A fenced-off eyesore for two years.... but an end is in sight; an art museum on The Hoe - but no BBQs; and The Captain has his eye on the Sound...
It's The Beagle on Friday July 31, 2026
Long-awaited work to repair the Grade II-listed pond outside the Civic Centre will be completed - but only by early 2027.
The "pond", which was a weekly favourite of the city’s model boat club before it developed a leak, has been left empty and unrepaired for ages, and has been described as “an eyesore” in its current state.
Delays to repairs have been blamed on "the complications of fixing an old-fashioned pump system", together with money not being identified in PCC's budget, and issues with listed building consent.
Funding for the project will apparently be approved in August as part of the Civic Centre revamp. The repairs will last five months.
Scene on the Sound - by The Captain, Beagle maritime correspondent
Plenty of activity on and around the Sound this week, but not much that has been newsworthy on the naval front. HMS Ships Portland and Scott are still around and, probably, conducting a mix of trials and training in the local areas.
Two of the Offshore Patrol vessels, HM Ships Tyne & Severn, have been in and out, as has RFA Proteus. There have been no foreign warship movements in the last week.
Ashore, work continues on the eastern arm of the West Hoe harbour, where workmen have been repointing the walls, both inside and out. This work is expected to last for “several more weeks”.
The news for the residents of Rivage, now almost fully encased in plastic sheeting, is not so good. The Beagle was told that the repair contract (cladding and fire safety work) is planned to last for 52 weeks and is budgeted at £2million
There is now a thriving community of USVs – Unmanned Surface Vehicles – on and around Plymouth Sound. Plymouth is the National Centre for Marine Autonomy and many of the USVs are based in the old Royal Marine area in Turnchapel.
The King's Harbour Master has designated areas locally for uncrewed and remote/autonomous trials as seen in this chartlet:
One of the largest USVs is the ACUA Ocean’s Pioneer-class USV. She is a 14m long, 28 tonne displacement catamaran with a SWATH hull. There is lots of scope for acronyms in a new area of technology – although SWATH has been around for some time and means Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull – so each side of the deck is supported on a submerged, cylindrical hull.
(Editor: not too many acronyms, please Captain)
The Pioneer is the UK’s first remotely operated and unmanned vessel certified under the MCA (Maritime and Coastguard Agency) workboat code.
The Captain hopes to visit UCUA shortly and will be writing more about the subject of USVs in the near future.
Finally, the NACRA 15 World Championships have been run from the Mountbatten Watersports Centre during the last week and finish on Saturday 1st August . There are 48 entries from 12 countries – Australia, Belgium, China, France, Italy, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, South Africa, Switzerland, UK and USA. From the extended periods that these small catamarans have been seen racing out beyond the breakwater, it can be assumed that there has been some very good sailing.
Yours aye.
Mobile art gallery on The Hoe this weekend
A mobile art gallery and museum is on The Hoe until Sunday.
It's a collaboration between the charity 'Art Explora' and the Government Art Collection.
Inside the air-conditioned trailer is the 'Shaped by the Sea' exhibition, bringing together historic, modern and contemporary works by British artists.
Tests confirm "hazardous" levels of asbestos
Hazardous levels of asbestos have been confirmed in sand around Mount Batten. It's prompted Plymouth Council to remind revellers to stay away from beaches and foreshore areas that are marked as closed.
Signs have been put up warning people to stay away. PCC says it doesn't know the source of the asbestos but it appears to be washing up with the tidal flow and has been appearing as small pieces of visible material.
Asbestos fibres can pose a serious health risk if inhaled. However air quality tests around Mount Batten following the beach closure have shown no evidence of airborne particles.
Appeal after man hit with bottle
Part of the Barbican was sealed off early today (Friday) after an assault. A man suffered serious injuries after being hit with a bottle. Police closed Basket Ope, as glass and blood stains could be seen clearly in the street.
And finally....
Well done (and about time) to the wag at Plymouth Council who penned a little ditty to encourage waterside revellers not to use disposable BBQs during the current heatwave.
A Janner stood proud on the Hoe
Declaring disposable barbies a 'No!'
Under Smeaton's great height
They can set grass alight
Sandwiches don't do that, you know!
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