Trustees of Taunton’s Centre 
for Outdoor Activities and Community Hub (COACH) welcomed prospective MEP and Olympic Gold Medallist James Cracknell to view their plans and join a flotilla of rowers, canoeists and paddle boarders from the current temporary base at Firepool to the proposed location for the new building at French Weir.
Despite the horrendous weather, participants from Lydeard St Lawrence, Lyngford Park, North Town, Taunton, Castle Schools and students from Somerset College were in ‘buoyant’ mood as the Hub’s potential was demonstrated to supporters and members of the public who had braved the weather.
“This is exactly the kind of facility we need to offer our young people. It’s encouraging a healthy lifestyle and it will bring all the benefits that come with water sports and other sporting activities. I can certainly speak from experience!”– JAMES CRACKNELL
Ian Payne, chairman of COACH and recipient of British Rowing’s South West Region Volunteer of the 2013 Award, expressed delight at the momentum COACH is gaining. He was able to reveal to James Cracknell and Rebecca Pow, Conservative candidate for Taunton Deane, who also attended that a very recent letter of supports from serious potential funders had been received and that Trustees are keeping their fingers crossed for funding from sporting bodies which would ‘seal the deal’ and enable Reed Holland’s architectural design to become reality.
“Without the support of Taunton Deane Borough Council the project would not be possible. Since the COACH’s inception, the Council has granted the use of the land at a peppercorn rent and funds to take the plans through the planning process. Thanks to them the future, for COACH, is very bright indeed” – IAN PAYNE
