High hopes over Tawe tour launch
A COMMUNITY boat supported by Swansea Council that runs trips up and down the city's River Tawe has made its maiden voyage.
The Black Prince has now started running tours for members of the public from Swansea Marina to the Morfa bascule bridge just south of the Liberty Stadium and back.
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Support for the project has come from Swansea Council, the European Development Fund through the Welsh Government, the Coalfields Regeneration Trust and the Environment Agency.
The tour takes about two hours and includes highlights such as the old Cambrian Pottery works, the White Rock and the former Hafod Copperworks site.
Otters, herons and kingfishers are among the wildlife people on board could see.
The wide-beam river boat has a capacity for 50 people and is available for group tours.
It can be also be used as a floating classroom for schools and community use.
Swansea Council's Cabinet Member for Culture, Recreation and Tourism Graham Thomas said: "This is an exciting time for the River Tawe area.
''The Hafod Copperworks site is being brought back to life, the Swans are playing Premier League football at the nearby Liberty Stadium and this Swansea Community Boat Trust venture will introduce people to the story and history of the river.
"It will allow passengers to follow the route many thousands of seagoing ships would have taken in bygone centuries to load coal and copper during the industrial revolution."
Charles White, chairman of the Swansea Community Boat Trust, said: "This is a massively exciting scheme that will allow many people to see Swansea from the River Tawe for the very first time.
"The tour features sites of great historical importance and we're delighted to have made our maiden voyage.
"We're also hugely grateful to the Welsh Government and other bodies for their funding and to Swansea Council for all the help and encouragement they have given us.
"It's been a busy few months trying to get everything ready, but it means we'll be able to take thousands of people on the tour in 2012."
postnews@swwmedia.co.uk
8 Comments
by reddylad
Monday, December 19 2011, 12:21AM
“MMM Conspiracy theories Too , Someones on the Take, Maybe Val has got the tea and coffee Concession on board , Gonna Make a Bloody Fortune . If You dont want to see A "Waste of taxpayers money " use the Facility and make it a Success that way Other Businesses can benefit from it as it will have a flow on effect , Or just Sit back and say What a Waste of time and Money and Watch another Enterprise go down the Pan . and So what if it is from the Public Purse to get it Started There have been many grants given out before this on Utter Rubbish At Least this one Will benefit Tourism To Swansea .”
by huwwuh
Sunday, December 18 2011, 12:39PM
“It seems Val Lloyd has an interest in this, but the EP has failed to inform us of the fact.”
by huwwuh
Sunday, December 18 2011, 12:33PM
“reddylad
I'm not complaining about ''people doing stuff'' and I'm all for free enterprise, but I'm against the public purse being used to finance the dreams of people that are not truly viable. It would seem four out of five people are in agreement. The £80K in grants needed to purchase the boat will be dwarfed by the funding needed to run the scheme. If this scheme is a viable money making business they would have bought the boat and run it without the need for backing.”
by reddylad
Sunday, December 18 2011, 11:52AM
“Bloody Good Idea , Hope People will make use of it and make it Viable , Sick of people putting Things down in Swansea TOO many Negative people In the Town , they bloody complain when people do stuff and they complain when people DONT do stuff for the Place , it wont be money down the pan if people use the service and become proud of Swansea and its History .”
by Lezz_T
Saturday, December 17 2011, 6:10PM
“"Otters, herons and kingfishers are among the wildlife people on board could see."
But more likely mink, rats and seagulls.”
by chelsea1955
Saturday, December 17 2011, 1:46PM
“Why not run it around the bay to Mumbles where passengers can get off and have an hour there before returning. YES I KNOW WHAT A GOOD IDEA”
by chelsea1955
Saturday, December 17 2011, 1:43PM
“Pull the plug”
by huwwuh
Saturday, December 17 2011, 12:53PM
“Yet more tax payers money down the pan.”