Hopes for canoe portage in Spalding could be a step closer to reality
People could soon be getting easier access onto the River Welland - prompting hopes to boost tourism to the area.
Spalding councillor James Le Sage has been calling for a canoe portage to be installed in the town to help increase the use of river and attract more visitors to the area. Now his calls could be a step closer to reality.
A site for the portage and a potential funder have been identified, Coun Le Sage informed a recent meeting of Spalding Town Forum.
Coun Le Sage along with members of Welland Yacht Club helped to stage the successful Celebrate the River Day when more than 30 craft took part in a flotilla through the town to the Moorings pub.
He told the forum that the river bank on the opposite side to Spalding Yacht Club had been identified as a suitable location for a ramp.
Coun Le Sage said: “We could look to canoe portages onto the river. Anglian Water expressed that they will look at joint funding potentially.
“If you want to bring people to this town and make it more touristy - give people things to look at. If you give them nothing, they are not going to come.”
He was thrilled with the success of the Celebrate the River Day and said there was a great atmosphere at The Moorings. He added that the event was very well attended with people watching the watercraft from the town’s bridges.
Coun Le Sage is keen to build on the success of the event to boost the fortunes of the town.
He said: “This council should work towards and ensure the river use is built up. It will encourage tourism without a shadow of a doubt.
“For us to really make a difference we need to open up the river more that means better access. The closest ramp is in Crowland —- and that’s a long way to come on a paddleboard.
“We have interest from a rowing society that would like to use the Welland but can’t as they can’t get their skiffs onto the water safely.”
Coun Le Sage added that the yacht club had signed up 23 new members on the day.
He thanked the club and all of the councillors who had contributed money from their ward budgets to help fund the event and says left over cash will be used to buy paddleboards that can be used by people at next year’s event.
Coun Le Sage said: “The idea is to build on the event, I have already had people coming and saying they would to help.”
The yacht club will also be doing a fun day in early September next year. The plans also include children’s activities and a duck race.
Coun Aaron Spencer, whose business Sedge had supported the day, also added that the river was an under utilised asset which could help to attract people to the town.
