WESTBURY’S West Wilts Youth Sailing Association (WWYSA) is appealing for funding to help with the building of new facilities for when the club moves to its new site on the town’s sailing lake.
The club, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, will be moving to a new base to make way for up to 300 new homes on a a 55-acre stretch of land beside the lake.
The new location will require the building of a new clubhouse, as well as new pontoons to secure the boats once they have been launched.
To help with the estimated cost of £18,000 for the pontoons, WWYSA has applied for community funding from Aviva, the insurance and finance company. The club is now asking for the town’s help to get them to the final stage, when judges will choose the projects to receive funding.
WWYSA membership secretary, Emily Abbott said, “These pontoons will enable the maximum number of boats to be launched and secured with ease. This will facilitate instructional periods to have onshore and offshore elements, with simple transitions between both. We need every single vote on this please.”
To vote in the Aviva Community Fund you need to register and create a free Aviva account. Voting closes on Tuesday 21st November. More information can be found on the website: www.community-fund.aviva.co.uk/voting/project/view/17-6020
Planning permission for the housing development and the new sailing club was granted in December 2016 by Wiltshire Council.
Under the terms of the planning consent, Linden Homes have provided WWYSA, with a new location on the other side of the lake to where they are now, and will provide the club with a concrete base to build the clubhouse on. The new site also comes with a 150-year lease.
“The new site will have greater capacity, which will potentially allow for an additional sail training night every week of the season. This could see the association’s membership grow by as much as 20%,” said Emily.
The sailing club plan to apply for other charitable grants available, as well as organise their own fundraising events to raise the money for their new facilities.
