On Saturday 20th June over 100 invited guests attended the official opening of the Barry Community Water Activities Centre, located on the Mole in Barry No.1 Dock. The event marked the completion of the first part of a project which will ultimately provide an iconic, user friendly building for use by everyone in the local community. Work has so far has seen the construction of a slipway into the dock, a car park, provision of pontoons, and temporary changing rooms and classroom, to the value of nearly £200,000.
[Above: The new pontoon and slipway facility at the end of the Mole, Barry No.1 Dock]
The facility has been established by the Ocean Watersports Trust, a charity with the sole purpose of offering opportunities for everyone to be active on or near the water. In his opening address Trust Chairman, Chris Basten said … ‘Today we can see the culmination of the hard work put in by all our volunteers over the last two years. We are particularly grateful to Associated British Ports for access to the water and use of the Mole, and to Grabit Plant Hire who did a first class job on the construction of the new slipway’. The address was followed by a ceremonial cutting of the ribbon across the slipway by Heather Stevens the High Sheriff of Glamorgan.
[Photo: From left to right – Alun Cairns MP, Commodore Martin Westwood RN Rtd– Associated British Ports, Chris Basten – Chairman Ocean Watersports Trust, Jane Hutt – Welsh Government Minister for Finance, Heather Stephens – High Sheriff of Glamorgan, Fred Johnson – The Mayor of the Vale of Glamorgan Council, and Emma Pritchard The Mayor of Barry, Steve Evans Area Commissioner for Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan Scouts.]
During the opening ceremony the dock was alive with members of various organisations practicing their water sports activities including; a demonstration of sprint kayaking from members of Seren Dwr, canoeing & sailing undertaken by Barry Sea Scouts, ‘stand up paddling’ by members of the Barry Windsurfing & Paddling and rowing by Penarth Sea Cadets. Barry District Scouts provided safety boats and offered VIP excursions around Barry No 1. Dock.
[Above: Young kayakers of Seren Dwr Club on the water at Barry No.1 Dock]
Philip Walters, Secretary for the Ocean Watersports Trust commented, ‘It’s great to see all of these young people able to get onto the water at last. The event today has demonstrated what is possible. We look forward to fulfilling our ambition to create a dedicated Water Activities Centre with top class facilities’.
Anyone wishing to use the Activities Centre can contact the Trust or phone 07855 463293.
View photo gallery from the launch.
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