Surf may be up for Docklands wakeboarders

A new watersport looks set to come to London, with a scheme for the capital's first wakeboarding centre going before planners tonight.

If Newham council gives the go-ahead Londoners will be able to balance sideways on something like a snowboard while being towed at up to 24mph behind an overhead cable across the waters of the Royal Victoria Dock.

The company behind the plans, Wakeup Docklands, hopes the centre will be running by next spring. But some local residents are opposed. The Royal Docks Community Forum says Britannia village residents are already subjected to air traffic noise six days a week.

"To add to this mix noise and disturbance until 10pm every day of the week is not in the interests of the residents," said the forum.