Weymouth & Portland Borough Council, Dorset Wildlife Trust and other partners are welcoming Lord Sebastian Coe to the Borough to learn more about post Games Legacy projects outside London, as we approach the one year anniversary of the Games. He will also be officially opening the new Chesil Beach Centre.
Lord Coe will visit a number of legacy projects including the Lorton Nature Park, the Seafront Regeneration programme, the Portland Quarry Park as well as the Chesil Centre for a plaque unveiling ceremony. He will also visit the Olympic Rings at Portland Heights and the Dean & Reddyhoff Portland Marina, where he will unveil a plaque commemorating the role that the marina played in hosting the Olympic & Paralympic Games, hear about new post games business investments at Osprey Quay and meet disabled sailors from the recently established, ‘Sailability programme, which was inspired by the Paralympic Games sailing events.
Although the construction of the Chesil Centre building was completed in time for the Olympic & Paralympic Games in 2012, full fitting out with the new interpretation was only finished in May 2013. The proposed expansion of the Chesil Beach Centre has been planned for many years and was funded with generous support from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Fine Foundation, Crown Estate, Court Leet of the Royal Manor of Portland, as well as the local authorities and other bodies. It provides a range of additional facilities; notably the new educational room, indoor catering at the ‘Taste’ café and much improved interpretation about Chesil Beach, the Jurassic Coast and other local features.
The Borough Council, which owns the Centre, is in partnership with Dorset Wildlife Trust who now manage the Centre with a great band of local volunteers. An exciting part of the scheme is the new boardwalk which links the new visitor centre across to Chesil Beach, easing access at all states on the tide, for local people, visitors and those with disabilities.
As an integral part of the project, Dorset County Council provided the new entranceway into the Chesil Beach car park that not only provides extra amenity space near the centre, but most importantly, improves access into the site, especially from the Portland end of the Beach Road.
Councillor Ian Roebuck Environmental Briefholder for the Borough Council said: “We are delighted that Lord Coe is making a visit to Weymouth & Portland so close to the 1 year anniversary of the Games, to see a range of legacy projects in the Borough; notably those linked to sustainability and the local environment.
The Chesil Beach Centre represents a significant investment on the Portland and highlights to local people and visitors the fantastic natural assets in this area which form part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site.
Nerys Watts, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund South West, said:“We at HLF are delighted to be able to support the development of Chesil Beach Centre and the opportunities it now provides for more people to explore this rare and beautiful landscape. Chesil beach is of national importance in terms of our natural marine wildlife and the centre now provides fantastic new facilities for visitors and an education space for schools groups, as well as the chance for local people to get involved as volunteers. We look forward to the official opening of the centre, and showcasing our stunning natural heritage to the world.”
Simon Cripps from the Dorset Wildlife Trust said:”The expanded centre provides a great opportunity to educate and inspire more people about this unique and fascinating environment. We aim to make a visit to the Chesil Beach Centre a ‘must’ for visitors, schools and local people.”
If you are interested in volunteering to help at the expanded centre please get in touch with Emily Brown – [email protected] or phone 07824438975. For more information about the centre, visit www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/chesilcentre or phone 01305 20619.
