In response to some concerns about ongoing works at the Nith Inshore Rescue, we called in to find out their plans. Here’s our report.
Robbie Cowan, chairman, explained:
“We started a huge fundraising campaign to refurbish the Lifeboat Station three years ago. We eventually secured enough funding to complete a modern, fit for purpose Lifeboat station.
Here we are, 15 months later, after the first brick was laid, and the Station is close to completion.
We had to prioritise what we needed in the Station as we didn’t have the full funding that we required for the original ‘Wish List’. We had to cut out some of what we could not afford, but at the same time, ensuring that the essential parts of our aims were achieved.
The priority was to increase the storage space, create a drying room for all the kit, build an operation room with up to date communications, maps and computers and to provide a safe space for training. The original funding allowed all this to be completed.
The new part of the station is effectively a mirror image of the original building, doubling its size.
The Station is not just for us. This is used by the Police, Coast Guard, Mountain Rescue and the Fire Brigade, there are times we have up to 40 or 50 people in here. Previously we just didn’t have the space to comfortably deliver multi-agency exercises or mass searches; but now we have a decent facility that can accommodate all.
We recently secured the final funding to complete what we originally designed. All the things we took out of the original build – we decided ‘right, we’ve now got the money, let’s do it’. We have since installed a heating system for the large area; when we are holding a training exercise, we can have everyone in here and they will be comfortable, but it also keeps the frost off the boats and the kit in good condition.
We would also like to replace the doors in the old part of the building which are now 20 years old and of course, the last main part of the project that we’re currently dealing with is the landscaping.
We built the operations room at the back but sadly we couldn’t see the river! Now okay, it’s only a small part of the river, but it’s essential that whoever’s in that room can actually see the river and see the Lifeboat coming in. The bank simply needed lowered by 4 feet. We have carefully measured this as it does serve as a flood bank.
The soil that we removed was relocated to the North side. We have piped the ditch and gained a useful area. When this is complete it will be a much nicer entrance to the village, certainly an improvement on what was there before.
We are also putting stone baskets around the slipway area to prevent debris and erosion of soil blocking the slip. It is vital we keep the slipway clear at all times to allow a fast launch in an emergency. This will also help keep the place looking tidy.
We have called upon the help of a council volunteer group to pick up some of the rubble and the stones which can be used in the gabion baskets, helping us keep the costs down. The river side will be grass as before and the newly formed area will be gravel. We are addressing concerns about the volume of cars that are parked here on training days. We have less parking now which led us to look into the option of using this area as an overflow carpark for the crew or other emergency services.
The weather beat us, winter arrived with its usual rainfall and put a stop to the works. We took the decision to stall the ground works as the machinery was trailing mud through the village.
Now Spring has arrived (sort of) the ground is drying up and the contractors are waiting for the phone call to come and finish the job.
We are not going to win garden of the year on this one…… but its progress!!!”
Thank you Robbie, to all the volunteers and everyone who gives their time and support to the Nith Inshore Rescue.