingly poor water quality, unconsented clearance of habitat and unsuitable pedestrian access.

But Caversham Lakes said: “It is clear that our application proposals have not been afforded fair and proper consideration by the Council’s Planning Officers.”

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“The many social, economic and environmental benefits attributable to the proposed recreational use of a discreet part of the lake have gone unnoticed by the Council in its handling of our planning application.”

Caversham Lakes, which is largely closed for the colder months, have stated their intention to appeal the decision.

Asked whether they would be enforcing their decision, a spokesperson for South Oxfordshire District Council said:  "We are considering our options regarding how to address the unauthorised use of this site, including the potential for pursuing formal enforcement action."

Cosmonaut Leisure’s first planning application was refused in October 2021.

It’s second application asked for permission for swimming, its reception, kayak store, changing rooms, food and drink provision and the construction of a bridge to an island close to the bank