Great
Yarmouth’s yacht station has been given a £25,000 revamp by the Broads
Authority to turn it into a welcoming visitor information centre.

The
new building , situated on the River Bure near Great Yarmouth, was officially
opened by the town’s mayor John Burroughs on 26 July.

The
building, on Tar Works Road, is at the gateway to Great Yarmouth for those
coming in by boat and Broads Authority (BA) quay attendants work

















from 8am to
8pm daily



to
help visitors with anything from mooring to advice about the town’s
attractions.

Dr John
Packman, Broads Authority chief executive, said: ‘Great Yarmouth is pivotal to
the Broads network, connecting northern and southern waterways, but until
recently the station at this strategic point was cramped, dingy and uninviting.

‘So we carried
out a facelift which has transformed the station over recent months into a
bright, inspiring visitor information centre where people can feel welcomed,
informed and enlightened about the special qualities of the Broads and all that
Great Yarmouth has to offer.’

An
interactive touch screen has been installed for those wanting to find out more
about local wildlife, heritage and
waterland while a plasma screen provides boat safety information.

Dr
Packman added: ‘Engaging décor and interpretation work, including artwork kindly
provided free by local printmaker Rob Barnes and a wonderful frieze relating
memoirs of a wherry man, has completely changed the look of the building.

‘The makeover meant the building was pulled under more of a
visitor information centre umbrella, with the space opened out to form an
information point for visitors and completely changed to look far more enticing
and to be a more meaningful part of the Broads experience.’

The
£25,000 project was all designed, illustrated and carried out in house by the BA
with the support of Great Yarmouth Borough Council’s tourism department who
have provided a map outside so if visitors arrive when it is closed they can
find out local information.

Picture: The Great Yarmouth Yacht Station opening July 2013. Credit: Julian Claxton Photography