The idea
We will have a new fence that will be higher than the current one which will be more secure with wider riverside access gates that will enable improved safer access onto the water for larger boats. A gated structure will be built for the pontoon to ensure its use is solely for boating users only and will help with safeguarding our children and volunteer coaches.
The new fencing will compliment the improvements we have already made to the site. The building was in a dilapidated state externally and the concrete hardstanding was cracked and uneven. The members of the school rowing club have raised funds over the past two years to improve the look of this site. This project is one of the final pieces of the jigsaw and will ensure all our equipment that is stored outside is safe and secure, along with improving the overall look of the site.
What we'll deliver
- Deteriorated iron fencing and gates will be replaced with new secure gates and fencing.
- Pontoon will have gated secure access.
Why it's a great idea
There are lots of benefits to our project- the following issues will be resolved -
The current fencing has corroded and is currently unsafe in places. We struggle to get large boats through the gates safely as they are too narrow in width. Our young teenaged rowers often find it difficult to carry heavy boats at an angle through them, which usually ends up with equipment being damaged.
Our landing stage is usually used as a swimming platform / place to gather for youths and adults during warmer weather.
Its also a place that attracts a lot of anti social behaviour through drug taking, drinking alcohol, arguments and fights- people walking along the footpath regularly have to walk through /around them.
These people then climb the fence to steal or damage our equipment we have stored outside.
Our volunteer coaches usually have to negotiate people off the pontoon before our rowers and canoeists can use it, which on most occaisions ends in arguments, assaults & having to call the police.
Steps to get it done
- instructing a contractor to start the work
The fencing will ensure the safety of all of our river users and will help protect our volunteer coaches and helpers and will ensure we can use our facilities and access the river when we want and not have to worry about what we may be confronted with when arriving to run a sports session.
It will improve the area for pedestrians and small children, help with enviromental issues like river polution and littering.
It will also help with draining valuable police resource.
Following comprehensive involvement with the local authority, local councillors, community police officers, the local police beat manager and the designing out crime officer at Cheshire police, a report was produced outlining the issues of the site along with recommendations.
We have implemented most of these now, however the main solution is this project which will combat the root issue of the anti social behaviour.
