Dear All, It is with regret that I am having to share the following information. Brockenhurst College; who run the centre, have informed all the clubs who use the centre that they will be closing its operation of the Hengistbury Head Outdoor Education Centre (HHOEC) permanently.
The College have advised all clubs and users of the centre that they are required to vacate the premises by Friday 4th June 2021. Unfortunately the College will not be allowing access to the centre except for clubs to remove equipment. This means that the expected return to club activities from the centre from the end of March will not be able to happen. A HHOEC users group set up by the Adult Sailors Club which involves all the clubs including Southbourne Canoe Club, have contacted the BCP Council with a view to secure continued use of the centre. In the meantime the SCC committee are looking at a number of options including boat storage. We are also exploring ways to enable the club to return to paddling outside of the Centre in line with Covid-19 guideline dates. The committee will send out further updates as soon as more information is available.
Hello,
Can I ask whether access to the outdoor pursuit center has ever been secured, even for occasional usage?
I am representing a voluntary organisation and we are seeking the use of a sheltered space at Hengistbury Head once or twice a month for a few hours each time. I am trying to find out who to contact to see if this is now feasible in our post-covid world.
Hello,
We have been able to purchase a licence from Bournemouth council to continue to use the site to park and launch on a temporary basis, however the main outdoor centre building has been declared unsafe. We understand that the council are looking for a new provider to take over the lease and rebuild the centre. I don’t think they are in a position to allow any new groups to use the centre but you will need to check with the council to confirm this.
Many Thanks
Southbourne Canoe Club