The final step in a five-year long campaign to develop a water sports hub in Troon is set to be given the green light by South Ayrshire Council.
Last year, Troon Water Sports Centre Committee (TWSCC) was given the green light by planners for the £150,000 development, partly sited on the old Troon Sailing Club on North Shore Road.
Now it seeks a 50 year lease of the land, which will be considered by South Ayrshire Council Cabinet on Tuesday.
If the lease is agreed it will require to go to public consultation as it is on publicly used land, albeit not land listed as a common good asset.
The hub would provide rental equipment and lessons in kite surfing, paddle boarding, windsurfing as well as blo-karts, wetsuit rental, environmental awareness events, well-being activities and electric bike charging.
The hub would utilise shipping containers to create a ‘u-shaped’ single storey building reaching around 2.6m high, with a footprint of 204 m2. It would be timber clad, with a viewing deck on the roof of the ‘west wing’ of the building.
The unit would feature changing rooms, showers (indoor and outdoor), toilets (all accessible/ parent/ child friendly), a training room/community space; an office; dry store; and community café.
The TWSCC say the hub would operate seasonally from spring to autumn, opening seven days a week, 10am to 4pm on weekdays and 10am to 6pm on weekends.
In winter that would be reduced two two days, Wednesday and Sunday, from 9.30/10am to 3pm.
The application, which was lodged with planners in May, received 163 representations supporting the plan, with just three objections and two neutral comments.
The TWSCC states: “We want to provide an opportunity for those who may not normally have access to sports such as kayaking, Stand Up Paddle Boarding, windsurfing, kitesurfing – all activities that are proven to build confidence and self-belief.”
They added that over the last five years, the group has been working to raise public awareness, including presentation and water sports taster sessions which it describes as ‘very well attended’.
Accessibility for people with disabilities or other issues that can impact on the use of such facilities was also a priority for the group.
They state: “The Disabled Olympics and Invicta Games have highlighted the intensifying demand and success of fundamental engagement in these events.
“True support, however, does require common sense provision of facilities that allow this to happen as easily for all and not just those of us who enjoy full mobility and can therefore readily access normal services such as a loo or shower.”
The lease would be for an initial £100 per year, with reviews after five years. This is lower than an independent valuation which valued the property at £9,500 for market sale and £500 per year for market rent.
TWSCC has also requested a right of access to the site. This would be a ‘hard pack’ two metre, wide publicly accessible, pedestrian path. The organisation would make and maintain the path.
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