A SPECIALLY modified boat which will allow West Devon?s disabled to take part in a variety of water-based activities such as fishing, bird-watching and conservation is to be launched on Tuesday April 12 at Roadford Reservoir. The aluminium landing-type boat, which is 20 feet long, ?unsinkable? and big enough to accommodate several wheelchairs and helpers, has been donated by the Wheelyboat Trust. Rex Harpham of the Molly Owen Centre in Tavistock has liaised with the trust, which promotes and provides its wheelchair accessible ?Wheelyboats? to fisheries and other waters countrywide. Rex said the trust soon realised that the Wheelyboat could fulfil a much wider role than just as an angling boat, helping disabled people, young and old, enjoy a wide range of other activities as well ? including photography, painting, bird-watching, environmental studies, family picnics or just simply the fun of being in a boat. Rex has been trying to get boating facilities in the Tamar Valley area for people with disabilities, initially aiming to provide a boat for the River Tamar itself. He talked with Andy Beadsley, a director of the Wheelyboat Trust, and it was suggested it would be a good idea to start with a boat at Roadford Reservoir instead. Approximately £10,500 was raised to fund the boat, which is longer than the usual 15 feet version ? which Rex said would have been too short for their needs. ?We are starting at Roadford to see how much interest there will be. The boat is for anyone with disabilities,? he said. ?It is very safe and even if it filled with water it wouldn?t sink.? Members of the public are invited to attend the launch, which will take place at around noon at Roadford Lake. The launch site can be accessed from the sailing centre on the north-western edge of the lake. ?We want to encourage as many people as possible to go and have a ride,? Rex said. The boat will be available for use during the afternoon. There will a small hire fee for the boat for future use, but Rex said this would not be excessive. ?We think a lot of people will want to take advantage of the boat, and we might need more than one,? he said. Rex is looking for other people who may be interested in supporting or developing boating or other facilities for the disabled in the area. He aims to get together a group of people to form a local branch of the Wheelyboat Trust ? which the trust has agreed ? to provide facilities on the River Tamar and asks anyone interested to contact him on 01822 615953 or 612981.
