 Trainee Lifeguards Etienne Lamy-Smith and Jodie Urwin with NSVL Chairman Joe Welsh and Cllr Dave McGarr on the ramp
The North
Sea Volunteer Lifeguards, based on the Central Lower Promenade in Whitley Bay, store a
variety
of rescue craft in an equipment store under the main deck of the
promenade,
previously only accessible by some eroded steps.
Now, a new
ramp has been built as part of North Tyneside Council’s £400,000
major strengthening works
to the sea defence wall at the Central Lower Promenade in Whitley Bay.
NSVL
Chairman Joe Welsh said, “We use the store for a variety of rescue
equipment
such as rescue boards, and we asked the Council if they could improve
access to
it as part of the works. The new ramp
means that we can access our equipment much more safely and it also
gives us
the facility to launch rescue boats – however at the moment we don’t
have a
boat to launch from it!
“We have
acquired two old boats which, with the help of a generous £500 donation
from
the Barbour Trust, we hope to make one seaworthy again as a runaround in flat water, but it would not meet the requirements for rescue boats. Now we have a proper launch facility,
our aim is to get a brand new inshore rescue boat so that we can
provide first
class training for candidates attending our courses and additional
safety cover on evenings
and
weekends for the beaches of North Tyneside
outside of North Tyneside Council's beach lifeguard service hours.”
The club is
looking to local businesses or individuals who would be willing to
sponsor a
new boat with the opportunity to have their name or logo permanently
displayed
on the distinctive craft.
Councillor
Dave McGarr said,
“North Sea Volunteer Lifeguards work with the Council to ensure
we can provide enough highly-trained and qualified lifeguards to patrol
our beaches in the summer months. Building a ramp as part of the
promenade strengthening works is just one way we can help them assist
our own professional lifeguard service. It would be great if they had a
brand new club rescue boat which they could launch if needed this
summer."
A new rescue boat will cost anywhere from £8,000-£10,000 and will be fully equipped to launch and operate in the surf conditions of the North Sea.
For more information on sponsoring us to purchase a new rescue boat, please visit this page.
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