Watersports centre "left to rot"

By Simon Hayes on September 25, 2008 9:57 AM |

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THE future of the Royal Victoria Docks Watersports Centre is still uncertain, despite Britain’s success on the water at the Beijing Olympics.

The centre, near Excel, needs a major overhaul. Peter Chilvers, who runs the windsurfing school next door, wants to see the centre brought into the London Olympic legacy programme.

He said: “Sailing is our most successful Olympic sport and yet we’re here, in the heart of the 2012 host borough, and there’s nothing being done about securing the future of its only sailing facility."

“Considering the buzzword for the Games is legacy it seems crazy that no-one seems willing to take a very successful centre and make it even better�?, he added.

The centre has attracted young sailors for more than 20 years, offering activities including canoeing, rowing and sailing. Last year more than 19,000 youngsters used it.

But Mr Chilvers said the facilities leave a lot to be desired.

He said: “It’s a disgrace. They have just been left to rot away. There are weeds growing out of everything, the changing facilities are primitive and there hasn’t been a lick of paint for years.�?

Campaigners now want to see Newham Council, which runs the centre, and the London Development Agency, which owns the land, take some action to rebuild the centre.

One regular user is James Bullar, head of nautical studies at London Nautical School, who brings children to the centre every weekday.

“This is the best piece of water in London for these activities,�? he said.

“It’s an ideal location because there is no river traffic, there’s no tide and, best of all, there’s a beach which allows the children to enter the water safely.�?

But the danger is the land could end up being sold off to developers, with the watersports centre moved up the river to the London Regatta Centre.

Mr Bullar said: “Moving to the Regatta Centre wouldn’t work. It’s been designed for rowers. There’s a lot less space and it’s more difficult to get to.�?

There is cash available to redevelop the site, with around £850,000 held by the Royal Docks Trust charity, ringfenced for the centre over a decade ago.

But Newham Council claims it would cost “several million pounds�? to build a new centre.

Mr Chilvers said: “Think how much they spend on cleaning up the mess kids make when they have nothing to do. At least the centre channels their energies.

“There’s plenty of space underneath the Silvertown Way flyover [if the land is sold].

“I can’t understand why nobody wants to do something positive about it.�?

A spokeswoman for Newham Council said: “We are still looking to develop the centre but there is no timescale for it.
“We are looking at the other developments in the surrounding area and anything we do would need to be in keeping with those.�?

The LDA was unavailable for comment.