Community
Beach Raft Will Return
The local authority said that it knows how ‘popular it has been for decades’
Garff Commissioners expect to begin making plans for a replacement raft for Laxey Beach soon.
The iconic Laxey raft was severely battered in the stormy sea this weekend.
In a post on FB, the local authority said that it knows how ‘popular it has been for decades’ and that it would likely be discussed at the next board meeting.
It added: ‘Research on the most suitable type of raft will have to be undertaken carefully due to the particular conditions in Laxey Bay, even in summer. A new raft built to the same specification as the last could be an option as the Commissioners were able to successfully maintain that design for many decades: it has proved durable and cost-effective to run.
‘Previously, in 2017, the board asked the office to make enquiries about floating swimming pontoons but we were generally advised that these would not be suitable for Laxey Bay – even in summer. At the time, one manufacturer stated,: “Floating pontoons can be installed in a water area limited by a pier or on a naturally well-protected beach. On an open beach or coast, the pontoon does not withstand the forces of nature.”
While the raft won’t be returning for the rest of the summer, it appears likely that the iconic Laxey raft will be back next year.
