Agreed site for the centre. The location is chosen to allow views over the entire reservoir for safety and a viewing platform to involve family members.
“The work to date has completed the planning and negotiating phase. Welsh Water have now taken over responsiblity to fund and procure the building during 2011.”
Llandegfedd reservoir is located in a high valley between Usk and Cwmbran.
The original design was commissioned by centre Construction Director Martyn Osborne with award winning architects Boyes Rees of Cardiff who have a deep understand of the needs of the locality. The design brief was to provide; storage, changing facilities to cater for the wet sports; amenities for catering; viewing for spectators; introductory space for new participants; office space for the commercial operation to provided training and the hire and sale of equipment.
Planning permission was originally granted in September 2007 after an extensive set of reports into the visual impact and its effect on the local environment and wildlife. We received further approval on 7 September 2010 after we had to make an adjustment to the position of the centre due to a Welsh Water pipeline was found to be under the original site. The design has been given a great deal of thought based on the use of natural materials to blend into the landscape whilst providing the facilities needed and a pleasant environment for all visitors.
The planners and local councillors were satisfied with the design of the scheme and agreed that it will provide a valuable resource to promote water sports in the SE Wales area. Facilities for water sports in SE Wales have always been poor and this development is seen as strategically important and a significant site for all sports involved and their national bodies.
On the business side, a Community Interest Company (CIC) has already been formed from the current provider Gwent Adventures. The CIC will provide an agreed level of service as defined and monitored by the directors of the centre representing its members and users. The new CIC will be run for the benefit of the centre whereby all of the services required by them will be provided and charged at commercial rates. The accounts of the CIC will be provided to the centre directors and users for open accounting and profits made by the CIC will be ploughed back for the benefit of improving facilities and equipment.
We have completed legal work for the lease, registered the Watersports centre as a charity and have registered for VAT.
A sports development plan has been drawn up to define training plans, resource and equipment needed, services to existing users and generally to increase sports participation in line with various government initiatives.
The centre will be open to casual users through day permits and the services offered will include the hiring of equipment. New equipment may be provided in advance of the centre opening subject to suitable funding being available. Now that Welsh Water has taken on total responsibility for funding and managing the delivery of the buidling, LLWC has started to look at the provision of additional facilities such as training boats, boards and kayaks.
The centre will need to accommodate disabled sports men and women at various levels. Discussions are taking place to define what the centre can practically do to provide these services.
The actual construction will not start until all aspects of the site are carefully considered through a site management plan. These provision of services is a key factor.
We do not now know when site works will start but it is probable that building work will take place during the closed season when the site is closed to visitors. The need to protect the SSI status of the site during this time will be carefully managed.
Together with Gwent Adventures we have received a grant towards a new pontoon that will support disabled watersports users.
This newsletter and the website will start to promote interest in the centre with the need to increase membership from the time the facility is opened.