Our New Home!
Rudyard Lake Management Blocks New Boat Store
Following our five-year battle with Staffordshire Moorlands District Council, we
have now received the good news that we have won our appeal against the
council’s planning decision. We now have just 12 months to fund and build a
state-of-the-art accessible boathouse.
As soon as the Inspectorate’s positive decision arrived work started on the realisation of
Rudyard’s Sailability’s new building. With a time-frame of nine months and approximately
£300,000 to raise there wasn’t a moment to lose!
A Project Management Committee has been established, led by Dennis Priebe, who will also
be responsible for grant applications and funding.
Steve Sammons, the Charity’s Architect, is to lead the Project which includes Design,
materials, Building regulations and the Construction.
James Rushton will manage the Project Accounts.
Anne Morris will act as the Charity’s Legal Representative.
Charlotte Atkins MP will act as liaison with British Waterways, the Landowners.
Jackie Griffiths will provide secretarial support.
Negotiations are taking place to set up a Lease for the Charity, and grant applications are
being submitted. Tenders for building works are being sent out and consultation with all
interested parties has commenced.
Donations have already been received with a big thank you going out to our long-standing,
faithful sponsors, D&S Pottery and also to a local family, who have been following our case
and wanted to contribute to the project.
The restoration of the wash wall and lakeside edgings is planned for the summer and will be
carried out by volunteers from the Inland Waterways Association. Piling work for the
foundations of the building is scheduled for the autumn, when the water level should have
dropped sufficiently. The main work on the building will then be carried with the planned official opening being in April 2010.
The Project represents a massive undertaking in a relatively short space of time, but this will serve hopefully to hone our senses and harness our energies and we believe that with your support and encouragement, together we will be successful.
