The North Beach Wind Sports Centre will soon be fully ready for use by local wind sports clubs and beach visitors, following the completion of building work on the site and planning approval.
The Beachcomber, the café at the heart of the redeveloped centre, has already enjoyed a fantastic first weekend of trading, having opened on October 8 following planning approval from Fylde Council. Work continues to finalise the last few details which will allow the Kite Surfing Club and Land Yacht Club to operate from the refreshed, modernised facilities, providing a headquarters from which residents and visitors can take full advantage of a beachfront described as one of the best for wind sports in the entire United Kingdom.
Cllr Karen Buckley, Leader of Fylde Council, said: “It’s thrilling for the North Beach Wind Sports Centre renovation to be nearing its conclusion, and I was delighted to see a warm welcome for the Beachcomber Café on their first weekend of operation. This is just the exciting first step in the new centre opening its doors to the public. As Leader, I would like to thank all those officers and contractors involved for their hard work, the sports clubs for their energy and enthusiasm for the project, and our residents for sharing with us their views on the development and for believing in what it will bring to the community.”
Cllr Michael Sayward, Chairman of the Tourism and Leisure Committee, said: “To be able to offer such a comprehensive seaside sports facility for visitors and residents alike is a wonderful coup for Fylde. Our beaches already attract people from all around the world for events like the annual kite festival, and the new centre will only enhance this offer, as well as provide residents with a delightful unique amenity they can enjoy only a short walk away.”
The planning application for the development of the Wind Sports Centre was able to progress through to a decision following notification from Natural England that the likelihood of significant effect on the protected areas nearby was negligible. The approval was granted on October 5 2022. More information is available on the Fylde Council website’s Planning section here.
In addition to the facilities for the local wind sports club, the centre once fully operational will offer a hub for the Fylde Coastal Rangers to operate from, as well as a purpose-built Changing Places accessible bathroom.
If you’d like to sample a taste of wind sports before the full opening of the centre, St Annes Land Yacht Club will this weekend be hosting a Sand Yachting Regatta on Saturday 15 October and Sunday 16 October to mark the 60th anniversary of the formation of FISLY (the International Land and Sandyachting Federation). This will be taking place on St Annes North Beach, near the site of the new wind sports centre. Visit the St Annes Landyacht Club Facebook page for more details.
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