Plans Unveiled For Restoration Of Clevedon’s Marine Lake

They have been a little while in the making, but there is at last a definite feeling of progress in the air about plans to restore Clevedon’s Marine Lake. Public displays have been organised this week by North Somerset Council, and this is the first play in an effort to secure Heritage Lottery funding to restore the Marine Lake by August 2014 in time for the proposed Tides Festival.

Clevedon Marine Lake - great plans afoot

Originally opened in 1929, Marine Lake was once a huge draw for visitors, but became less popular as cheap overseas package holidays became the vogue in the 1960s.

Taking the bull by the horns, it is hoped that the restoration plans will include a restored promenade, diving boards, bathing huts, paddling pool and strengthened sea wall. As previously mentioned August next year is the proposed completion date, subject to funding.

"If you go down to the seafront on a sunny Sunday, it's packed with people walking past the lake, playing on it, crabbing in it, bathing in it," said Joe Norman from Clevedon Marlens, a group which aims to "bring life" back to the lake.

"It's very popular, at the moment it's very tatty and has very little facilities. We plan to bring some 'zip' back in by providing deckchairs and the old changing cubicles, just to bring back a little bit of the Victorian glamour that was around the lake."

The plans will form the cornerstone to the application which will be put to the Heritage Lottery Fund for monies to renovate the lake. Round One approval was given in September 2012, and the Round Two application will be submitted in the middle of November, with a decision due in early March.

"We need to get as much community support behind us as we can and would welcome any views on plans for the future of the lake," said councillor Peter Bryant, executive member with responsibility for open spaces.

"The lake was once a focal point in the town and the lottery bid aims to recreate this facility so it is fit for the leisure needs of the 21st Century."

In 2004, a community partnership was established and since then the lake has been used for sailing, canoeing, open water swimming and model boat sailing.

                                                            http://www.marlens.org.uk/