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Facilities Strategy 2002-2012

Background

The Capital Investment proposals for the Club’s site at Saltford result from specific sports development and facility requirements identified in the Club’s Forward Plan 2002-2006 and the Forward Plans for 2001-2005 of the Amateur Rowing Association at National and Regional level. These are reflected in internal action plans that are available if required. The club is working within the guidance contained within the Amateur Rowing Association Facilities Strategy 1999/2005. The condition and size of the club’s facilities have been identified as a key area for improvement.

The Club envisages a period of further expansion and improvement during 2002-2006 although the investment described here is considered to be sufficient for the club’s needs for the period 2002 to 2012. The club does not consider that there is a need for anything other than safe and appropriately sized “open” club and community facilities at Saltford. This will provide better use of the existing site and accommodate increases in club membership. and more use of the site by, in particular, junior scullers and veteran rowers for a larger proportion of the week. The investment should also ensure that the club operates in a modern and welcoming environment that continues to attract family groups to the sport of rowing.

The club is not proposing a “centre of excellence” but is seeking to improve the club’s facilities to become an excellent centre. This will include identifying as part of this strategy areas on the site which have the potential to be developed by other water-users - possibly in partnership with us.

Our Site

The Avon County Rowing Club Site at Saltford is entirely appropriate for further development as a centre for rowing and also canoeing – both sports with a low environmental impact. It enjoys very good public transport services and has good road access and on-site parking. The rowing club enjoys good relationships with other river users and is a member of the River Avon Users Committee and the Saltford Residents Association. We receive good co-operation from our neighbours at Saltford Marina both on a day-to-day basis and for specific events.

Our Needs

The Club has identified the following investment requirements:

Boat storage
Environment
Services and amenities
Safety
General Storage
Future developments
Improved storage for the canoes of Griffon Canoe Club

The Club will also take this opportunity to discuss any future development requirements of the University Bristol Boat Club who share the Saltford site.

Boat Storage

The club has a successful track record of developing and maintaining its fleet of racing and training boats. The club will continue to maximise the opportunities afforded by grant – awarding bodies and although a modest target of 1 additional club boat per annum has been set in the Club’s forward plan, the club constantly receives requests for boat racking from private individuals and other rowing clubs or schools. The club also has several boats stored off-site and other boats are not used because they are stored inaccessibly in the boathouse. Other users have to store boats de-rigged on racks designed to maximise the storage capacity of the club’s existing space.

The club therefore requires a minimum of 200sq m of additional boat storage space providing 400 metres of racking storage or sufficient accessible racking for 25-30 boats of varying sizes.

Environment

Although the club has made significant improvements to the Saltford site in recent years a strategy is required to improve the overall site. This will be achieved by developing appropriate sustainable and low maintenance proposals to improve the environment at Saltford. This will make it more compatible with the Club’s role as a “Go Row” and Clubmark Accredited Junior Rowing Centre and the expectations of parents and coaches.

This includes:

Better Roads
Car parks, drop-kerbs and boat loading areas
Boundaries and borders
Fences
Paths
Trees and other vegetation
Refurbishment of the existing two storey ACRC clubhouse
Refurbishment and enclosure of the existing Rowing Tanks

Amenities and Services

The club has installed mains electricity in recent years but if the site is to be further developed other improvements are required:

Alternative mains water supply and associated services
Toilet, changing and shower block
Safety and planning issues

The club is aware of safety and planning issues relating to the Saltford site. Any development will be planned on the basis of reusing existing building templates with consideration given to Environment Agency concerns about the effect of such development on flooding. The club will also consult with the Saltford Parish Council, Saltford Residents Association and the River Avon Users Committee.

The development will need to achieve the following outcomes:

Construction of slip way for safety boat access to the river
Improved traffic management of the “top field”
Improved security controls to the lower compound
Maintenance of footpaths
Improvements to the river bank to improve safety

General storage

The club needs to provide the following additional space

General store for riggers and other equipment required for multi-use of boats
Small secure store for launch fuel
Off-water storage for two coaching launches.

Griffon Canoe Club

Griffon Canoe Club currently store canoes within the ACRC boathouse. They have development plans that require a modest increase in storage space. ACRC would like to meet that need as part of any development proposals.

University of Bristol Boat Club

The University of Bristol Boat Club is fully supportive of the plans to develop the site and will benefit from both the specific facilities for their use and the shared changing and coaching facilities.