Making the most of on-water opportunities in Plymouth

Plymouth City Council is setting out plans to review the city’s watersports offerings and the service offered by Mount Batten Watersports Centre, in line with Plymouth’s new Visitor Plan and Plymouth Sound’s recently declared status as the UK’s first National Marine Park.

The review will explore how the Mount Batten Watersports Centre’s existing offer – and the surrounding land and water – can be enhanced to provide maximum benefits to both locals and visitors.

This will include improving access to and increasing participation in watersports, as well as securing long-term financial sustainability for the centre. A report will establish the cost of redeveloping the centre and the surrounding land and on-water facilities in order to achieve these goals.

Councillor Tudor Evans OBE, Leader of Plymouth City Council said: “As Britain’s Ocean City and home of the UK’s first National Marine Park, Plymouth Sound is at the heart of what makes our city such a brilliant place to live, work and visit.

“It’s shocking that 17 per cent of children from Plymouth have never even been to a beach, so it’s vitally important that we work to engage them with the ocean so they experience all the benefits our wonderful natural environment brings. In addition to this, this review will enable us to nurture the economic advantages that the Sound can bring – which will make our city a better place for everybody.”

The review will also identify how Plymouth can better support major racing events like the Rolex Fastnet Race, which has finished in Plymouth since it began in 1925 and which attracts hundreds of sailors to the city.

Plymouth City Council is going out to tender to appoint a consultant to carry out the review, with applications open from now until 15 November.