Bailey Bridge Marina in Christchurch takes shape ahead of April launch date

The owner of the Bailey Bridge Marina has confirmed that the marina’s entrance and slipway are now taking place, with work now beginning on the marina’s pontoon in preparation of the marina’s launch date on Monday April 1.

The £200,000 project will have dry berth storage, on-water moorings and a launch and recovery service controlled through an app.

Owner of Bailey Bridge Marina Ltd Will Eveleigh said: “Things are progressing well

“We have now installed all the I Beams in preparation for the VersaDock Pontoons going in. The Workshops are in place and powered up.

“All the groundwork, slip way and car park is completed and ready.”

The former MOD site had been derelict for 34 years before plans were submitted for a new marina in March last year.

The security fencing around the site, once mooted for a new supermarket, and the marina’s pontoons are expected to be completed in the next three weeks.

With enough room for 45 to 50 boats of eight metres in length, clients are able to book a designated time to have their boat put in the water, and the marina’s JCB will then get the vessel down ready for the owner.

Since publicising their business on social media, Bailey Bridge Marina have already received a lot of requests from boat owners about storing their vessels at the marina.

Mr Eveleigh added: “We still need to have the office and toilet block installed which will be in a week’s time.

“CCTV and security lighting is going in over the next three weeks so we will be fully ready for the launch date of the April 1.

“We are nearly half booked now so we have 25 boats booked in at the site. Clients will start delivering their boats to us from mid-March so in a month’s time.”

To store a boat at the marina it will cost £450 per metre of boat per year.

Customers will be able to use their boats even when the marina is closed, providing they ask the JCB operator to put it in the water before close of play.