An 'all-inclusive' boat club in Wallingford is celebrating after it was granted planning permission to relocate its headquarters.

Wallingford Accessible Boat Club (WABC) has taken a major step towards its goal of bringing disabled access to the river in central Wallingford.

The club, which previously used temporary facilities in Benson, has been given permission to relocate at Riverside near Wallingford leisure park.

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A ‘wheelyboat’ is a purpose-built, flat-bottomed craft with a drop-down bow which enables easy access for wheelchair users.

They can simply roll-on and roll-off the boat and therefore gives all passengers independence on the water.

The plan has been in the making for the past three years.

Chairman of the club, John Jenkins, said: “I am absolutely delighted by this news as is every member of our club – what a breakthrough.

“At last we can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

"Clearly we still have a long way to go until we have the facilities we need but the way forward is a lot more straightforward. 

“Perhaps now we can realistically hope for Riverside becoming our operating base, our home, for the 2024 season."

He added: “Whilst the Riverside facilities have been designed primarily for WABC purposes, it will also provide disabled-friendly access to the general public and thus become a major addition to Wallingford’s ‘leisure and pleasure’ facilities for disabled people within our community, something it badly needs.

“I want to add my thanks to members of the South Oxfordshire District Council project team who have demonstrated not only real commitment to the development but also great creativity with its design which has been instrumental in overcoming the Environment Agency’s initial planning objections.”

Wallingford Accessible Boat Club is a voluntary organisation and a small-registered charity.

Its aim is “to enable disabled and elderly people to get out and about on the River Thames on the Wallingford stretch free of charge”.  

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The club’s operation is only the second such facility on the entire River Thames and the only one on the Upper Thames.

The club has said it is grateful to the support of its patrons- Cala and Adrian Pike, The Lord Bradshaw and Lady Diana Bradshaw.

They are also sponsored by seven local companies that support the club.

These include Tailormade Building Solutions, Winterbrook Estate agents, The Dolphin pub, Champions of Wallingford, Pettits of Wallingford, NP Design & Print and InstaVolt.