Disabled Access
Wheelyboat launched at Lockwood Beck Trout Fishery
A brand new Wheelyboat has joined the fleet of angling boats at Lockwood Beck Trout Fishery, near Guisborough. Designed to provide disabled anglers with hassle-free and independent access to the water, the Wheelyboat was launched with a fanfare at Lockwood Beck’s open day on May 27th.
The new Wheelyboat has been supplied by The Wheelyboat Trust, a registered charity, with funding provided by the Normanby Charitable Trust and the Environment Agency along with local angling groups and businesses. Hardy Greys and Northumbrian Water also supported the project.
Gordon Byers, who runs the award winning fishery, has been looking forward to the new facility for some time. He said it will provide disabled anglers with access to the entire reservoir where bank access for an angler using a wheelchair is almost non-existent. He hopes it will encourage newcomers to fly-fishing to try it for themselves. Being disabled is no barrier to the pleasures of fly fishing on waters where the problems of access have been solved, he said. He is very keen for disabled people and especially children to take up the activity and is providing tackle and tuition free of charge for those wanting to give it a go.
Reservoirs, lakes and ponds are by their nature pretty inaccessible to wheelchair users and others with mobility problems: the banks are often steep and unmade and where there is access it may be limited and offer little opportunity to fish the water effectively. Standard boats are difficult to get into and once on board the disabled angler is totally reliant on a boat partner.
Wheelyboats overcome all these difficulties. They make the entire water accessible, are simplicity itself to board and the flat deck provides access throughout thus giving the disabled angler the dignity of their own independence. In short, Wheelyboats enable disabled anglers to fish on equal terms with their able-bodied counterparts.
WHEELYBOAT HIRE
FULL DAY: £10.00 inclusive of petrol outboard + Day Fishing Permit
From 8.30am until one hour after sun set or time posted in fishing lodge.
EVENING & 4 HOURS: £8.00 inclusive of petrol outboard + Evening Fishing Permit
Background
The Wheelyboat Trust is a registered charity that promotes and provides the wheelchair accessible Wheelyboat to fisheries and other waters all over the UK. It has supplied more than 100 Wheelyboats since the Trust began work in 1985. The Trust does much more than simply provide Wheelyboats, however. It is involved in a range of activities that promote disabled people’s entitlement to equal access to waterborne activities. It raises awareness of the difficulties faced by disabled people getting access to lakes, reservoirs and other areas of water; it advises fishery managers and others on access issues; it has instituted the Alan Faulkner Memorial Award to promote the cause of disability angling; it has a comprehensive website and helps prospective venues and local groups raise their own funds to help them acquire Wheelyboats and other facilities for disabled people.
For booking and further information please contact:
Gordon Byers, Fishery Manager
Tel: 01287 660501 or Mobile: 07973 779527
Email: info@lockwoodfishery.co.uk
