Facilities Improvement
Plans for the improvements of the Club facilities are well underway, now that planning permission has been granted to proceed with our intentions.
These 2 annotated plans detail what will be happening. Below the diagram are explanations for each area:
A. The 'small garage', currently used as a sail & mast store for club boats, will become a new drying room & club clothing store, to house the clubs' wetsuits, buoyancy aids, cags, boots, gloves, helmets etc. Using the larger room will allow us to stock a wider range and capacity of kit, in order to support continued growing demand.
B. The current wetsuit and buoyancy aid cupboards will be knocked through to make the Ladies changing room larger, to become the same size as the gents. Access from the outside will be through what is currently the buoyancy aid cupboard door.
C. Extending the bathrooms into the recessed area allows us to create more space for toilets and showers whilst keeping building alterations to a minimum. They will then house 4 shower cubicles and 4 toilets each. In the ladies, a vanity unit may go into the changing rooms instead of the shower area. The internals of the changing rooms will all be re-done, to make them warmer and more modern. We're anticipating under-floor heating, and replacing the tiles with a more modern, warmer alternative, as well as adding better insulation on the walls to keep heat in.
D. The current 'Spar Store' will go through a change of usage, to create a suite of changing cubicles for mixed couples, parent/child combinations, families or anyone not wishing to use the male or female changing areas. A secure office & admin area will also be created.
E. A new garage is planned to accommodate a large equipment store. We are currently short of equipment storage space, and we need to remove all the kit stored inside the current building to allow for the modifications above. The total storage space will be increased, allowing the club to continue to increase the range of equipment available to support our training courses and equipment hire. This is essential for supporting new members to the club, as well as adding flexibility for members by maximising the options available.
F. The roof of the new garage will double up as a roof terrace, and being south facing it will catch the sun through most of the day, also being lit by the evening sunset. The first-floor balcony doors can open up to make one larger social area when we have events on, and will create a nice outdoor seating area for use at any time. The roof floor will be a paved effect GRP or similar, with glass balustrade railings around the outside. The current balcony on the East side (Front) of the building will be replaced in the same way to match, which will also turn the current balcony into a better 'roof' to provide more of a dry, sheltered area below.
G. The new first floor access over the garage roof will require the entrance walkway to be moved in order to remain wheelchair accessible.
H. We will need to dig out quite a bit of ground to fit in the new garage. By moving the earth onto the sloping part of the camping area, supported by some gabion baskets, we will be able to create more flat ground in the camping area whilst also keeping costs of the work down, as this will be cheaper than removing material from the site.