A new base is proposed for lifeguards on the beach at Sandown after storm damage, the COVID pandemic and a collapsible gazebo previously caused issues for the lifesavers.
Sandown Town Council is proposing to install the new lifeguard station on the Esplanade beach, between Avenue Road Slipway and Sandown Pier. It will be made out of a converted shipping container and located close to where the previous lifeguard station once stood.
The old station was damaged by storms at the start of 2020 and as a result of COVID, the RNLI withdrew its beach safety service later that year. The damaged structure was removed in 2021 and the site has been empty ever since.
Now, ahead of the summer season, the Town Council is looking to provide a permanent base for the lifeguards after they were left running the service from a collapsible gazebo.
Last summer, nearly 30,000 visitors were estimated to have gone to Sandown beach, with the lifeguards carrying out more than 500 safety actions, including saving 2 lives. However, having to operate from a gazebo meant the lifesavers encountered significant issues, like limited visibility and poor shelter for staff and those needing first aid.
The new structure will be a place to store equipment while allowing a clear view of the beach and providing an effective shelter for staff to assist visitors. It is proposed the station be manned from 11:00 to 18:00 every day throughout the summer season.
Todd Miller, Beach Manager for Ryde Beach Lifeguards, who have the contract with Sandown Town Council, has said:
“I am so pleased that the service is receiving such great support. It will make a huge difference to the beach lifeguards and yet again improve the quality of service we are able to deliver to the public which we strive to improve upon year on year.
Article continues below this advertisement “The service now provides training and employment to 11 local people throughout the summer months, as well as providing training for hundreds of lifeguards across the south each year.
“We will keep our fingers crossed for some nice weather this summer, so we can all safely enjoy our beautiful beaches”
During the winter, the container will be removed due to the adverse weather conditions experienced on the Esplanade. The structure would, though, be able to withstand hurricane-force winds and waves during stormy weather.
The container will have a vandal-proof shutter, changing room and observation platform and will be painted in the recognisable ‘lifeguard yellow’.
You can view the plans, 22/00591/FUL, on the council’s planning register. Comments can be submitted until 23rd May.
Do we get Pamela Anderson as well ?
No. Borat.
Good news for the bathers of Sandown, now what is happening in Shanklin?