Adventure begins for Cotswold fundraisers
COTSWOLD Canals Trust has unveiled its new £140,000 wheelchair-accessible electric-powered trip boat.
The trust was able to commission the boat, Adventure, thanks to the efforts of hundreds of volunteers, grant-giving trusts, parish, town and district councils and individual donors.
Lisa Mant, company secretary, who is responsible for booking all the chartered boat trips from the Cotswold Canals Trust’s head office in Stroud, said: “We are excited about being able to offer charters to the whole community on the new trip boat Adventure.
“She will be an asset to Cotswold Canals Trust, enabling all passengers to have their own adventure on our beautiful canal.
“Anyone can charter a private trip by calling me on 01453 752568 or emailing mail@cotswoldcanals.com for details.”
After the original designs were drawn and funding secured, members of the Stroud community who are registered disabled, and other canal societies that have previously commissioned accessible trip boats, were consulted.
This influenced the decision to commission a longer and wider beam craft and inspired some key improvements.
These included: space to sit outside on the deck of the craft instead of just inside, a higher-spec passenger hoist, and, crucially, the craft now boasts a fully accessible toilet.
Adventure is the first boat in the CCT fleet that has fully green credentials; with electric propulsion instead of diesel, solar panels fitted to be completely selfcharging for up to eight-hour-long trips, and will have moorings with electric hook-up.
She is bigger and more accessible than originally planned, at 54ft x 10ft, with the size allowing better access and manoeuvrability for wheelchair users and will carry 12 passengers with a crew of three or four.
Adventure has been launched into the water on the Gloucester-Sharpness Canal and crew training and qualification will take place throughout the winter.
Once the Stroudwater Navigation restoration project is complete she will be free to sail anywhere from Stroud to Saul Junction along 14km of canal.
While searching for a boat builder that was willing to take on this challenge, CCT was introduced to Ortomarine, who have experience in designing and building accessible craft and helped CCT develop original approaches to disabled access and environmentally sustainable engineering.
The total price, including necessary modifications, was £140,000, plus transportation costs. This was higher than originally planned, but ongoing costs will be reduced from using green power, it will cater for more people and will serve the intended beneficiaries for longer.
CCT is still looking for top-up funding to backfill the extra costs and if you can contribute any amount to this – or to the wider restoration appeal – get in touch with fundraising@cotswoldcanals.com or go to www.cotswoldcanals.org.uk
The trust is also looking for new volunteers to join the restoration teams and you can get in touch on 01453 752568 or go to the website to register as a volunteer.