Rowing club wants crane to launch boats on river

A plan to install a crane for launching boats onto the River Wye in Hereford has been put forward, after a more ambitious scheme fell through.

Hereford Rowing Club wants a five-metre-high "davit arm" at its base on the north bank, "to increase the efficiency of boat launches for emergency services" and for its own launches.

The bid is being made with Vaga Marine Services, a community interest company which previously secured government funds for a larger "Wyeside" project to install a new boat ramp, hardstanding and footpath at the spot.

Herefordshire Council voted to refuse permission for this in 2024 because of its potential impact on the river after concerns from Natural England.

The club's new application said an average of eight emergency boat launches are made on this stretch of the River Wye each year, "launched generally from the Hereford Rowing Club steps and other locations in the vicinity".

As well as cutting the time needed to get emergency boats on the water, the new crane would also "significantly reduce the risk of river bed and bankside disturbance" from the club's own launches, without increasing the number of launches, the club said.

Comments on the application can be made until 18 January.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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