Swansea Council is looking to redevelop its toilet and office block at Knab Rock into a tourism hub providing specialist advice on watersports.
Oystermouth Castle, Mumbles
The centre would not replace the existing Mumbles tourist information centre at the Methodist Church in Mumbles Road.
It is expected to cost £430,000 and see improvements to the slipway and visitor facilities at Knab Rock to allow for world- class sailing and catamaran events.
The vast majority of the cost will be covered by ERDF Convergence Funding, which is putting forward £310,000 for the scheme.
Mumbles Community Council is stumping up £10,000, with the rest of the balance being covered by Swansea Council.
The local authority has submitted a planning application for the site at Knab Rock, which it claims is the only public slipway in Swansea Bay and the only boat access to the sea in Swansea Bay.
The council claims that the existing public toilets are in a state of disrepair and do not currently meet statutory requirements.
Ian Beynon, of the authority's regeneration and housing, culture and recreation office, has applied to demolish the public toilets to make way for the specialist tourism hub.
The council has admitted the site is very busy with visitors in the tourist season, but circulation routes are potentially dangerous with pedestrians and boats being reversed.
The information centre is believed to be part of a £4.2 million scheme known as Swansea Bay A Centre of Excellence for Watersports, which is designed to develop watersports in the region.
The council is hoping redevelopment of the site will improve the visitor image and perception of the area and encourage repeat visits.
If it was given the go-ahead the information centre would be close to the popular Verdi's restaurant. The site is currently occupied by a single-storey L- shaped building which is used to house public toilets and a small office for council staff.
Additional boat storage for Mumbles Yacht Club has already been built on the northern side of the site and this would be retained if the information centre was developed.
The council also claims a small parking area between the boat store and Verdi's could be developed as long as enough space was left for the restaurant.
The site at Knab Rock has also been highlighted in the council's unitary development plan as a location for new or improved recreational and tourist facilities.
The existing block would be replaced with an office area, tourist information area, toilets and baby changing facilities, changing rooms, external showers, a plant room and a switchgear room.
A council spokeswoman said: "Without this development and the grant it has attracted the council would have to invest more capital resources on the existing facility as it is in need of a significant upgrade."
South Wales Evening Post - Tuesday, 9 August, 2011
