A NEW “front door to the Wye” installed by Chepstow Boat Club will save emergency services critical time during rescues.

The replacement pontoon and walkway was officially opened on Saturday (April 18) after the club raised some £14,000.

It will be used by club members, emergency services and the general public.

Officially opening the facility, Mayor of Chepstow Cllr Jim McTaggart, said it had been the town’s “front door to the Wye” since it opened in 1998.

It's great to see this wonderful, new 12-metre walkway that has widened access .

“The pontoon is not just for leisure and sunshine – it provides a critical landing point for SARA (Severn Area Rescue Association) as well.

“I'd like to thank the boat club for their amazing work and getting this new pontoon up and working.”

Boat Club chairman Greg Punshon said members had contributed hundreds of hours to the project.

A planned refurbishment was delayed by the pandemic until November 2024

Mr Punshon said: “When we pulled the walkway and pontoon out, we realised that the walkway was then beyond repair, so we had to get our new one constructed.

“We didn't have the money, so a massive effort went into raising funds so that we could do this.”

He also thanked R&R Site Services who constructed the walkway and bodies that gave grants including Chepstow Town Council, Wye Valley National Landscape and the Welsh Church Fund.

SARA coxswain Dave Deveney said: “a major facility for SARA because it gives us the opportunity to do a medical evacuation and have emergency services here.

“Even though we can travel at 40 knots to get back to Beachley, if something's time critical, it gives us 10 minutes added into that golden hour for getting somebody out of the water or evacuated from a cliff fall.”