Although Bedford is an acknowledged centre of rowing, members of its three clubs wanting to progress to the highest levels of the sport often leave the town because of a lack of safe and appropriate river space here. The Amateur Rowing Association has recognised Willington as a possible training lake for an Olympic team wishing to prepare for the London 2012 Olympic Games which, when taken with other sporting venues in the town, would be a superb boost to Bedford.

A planning application for the Olympic rowing lake has been submitted to Bedfordshire County Council by the Rowing Lake Company Ltd. and a decision is due at the Committee meeting scheduled for 20 July 2006. Whilst the Marston Vale Trust has been involved with the rowing lake application, Bedford River Valley Park will go ahead whatever the outcome.

For more information about the rowing lake proposal, contact Gavin Dods

Map of Rowing Lake proposal from original planning application (2003), produced by the Rowing Lake Company Ltd

To download a 2.2Mb pdf of this map, click here

For queries regarding this planning application, the legal process and how to make representations, please contact Bedfordshire County Council - the planning authority in this case.

By entering 'Rowing Lake' into the search facility on the County Council's home page, you will be directed to information about the application

www.bedfordshire.gov.uk

Planning permission granted

The Rowing Lake was granted planning permission at Bedfordshire County Council's development Control Committee on 20 July 2006.