To all: Members, Volunteers and Supporters

Re: Rudyard Sailability’s Proposed Boat Store

It is with great pleasure that the Trustees can now confirm an Agreement between, Rudyard Sailability, Rudyard Lake Ltd and British Waterways has been signed.

Although this agreement entails a further planning application, it is a huge step forward and we are indebted to both Rudyard Lake Ltd and British Waterways for their commitment, determination and cooperation in facilitating this agreement.

All parties have worked extremely hard to reach this agreement and have further promised to jointly support Rudyard Sailability in their quest for a new Boat Store. This agreement is the beginning of a new era for Rudyard Sailability, with both Rudyard Lake Ltd and British Waterways support we can now look to the future with much more confidence and security.

The new Planning application has begun and with the cooperation and understanding of SMDC we are confident that a design which is agreeable to all parties can be achieved.
The proposed planning application will be submitted in the next few weeks and further details will be available to view on this website as they become available.

Many thanks to all of you, who have contributed, helped or supported Rudyard Sailability in the past and we hope that you will do so in the future.

As always “We couldn’t do it without you”

Yours Sincerely

The Trustees

1st February 2010

All members are warmly invited to attend Rudyard Sailability’s 8th Annual General Meeting on 7th March 2010 at 1400 at Rudyard Lake.

There will be an opportunity to catch up on the latest news and developments of the Charity and consider what is already planned for this season.

This meeting will also be an opportunity for all Members to submit their annual subscription to the Club. Light refreshments will be served.

Thank you for your support. We couldn’t do it without you Jackie Griffiths Secretary

Last week, Charlotte Atkins MP led a delegation to see the Waterways Minister, Huw Irranca-Davies, about Rudyard Sailability. Charlotte took this unusual step because time is now running out for Rudyard Sailability and its new boat store.

The five directors of Rudyard Lake Ltd have blocked Rudyard Sailability from obtaining a sublease to build the boat store. They claim they are able to do this because they hold a licence from British Waterways, the lake owners, for the land on which Rudyard Sailability has planning permission to build its boat store.

This is all about delaying tactics because Staffordshire Moorlands District Council can start to enforce the demolition order from February 2010 on the existing boat shed used by Rudyard Sailability. It is well known that it intends to do so, rendering Rudyard Sailability homeless.

It is shocking to me, as a Trustee of Rudyard Sailability, that the Council and Rudyard Lake Ltd would want to destroy this Royal Yachting Association Centre of Excellence which provides a real lifeline to 1,500 users a year. Can you imagine what it is like for a disabled person to enjoy the freedom of such a beautiful lake when life is so difficult on land?

I won’t stand back and allow that lifeline to be taken away. We had an excellent meeting with the Minister. Anne Morris put the Minister right on the legal status of the licence held by Rudyard Lake Ltd – it does not give it the power to block our sublease.

Denis Priebe explained why the boat store is so vital – it will empower disabled sailors to launch their own boats into the water rather than relying on others to help them and they will no longer suffer the degrading experience of being changed on the floor of a shed because changing tables will be built in. This is in no way an expansion of Rudyard Sailability’s activities because there will be no extra boats.

As a campaigner for British Waterways, I expressed my anger that this public body is standing back and allowing Rudyard Lake Ltd to block this exciting development. The Minister offered us mediation which we are happy to accept. But if a civilised society is judged by the way it treats its most vulnerable, then, at present, Staffordshire Moorlands does not score well.

After a five year battle with the local planning authority for permission to build a purpose designed boathouse at Rudyard Lake, which resulted in an outstanding victory at a public inquiry, Rudyard Sailability, the charitable organisation, which holds the accolade of Centre of Excellence for its sterling work in enabling people of all disabilities to participate in sailing activities – is again being thwarted...

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The following is from an article in the Special Matters Newsletter October edition, re-printed here.

Special Matters enjoyed another great day at Sailability in spite of the weather! It was wonderful to have the comfortable, welcoming facilities at the Rudyard Activity Centre as a backdrop for the sailing activities.

Families arrived at 11am and were welcomed with a warm drink and the opportunity to chat and enjoy the play and craft activitiesprovided by Mary. Parents and children were soon out on the Lake having fun paddling the Bell Boats. Some families chose to take a trip on “Honey” the trip boat – Ray gave trips around the lake and told interesting tales about the past. One family reported that their little girl “never stopped smiling all the way round” Some of the children chose to be taken out in adapted sailing boats – Dennis was on hand to supervise this with the help of his committed volunteers including Tilly and Candice.

Between activities the families were able to shelter and keep warm in the Activity Centre. They were treated to a delicious BBQ expertly provided by Brian and James and ate it while chatting and admiring the fabulous views of the lake. More sailing and paddling followed and the day was over all too soon!

We would like to say a big thank you to all who helped to make the day such a success. Many thanks to the families who attended and please watch out for more activities with Sailability next year!

We are now looking for new stories for Newsability and would like to ask you to submit your news stories for inclusion in the next edition. We welcome contributions from our members, volunteers and supporters. To submit your news story please email it to the membership secretary at membership@rudyardsailability.org.uk

Thank You

Craig Houghton (Rudyard Sailability Membership Secretary)

Dear Sailabilty Team,

Everyone at the NSAAA would like to thank you for providing us with a fantastic day.Our members are still talking about it and we all left with a wonderful feeling that money can't buy! We enjoyed meeting you all and we were very impressed with your volunteers and the patience and kindness shown to us. The highlight of my day was when one of our little boys finally plucked up the courage to go out on the water after he had tried for a couple of hours getting closer and closer to the boat but giving up each time, eventually he got into the boat, off we went and his face was a picture, he enjoyed himself so much and his Dad was so grateful. Thank you, thank you, thank you, please keep up the good work. You are making a difference, not only to disabled people but also their families and carers who live to see them smile. I was very surprised to learn that there was a possibility of your closure due to a small piece of land that is not being made available to rent, rather I would have thought you would have been supported wholeheartedly because of the job that you are doing and the input you are putting into peoples lives.I do hope there is a turnaround and that we can come again next time for another good day.

With Many Thanks

Fiona Caddy (NSAAA Helpline)

Following our five-year battle with Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, which culminated in Rudyard Sailability overturning the planning rejection of the new boat store though a public enquiry in February, Rudyard Sailability received the good news that we had won our appeal. It was hoped that the next phase of the project could then begin, raising funds.

Recently, Rudyard Lake Ltd has taken the decision not to provide Rudyard Sailability with the necessary lease for the bay area. This means that we now have a further battle to change the mind of Rudyard Lake Ltd so that our New Boat Store can be built.

To help Rudyard Sailability to obtain a lease of the bay area at Rudyard Lake in order to build our new boat store, we are asking supporters to download, print and sign our Petition

PLEASE HELP US TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE FOR THOSE WHO LIVE WITH DISABILITY