"Illegally-moored" houseboats in Brentford are allegedly being rented out as "substandard accommodation".

That was the claim made by Hounslow Council leader Cllr Steve Curran as he hit back over criticism of plans for a new £5.45million marina beside Watermans Park.

"Many of the illegally moored boats are rented out as substandard accommodation," he wrote in a letter to the Hounslow Chronicle.

"Most people living on the boats are being exploited and they are also being put at serious risk."

"Power being delivered to the boats is through illegally installed cables running dangerously across public land and water, and there are no legal arrangements in place for the removal of raw sewage – which we suspect is being dumped straight into the river.

Hounslow Council's plans for a new marina beside Watermans Park in Brentford

"As well as being disgusting this is also ironic given the regard the boaters say they have for protecting the environment."

The council is taking legal action to remove the 30-odd boats which it says are illegally moored on the Thames beside Watermans Park, in order to build a new marina.

'Catalyst for regeneration'

It claims that as well as cleaning up the site and enabling it to regulate moorings, providing vital income, the new marina will act as a "catalyst for regeneration".

Boat owners and occupants, who claim they have the right to remain, are fighting the proposed marina. They have said it would be an "environmental catastrophe" costing closer to £20m.

Alternative plans for a new marina beside Watermans Park, Brentford produced by boaters currently living there

They have produced their own plans for an alternative marina, which they say would be more environmentally sustainable and could be built for a fraction of the cost.

They claim the council has failed to consider these plans, but Mr Curran said they were rejected in November last year as they "in no way reflected the aspirations we – and local residents – have for our borough".

Mr Curran added that the council had offered support with housing and well-being to boaters and was still "here to help".

'We have received only harassment and legal proceedings'

But he said its plans had the public backing and it understood the Port of London Authority (PLA) was not looking at any alternative proposals.

Stephen Alexander, who owns one of the boats at the moorings, said the boaters' plans were rejected without a hearing and claimed Mr Curran was "completely misinformed" about the renting arrangements, sewage disposal and electrical supplies for the vessels.

"As a group, we have received no offer of housing or well-being support in any way. Instead we have received only harassment and legal proceedings from the councils' solicitor," he added.

"If Councillor Curran is honestly "here to help", why is he sending his staff here to illegally disconnect electricity supplies, restrict parking, and harass us with legal injunctions and impending court proceedings? How is that help?"