Kingston’s Riverside: New Indoor Spaces Thrive, But Gloomy Walkway Still Lags Behind

A KingSoc Soapbox article by Bob Phillips – the views expressed here are not necessarily the views of The Kingston Society.

The building hoardings that were present when this photo was taken have gone now, and the FUSEbox has opened with great success, providing a vibrant, well-used space that also showcases some of our town’s archaeological treasures. These are commendable steps forward, yet the space outside—the brick walkway along the river in the picture—remains unchanged: gloomy, and sometimes unsafe. There have been persistent issues with drug users gathering in this area and incidents involving knives. These concerns highlight an urgent need for this stretch to become as lively and secure as the indoor spaces.

To achieve this, we must prioritise making the walkway an inviting and active public realm. When Town Square opens, the presence of shared office users will bring additional footfall, helping to create a safer atmosphere. However, passive surveillance alone isn’t enough. The area needs to be brought into the public eye through activities that encourage continuous engagement. Active riversides thrive when there are eyes on the space from people who care about its well-being.

A great opportunity lies in introducing permanent moorings along this section of the riverbank. Moorings would not only create a residential community with a vested interest in maintaining the area’s safety and cleanliness but also foster the kind of neighbourly care that underpins thriving public spaces. Unfortunately, Kingston has long treated moored residents as more of a regulatory challenge than a community asset. If we embraced them instead, their presence could be transformative. For example, look at the positive impact moored residents have had on the opposite side of the river, where they have cultivated a vibrant community garden.

Another issue is the lingering idea within the Council that installing railings along the river could solve the problem at Buckland’s Wharf. This kind of thinking, which treats the riverside as a hazard to be cordoned off, ignores the unique opportunity it presents. The riverside should be embraced as an integral part of Kingston’s identity, not fenced off. Historically, RBK has thought of this area of the riverside as a suitable location for a couple of multi-storey car parks; let’s raise our sights from that. Instead, we should be focusing on how this prime location can support Kingston’s future growth as a high-quality public space.

The Kingston Riverside SPD outlines an ambitious vision for the riverside, recognising its potential to become a remarkable public space at the heart of Kingston​. As part of this, the aim is to turn the riverside into a connected, high-quality linear park, where diverse activities ranging from cultural events to leisurely strolls will encourage vibrant use​. By enhancing the public realm and better integrating the riverside with the town’s historic core, we could transform this area into a focal point for both residents and visitors. (But see the concerns here regarding street vendors along the river bank)

Let’s hope that the newly proposed “workspace and creative hub” will move us away from piecemeal, uninspired ideas and towards creating something truly special—an active, engaging riverside that reflects Kingston’s rich heritage and bright future.