In April 2025 the Environment Agency (EA) closed Penton Hook Island to the public, due it was stated to ash dieback within trees on the island. A substantial fence was erected, blocking access to the first weir.
On Friday 20 March 2026, around 100 residents attended a drop-in session at Staines Library Hub, organised by the EA.
On Saturday 21 March 2026, around 200 residents gathered peacefully at Penton Hook Lock to demonstrate their support for the island’s reopening.
On Saturday 3 October 2026 there was a further public gathering at Penton Hook Lock, in support of re-opening the island.
On 20 Oct 2026, Councillor Michele Gibson received the following update from the EA:
Tree felling and access: Our contractor will fell two priority trees as planned this week. This is an important enabling step because it will provide the access needed for the main works. The relevant risk assessments and method statement as well as our contractor’s Construction Phase Plan are ready, so this element can now move into delivery. Creating this access is one of the key dependencies for the wider programme: it allows the team to progress work that can safely be carried out while maintaining the controls needed for the more complex activities that follow.
Surveys: Both the bathymetric (riverbed survey) and topographical surveys have now been completed. These are critical to confirming the river approach, site set-up and temporary works needed to bring specialist equipment to the island, and they provide essential information for the Flood Risk Activity Permit (FRAP) application. With this information now available, we are planning to bring forward the FRAP submission. This is significant because the permit is a necessary gateway to the river-based enabling works, so progressing it at the earliest practicable point helps protect the overall programme without compromising the design, environmental or flood-risk requirements that need to be addressed.
Maximising delivery: In parallel, we are discussing whether some trees can be felled manually while the FRAP application is being determined. This would allow suitable work to progress rather than waiting for the river-based operation, where it can be done using an appropriate method and with the necessary permissions and controls in place. Taken together, these activities are the current critical-path elements: safe access, the survey information needed to define the temporary works, and the permitting needed for the larger operation. Progressing them in parallel wherever possible gives us the best opportunity to maintain momentum and shorten the programme while ensuring each stage is properly planned and controlled.
As we progress the above points, the full duration of the delivery programme will become easier to determine, and I will keep you updated as new information emerges.
In October 2026 the Penton Hook Action Group was formed, to campaign for an early reopening of the island. It has a Facebook page – go to
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1979079752780925/about
Latest update: 22 Oct 2026