“The Boat Race is aware of proposed plans to build a 75ft pier from Fulham Football Ground into the middle of the River Thames and is concerned about the impact on river users.

“The proposed construction, at the start of The Championship Course, would negatively impact the historic annual Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge universities and the training of the crews on this stretch of river would be seriously impeded, with added wash and danger from the river traffic using the pier.

“More importantly though, as The Boat Race is a one day event and our crews are visitors to the Thames,  it is the rowing and sailing clubs up and down the river who would be most affected. We are concerned that the pier will limit the ability of river users to continue using the river in a way that they have for hundreds of years and the impact of a river hazard and the increase of large river vessels would be felt by the rowing, sailing and general pleasure users of the river on a daily basis.  We are particularly concerned about the impact on junior rowers, from clubs like Fulham Reach Boat Club who are a recipient of The Gemini Boat Race Bursary, who are starting their rowing journey on this stretch of river. “