New outdoor centre to feature ‘wakeboarding’ on Burnley's Rowley Lake

11:30am Friday 14th September 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Tyrone Marshall, Reporter

THRILLING Wakeboarding will become a feature in major plans for the Rowley Lake area of Burnley THRILLING Wakeboarding will become a feature in major plans for the Rowley Lake area of Burnley

AN OUTDOOR sports centre planned for Burnley could become one of the biggest in the north.

Ambitious plans have been unveiled to create an ‘outstanding’ centre that could host a variety of sports around Rowley Lake.

The highlights of the centre is set to be a cable-operated wakeboarding system — created to take users across the lake without the need to be towed by speedboat.

The project called Wake Brun Valley would be one of only a handful across the UK.

The plan is to then further develop the lakeside centre, adding canoeing and orienteering to the activities based there as well as setting up a ‘multi-discipline’ cycling centre.

Council chiefs hope the facility would attract visitors from a ‘wide area’, and would put Burnley on the map for its offering of outdoor sports.

Funding is close to being secured for the £130,000 project, which is part of the council’s Brun Valley Forest Park scheme.

Coun John Harbour, executive member for leisure and culture, said: “We have an ambitious vision for Brun Valley Forest Park — now we have to find the funds to make it a reality.

“Balancing the needs of a wide range of users from those that want to be active across the lake to those people who want a quiet walk, will be key.

“If successful, this will provide Burnley with an outstanding outdoor sports centre that would attract visitors from a wide area.”

The council has already secured funding for the cable-opeated wakeboarding system, but is now submitting an application to the Sports England Inspired Facilities fund for some of the rest of the work.

If successful it is hoped that the scheme could be up and running next year, and a club will be established to offer coaching and equipment hire.

Coun Harbour said: “It’s excellent news that we’re one of only five successful bids for initial funding for the wakeboarding project. We now have to build on this by exploring other funding avenues to take this exciting project forward.”

Once the water sports element of the scheme has been secured, the next part of the vision is to create the cycling centre.

It will include a one kilometre closed circuit cycle track and a BMX track, as well as access to mountain bike trails within the forest park.

The aim is to host a cycling club that will cater for and develop cycle sports, recreational cycling and health projects.

There is also the potential for a “Wheels for All” centre hosting a disability cycling club.

Beyond the plans for the wakeboarding and cycling, the council wants to expand the facility to create an ‘outdoor centre of sporting excellence’.

This would offer canoeing, trail running, orienteering, angling and triathlon.

Councillors will discuss the scheme on September 18.

Comments (12)

1:20pm Fri 14 Sep 12

chris283 says...

Get real have you seen the size of rowley lake i think the anglers will have somert to say about that me being one of them it is no where big enough get in the real world try a bigger venue for this type of sport like a larger lake
Get real have you seen the size of rowley lake i think the anglers will have somert to say about that me being one of them it is no where big enough get in the real world try a bigger venue for this type of sport like a larger lake chris283

2:13pm Fri 14 Sep 12

Bert321 says...

Its more than big enough. try looking at the set up at the Blackpool cable park the lake is nearly half the size. the cable only goes in a straight line across the top side of lake. if the plan is to use a System 2.0 cable. which i suspect it is.
Its more than big enough. try looking at the set up at the Blackpool cable park the lake is nearly half the size. the cable only goes in a straight line across the top side of lake. if the plan is to use a System 2.0 cable. which i suspect it is. Bert321

2:18pm Fri 14 Sep 12

chris283 says...

i hope they dont get the go ahead it will ruin it for anglers its a fishing water any way there was no mention of the club who run and maintain the water
i hope they dont get the go ahead it will ruin it for anglers its a fishing water any way there was no mention of the club who run and maintain the water chris283

2:23pm Fri 14 Sep 12

Bert321 says...

So is the lake at Blackpool and there's no issue there.. Everyone is happy.
So is the lake at Blackpool and there's no issue there.. Everyone is happy. Bert321

2:36pm Fri 14 Sep 12

ShaunL says...

As stated the waterway is plenty big enough, in comparison to the other cable parks its a lot bigger in fact. As for anglers there's always lowerhouse lodge for you. Think of the business and the turn over of a cable park as opposed to you sat on the bank buying day tickets every blue moon.
As stated the waterway is plenty big enough, in comparison to the other cable parks its a lot bigger in fact. As for anglers there's always lowerhouse lodge for you. Think of the business and the turn over of a cable park as opposed to you sat on the bank buying day tickets every blue moon. ShaunL

2:49pm Fri 14 Sep 12

chris283 says...

like i say it will ruin it for the anglers its one of the decent lakes in burnley i dont think i want to be sat there fishing and some clown comes flying through my swim like i say i hope they dont get the go ahead if they want to do that go to rishton or somert
like i say it will ruin it for the anglers its one of the decent lakes in burnley i dont think i want to be sat there fishing and some clown comes flying through my swim like i say i hope they dont get the go ahead if they want to do that go to rishton or somert chris283

2:58pm Fri 14 Sep 12

Bert321 says...

i don't know what the plan's are but the cable set up they probably will be using might be a System 2.0 which run's backwards and forwards and will use less that than a quarter of the lake!! Doesn't use the whole lake. you can sit peacefully at the other end of the lake fishing whilst watching young people having fun and giving wakeboarding a go.
i don't know what the plan's are but the cable set up they probably will be using might be a System 2.0 which run's backwards and forwards and will use less that than a quarter of the lake!! Doesn't use the whole lake. you can sit peacefully at the other end of the lake fishing whilst watching young people having fun and giving wakeboarding a go. Bert321

2:58pm Fri 14 Sep 12

Bert321 says...

i don't know what the plan's are but the cable set up they probably will be using might be a System 2.0 which run's backwards and forwards and will use less that than a quarter of the lake!! Doesn't use the whole lake. you can sit peacefully at the other end of the lake fishing whilst watching young people having fun and giving wakeboarding a go.
i don't know what the plan's are but the cable set up they probably will be using might be a System 2.0 which run's backwards and forwards and will use less that than a quarter of the lake!! Doesn't use the whole lake. you can sit peacefully at the other end of the lake fishing whilst watching young people having fun and giving wakeboarding a go. Bert321

3:02pm Fri 14 Sep 12

Bert321 says...

People moan about young kids being on the streets around Burnley and causing havoc this could do something good for Burnley. give them a chance to start new hobbies!!.
People moan about young kids being on the streets around Burnley and causing havoc this could do something good for Burnley. give them a chance to start new hobbies!!. Bert321

5:38pm Fri 14 Sep 12

ShaunL says...

How about you go to Rishton to fish? In my opinion investing in this would be significantly more beneficial than having one or two anglers a day lakeside, both financially and in moving the town forward. Happy fishing
How about you go to Rishton to fish? In my opinion investing in this would be significantly more beneficial than having one or two anglers a day lakeside, both financially and in moving the town forward. Happy fishing ShaunL

6:27pm Fri 14 Sep 12

RUinsane says...

So at least you don't have to travel all the way to Guantanamo bay to get your waterboarding fix. Should be an olynpic event
So at least you don't have to travel all the way to Guantanamo bay to get your waterboarding fix. Should be an olynpic event RUinsane

9:00am Sat 15 Sep 12

Jam_On_It says...

Tie a net behind it you'll catch all the fish you want !! Way Hay!!!!
Tie a net behind it you'll catch all the fish you want !! Way Hay!!!! Jam_On_It

Comments are closed on this article.

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree