Tawe pontoon welcomed by river groups

Copper Jack cruises, the City of Swansea Rowing Club and Swansea University Rowing Club all plan to use the new facility under licence from Swansea Council.

The licence fees will help the council maintain the pontoon which has just opened at a Landore riverbank location around 1.5 miles upstream from the Tawe Barrage.

It stands next to the former Hafod Morfa Copperworks site which is being transformed as part of the council’s ongoing £1bn city regeneration.

Council cabinet member Robert Francis-Davies said: “We’re delighted to welcome these fantastic local non-profit groups to be the first to use this excellent new facility.

“The pontoon – plus two others we plan – will help bring more people to attractions like the copperworks. Already, Penderyn is open there – and more businesses will follow.

“The pontoons form part of a wider project that’ll celebrate the Lower Swansea Valley’s rich history, create jobs for local people and open up innovative new spaces for local businesses.”

Swansea Community Boat Trust chair Mark Whalley said: “We’ve been running boat trips since 2010, and have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of this pontoon.

“It’ll enable us to expand the options we offer on our aptly-named boat Copper Jack, allowing passengers to embark and disembark to tour the new Penderyn distillery, see other historic Hafod Morfa Copperworks attractions and visit the Swansea.com Stadium.”

Swansea Rowing Club chairman Jonathan Rance said: “Our members are delighted that they now have this first-class facility up river from our base in the marina area.

“It means the club has the option to launch boats upstream at Morfa, where the river is more sheltered and safer for less experienced rowers. Also, the pontoon has disabled access which will permit our para rowers to enjoy the benefits of rowing at Morfa.”

Ben Lucas, associate director of commercial services at Swansea University, said: “The opening of the new pontoon is an exciting step in the provision of much needed water-based activity infrastructure along the Tawe, allowing transition from our current temporary facilities. 

“These developments will begin to increase the opportunities available for students to utilise the river to participate in sport and physical activity at all levels, from beginner to elite, and will help Swansea University to realise our ambition to be recognised as the most active and successful sporting university in Wales.”

The first pontoon project’s funding included support from the Swansea Bay Fisheries Local Action Group (SBFLAG) and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, which is funded by the European Union and Welsh Government (main pontoon and lighting) and from the Welsh Government’s Small Scale Coastal Infrastructure Scheme (stainless steel gates and railings).

Main contractors were Inland and Coastal Marina Systems. Plans were drawn up by Ashley Davies Architects and structural specialists Mann Williams.

The pontoon and neighbouring quayside have safety equipment, signs and wall ladders. There are life buoys and lockable gates for key holders.

The council say it will be managed and maintained by it’s Swansea Marina team.

Initially, it’s accessible to established and constituted non-commercial groups that use the river already.

As its use beds in the council says it plans to take a considered look at how access can be granted to others, with security and safety the highest priorities.

The other two planned pontoons – one close to the junction of The Strand and New Cut Road, and one at Morfa Quay near the Swansea.com Stadium – plus a Swansea Museum extension, further transformation of the copperworks and improvements to The Strand, are part of a £28.7m Lower Swansea Valley improvement project being led by the council and part-funded by the UK Government’s Levelling Up programme.

(Lead image: Swansea Council)