A new windsurfing facility has been approved in Edinburgh.
The city council approved plans for the new facility in Silverknowes on Friday May 21.
BoardFast Silverknowes aim to hire equipment and establish a windsurfing school on the site
Edinburgh City Council granted them permission for changing facilities, a storage unit, a retail outlet and a café serving hot and cold food and drinks to eat in or take away.
Locals were invited to have their say in the planning process and of over 100 comments most were in favour of the development.
The facility will open daily between April and September but during the winter months the structure will be dismantled and removed for winter storage.
BoardFast say that they expect that 50 per cent of their custom will come from those under 25 but they also say an explicit aim of their venture is to make it accessible to state schools and lower income groups.
They say until now the west coast dominated water sports but they want to promote Edinburgh as an alternative.
A BoardFast spokesperson said: “What the east coast does have are excellent conditions for wingsurfing, windsurfing and at Cramond an opportunity to explore inland on a stand-up paddle board.
“At Silverknowes the beach is relatively shallow on a sand base and the causeway of Cramond island provides an ideal barrier for flat water “blasting” and teaching. The causeway also stops flotsam coming onto the beach and even jelly fish swarms in midsummer are not too bad in this area.”
The beach front at Silverknowes will be their base at Marine Drive.
This will allow them to sail west towards Cramond Village and round the corner for sheltered waters and access to the Cramond river.
The site will have an all-weather rescue craft that will be moored in the Cramond River.
The local community council welcomed the new facility but asked for assurances.
A spokesperson for Cramond and Barnton Community Council said: “In principle, the CC welcomes new visitor facilities, such as the proposed watersports centre, where these will bring more activity and enjoyment by both participants and spectators visiting Silverknowes foreshore and waters.
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“However, it is vital, in the interests of the environment and visitor experience, that proposed facilities, such as this watersports centre
are carefully assessed, not only in terms of implications for the immediate site, but in respect of operational aspects, which may affect users of the Promenade (e.g. parking, vehicular movements between the site and Cramond Harbour) and of the shore and waters.”
