Summary
Facilities and activities
- Stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking are the most interesting watersports respondents would like to see at the new centre (62%-66%)
- Around a third also express an interest in open water rowing, kitesurfing and kiteboarding (31%-36%)
- Around a fifth are not interested in any of the suggested watersports (19%)
- Other watersports suggested are wind board sports (windsurfing, wing surfing, all types of foiling) and open water swimming (5%-8%)
- The most desirable sports facilities are changing rooms, storage lockers and indoor showers (71%-81%). Just less than two thirds would also like to see wetsuit and board washing facilities and outdoor showers (62%-63%)
- In terms of amenities not specifically related to sports and activities, a café and new public toilets are by far the most attractive to respondents (73% to 82%)
Usage and travel
- Almost two thirds of respondents (64%) are very likely to use a new watersports centre in Eastney, with a further quarter quite likely to use it
- Most respondents usually walk to this area of the seafront although travel by car and by bike are also common. Few currently use the bus or Voi options
Accessibility and inclusion
- Accessible pathways and accessible changing rooms, toilets and showers are the two most important aspects to ensure the centre is accessible to all members of the community (79%-88%)
- Staff trained in disability awareness and able to assist with adaptive equipment and techniques is also an important aspect of accessibility (64%), and 57% select adaptive equipment as being important
- 46% would like to see Changing Places toilets (Note, not all respondents may know what these are)
- Other comments include having sufficient disabled parking spaces and affordable pricing for activities (and parking)
Environmental and historical considerations
- All suggested environmental sustainability features are welcomed by the majority of respondents (64%-81%)
- The most popular features would be utilising solar panels for energy followed by using rainwater harvesting for the toilets to reduce water use
- 68% of respondents think it is very important to enhance this area of the seafront as part of the project given that the area is a designated LWS and a SINC. Only 8% consider it unimportant. Concern around enhancing the area increases with age (73% of those aged 65+ think it is very important)
- In other environmental comments, having a clean beach and sea, and protecting/enhancing wildlife and flora is mentioned by 4% as things to be considered
- Four fifths of respondents think it is important that the new centre provides access to previously inaccessible areas of the seafront (79%)
- 70% of respondents think it is important to make the listed features on the site a focal point of the scheme
- In other historical comments, refurbishing the original pool and commemorating the Cockleshell Heroes and birthplace of Octopush are mentioned as things to be considered by 3%-4% of respondents
Barriers to use and further comments
- The potential high cost of activities or the café are the most frequently mentioned barrier (15%). Some suggest having a resident discount; others are concerned that previously free access to the beach for swimming and/or using private watersports equipment will be removed
- Concern over parking is also a potential barrier for 10% of respondents, ranging from there not being enough to being too expensive, not close enough to equipment rigging sites or not providing enough disabled spaces
- In further comments, 6% are supportive of the plans, whilst 5% would like Eastney swimming pool to be refurbished
Demographics
- 38% of respondents live within 15-minutes of the site; 50% live in PO1 to PO6 but further away, and 12% live elsewhere
- The biggest proportion of respondents live in PO4, the postcode area within which the centre would be based
- 55% are female, 45% are male
- There is a good range of ages within the sample with roughly a fifth each aged 35-44, 45-54 and 55-64
- The large majority of respondents are from a White or White British ethnic group (97%)
- 12% describe themselves as having a disability, long-term illness or a physical or mental health condition
