Two new swimming pontoons open for swimmers in Plymouth Sound
Two new swimming pontoons have been installed in Plymouth Sound National Marine Park after a successful trial last summer.
The pontoons are both inside the Tinside Beach swimming area - one is closer to shore for younger or less experienced swimmers and the other is further out.
Plymouth City Council carried out a survey in 2021 and 99% of swimmers said they welcomed the trial pontoons. The council said the feedback was taken on board.
The new pontoons are around 60% bigger than last year's and have a new non-slip surface.
They are also more colourful, with the addition of Britain’s Ocean City branding and neon ladders which make them much easier to spot.
Council Leader Richard Bingley said: “Wild swimming has grown rapidly in popularity and the eight-week trial period we ran with just one pontoon last year was a huge success.
"So it’s fantastic to be installing two bigger and better pontoons for swimmers to use this year.
“A key pillar of my administration is better health care and one of the main aims of the National Marine Park is to increase engagement with the ocean.
"Also to make it easier and safer for everyone to access the water, so that our residents and visitors can enjoy the significant health and wellbeing benefits that the sea provides.
"The new pontoons are a really fantastic addition that are set to improve swimmers’ experience of the Sound.”
The council added the pontoons have been made possible thanks to a grant worth £625,000 from the Getting Building Fund for a range of National Marine Park related projects.
The Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership was allocated money from the Government’s Getting Building Fund to invest in major infrastructure projects including supporting economic growth across the city.
By increasing engagement with the marine environment, the National Marine Park hopes to boost Plymouth’s blue economy with increased tourism and the creation of new high-value jobs.
The pontoons were installed by Cattewater Harbour Commissioners and will remain in place over the summer.
The plan is to remove them ahead of the winter storms and safely stored for 2023.