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CloseWork to start on new boathouse for Wells
Tue 1 September 2020
Artist's impression of the new boathouse on the end of the beach bank
Work is about to begin on the building of a new lifeboat station for Wells RNLI at Wells next the Sea.
Completion is expected in 2022 and the new Wells Shannon class lifeboat, which was part funded by a successful local campaign in 2014-2015 and part by the Civil Service charity The Lifeboat Fund, will arrive in Wells shortly afterwards.
The new, bigger boathouse is required to house the Shannon class lifeboat which will replace the now 30 year old current Mersey Class lifeboat 12-003 Doris M Mann of Ampthill. With the RNLI's newest, purpose-built Shannon lifeboat, the rescue service provided by the volunteer crew at Wells will be using the best equipment available to make their job safer, faster and more effective. The boathouse will be located beside the beach bank near the Beach Café and the Coastwatch hut and will replace the old boathouse which is more than 125 years old.
The lifeboats will exit the boathouse through the roller doors and be taken up and over the sea defences on a purpose built ramp straight into the channel or, if the tide is out, will be towed on their carriages to a low water launch site in Holkham Bay.
The first phase of construction involves driving piles into the ground to form the foundations for the boathouse and ramps; building up the ground level with sand and dredged material supplied by the Port of Wells and constructing the concrete floor slab. This 'heavy' construction work will take place between September 2020 and May 2021. Erection of the timber frame building structure will follow.
The RNLI and Wells Lifeboat Station will be working closely with the contractors, JT Mackley and Reside Construction, the Port of Wells and Holkham Estate to ensure that safe access to the beach and the car park is maintained for members of the public throughout the project. Regular updates will be posted on our website as well as being signposted at the beach car park, the Beach Cafe and Pinewoods. We will be posting images and reports of the progress of the project on a new boathouse build page.
Please get in touch via our contact form or by e-mail if you have any queries relating to the project.