Plymouth’s embracing its natural playground with swim platforms

Floating pontoons for swimmers will be moored in the Sound just off Tinside, Plymouth in time for the summer season.

The pontoons are among new facilities, thanks to a grant worth £625,000 from the Getting Building Fund.

But some online commentators are dubious. “Nice idea. However, the rafts will be lovely to use after the seagulls have spent a week on them. You only have to look at the buoys around the Sound to see what state they will be in,” says one.

Other work planned includes improvements to the waterfront, steps and slipways as well as the installation of electric vehicle boat charging points to improve access points to the water, says the Plymouth Herald.

The project, which is worth over £1,150,000 in total, also includes investing in digital infrastructure to enable Plymouth to host a SailGP event which is due in July.

“The national marine park is all about getting more people to enjoy the Sound – either on it or in it,” says council leader Tudor Evans.

“We have a vision of what we want the park to be and like any national park, we want to make it easy for people to get in it. These are practical measures that mean more of us can enjoy and feel safe in the water of Plymouth Sound. More importantly this news sends a very strong message – the national marine park is on its way.”

As well as the swimming platforms, repairs to at least three public slipways around Plymouth Sound will mean paddleboarders, kayakers and other water users will get easier access to the water.

The project is not just about people getting into the water to have fun, it will support the creation of 28 jobs and apprenticeships, as well as 13 temporary construction jobs, says the Plymouth Herald.

The Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership was allocated money from the Government’s Getting Building Fund to invest in major infrastructure projects to support economic growth across the city. The project is one of a number to be successfully submitted by the Council and partners across the city.