Yarmouth Sailing Club Seeks New Changing Facilities For Growing Number Of Young Sailors

Yarmouth Sailing Club on the Isle of Wight is looking to improve its changing room provision, with a growing number of children using the site as learning to sail becomes more popular.

Martin Palmer has sought planning consent for a shipping container with wood-effect cladding at the RYA Training Centre on Bridge Road in Yarmouth, to meet the needs of younger members.

His application also includes minor alterations to an existing storage building.

The club has a long history of teaching children to sail, as the ‘main family-friendly’ sailing provision in the West Wight, according to a Design and Access Statement from Mr Palmer’s agent, Plan Research.

“Children’s safeguarding rules have changed over the years, and the popularity of learning to sail has increased,” it says.

“These factors require Yarmouth Sailing Club to consider whether its facilities meet the requirements of a growing number of children who use the site.

“Currently, the changing room provision inside the club’s building is too small for the number of children who use it regularly, forcing adults and children to change in the same location when lessons are on, which is far from ideal.”

Plan Research said the club has a ‘good track record’ teaching children in the area and the current proposal seeks to improve existing provision on the site, so more young people can improve their fitness and learn sailing skills including endurance, perseverance, teamwork and safety.

Member of the public George Jacobs objected to the plans:

“While I understand and support the need for improved facilities for club users, and the importance of getting young children into sailing, I do not believe the proposed development is appropriate for this location.

“The site has already accommodated a temporary tent or marquee structure for a number of years, alongside a rather scruffy poorly maintained shed, and the introduction of a further container-style building would contribute to what appears to be a piecemeal and sprawling expansion of the site rather than a well-considered development.

“The introduction of another utilitarian container structure within what is generally an open and green area would be out of keeping with the character of the locality.”

County Hall’s public consultation on application 26/00649/FUL finishes today (June 19) and a decision is scheduled for July 14.