Latest news with #DeanneShallcross
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Milestone reached in water activity centre build
The construction of a water activity centre has reached a long-awaited milestone. The building phase of the Edge in Whitehaven, Cumbria, has been completed, with the fitting out of the interiors due to start imminently. The £4.7m project, funded by Sellafield and the Coastal Communities Fund, was due to open in 2022, but the Covid-19 pandemic and challenges with the build significantly delayed the opening date, now planned for the summer. Deanne Shallcross, CEO of Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners (WHC) which is behind the project, said it "felt so amazing" to finally walk inside the building but there was still work to do. The Edge, built in front of the Golden Sands beach, is set to provide water sports facilities, a cafe, new slipway and accommodation for visitors exploring the area and cyclists tackling the Coast to Coast (C2C) route. Those behind the plans said they hoped it would attract about 10,000 visitors per year. Mrs Shallcross said there would be a "big push" for the work to be completed by the start of the school summer holidays. "We're really keen to take the next steps, there's a huge amount of work ahead still," she said. The three-storey building was designed to look like the sandstone pebbles that wash up during high seas in Whitehaven. Plans include using the building as a venue for community events and activities. Mrs Shallcross added: "The building is amazingly full of potential, but while the shell is complete, the inside is still fairly empty at the moment. "But it won't be long before it becomes a hive of activity." Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. New water activity centre 'to open by summer' Coastal activity centre progress 'so exciting'
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New water activity centre 'to open by summer'
A water activity centre which was due to open three years ago will be ready by the summer, it has been revealed. The Edge in Whitehaven, Cumbria, was expected to open in summer 2022 but it has faced delays due to the Covid-19 pandemic and challenges during the construction. Those working on the project said the outer shell of the activity centre had been completed and work inside was due to start imminently. Deanne Shallcross, CEO of Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners, which is behind the activity centre, said: "The outer shell, people will have seen, looks virtually complete now - it's an incredibly iconic building." The multimillion-pound project, funded by Sellafield Ltd and the Coastal Communities Fund, is set to provide watersports facilities, a new slipway and accommodation for visitors exploring the coastline and cyclists tackling the C2C route. It is hoped it will attract about 10,000 visitors annually. Mrs Shallcross said work inside the building was expected to last about four months and she was excited for the activity centre to open. Funding was announced in March 2020 but a series of issues delayed the project several times. She said problems included electricity providers having to do extra work to connect the site, as well as challenges with the specialist cladding covering the structure. "Once the issues were overcome, it flew," she said, adding: "Each of them alone, it's not unusual for a big construction. "We've got to be due some luck." Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Coastal activity centre progress 'so exciting' Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners
