Canoe access points

Creating Canoe access points has helped bring new amenities to the town for both locals and visitors to enjoy, benefitting the local economy and boosting mental and physical health. These offer a safer and more enjoyable way to explore the River Severn, whilst protecting the river banks from erosion.

Riverside Access Points: paddlesports – canoeing, kayaks, paddleboards

We’ve installed 4 access points along the River Severn in Newtown, at Vaynor Field, between the Scout Hut and Dolerw Bridge (before the rapids), far side of Dolerw Bridge and near the Gravel Car Park.

Benefits / Impact

Working in partnership (see below) we chose four locations where people are already entering and leaving the river, to provide them safer access and to encourage paddlesports in Newtown.

The access steps have created additional benefits, providing river access to partially sighted residents and people of low mobility, who could not have got near the river previously.

Further information

If you would like to contact Stuart Owen (Project Manager) about this project, please complete our Feedback form and select ‘Project: River Access’ from the drop down menu.

Costs & Funding

Open Newtown secured funding for this project through Natural Resources Wales and the The National Lottery Wales Community Fund.

Addressing concerns

We worked closely with an independent Ecologist, completing extensive surveys of the area, to ensure no damage to any wildlife habitats.

Alignment to National, County and local strategy

With support from Canoe Wales and Natural Resources Wales, we have been encouraged to create a river trail in Newtown, to promote paddlesports. We have also worked in partnership with local clubs, an independent Ecologist and local wildlife experts.

Future additions

We will be creating an enterprise opportunity for delivering of canoe hire, coaching, changing facilities and amenities.

Q&A

Will there be a significant increase in paddlesports on the River Severn? No, we’re not expecting a significant increase in paddlesports. The point of the access points are to make the existing access ways safer.
Do paddlesports harm wildlife habitats? No. Our paddlesports are not fast moving, wildlife will move out of the way. People will be getting in and out of the river at the same places they did previously.

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