Buildings & Facilities

Buildings

The centre is comprised of two adjoining buildings:

• Ajax’s Chiefy Sharman Water Activity Centre.

• Warspite’s Boathouse Water Activity Centre

The following diagram is shown full page in Appendix O

Smoking is not permitted anywhere within the centre premises.

Facilities

There are male and female toilets and changing rooms. There are showers in the following locations:

• Ajax gents toilets.

• Warspite gents & ladies toilets.

There is a galley which can be used for hot and cold drinks as well as food preparation in both buildings. Both galleys have cookers, microwaves and fridges. 

A phone is located in the Ajax Wardroom and the Ajax ships office – the phone number is 020 8398 4777.

Personal Belongings

Whilst personal belongings may be left in the changing rooms, small valuables may be left with the Duty Officer who will place them in storage. Scouts are encouraged not to bring excessive valuables. The Centre takes no responsibility for personal valuables whilst on site.

Fire

In the event of a fire being discovered, activate the alarm and leave the building via the nearest exit. Muster on the grass by the river. The Duty Officer will take a headcount and call the fire services as per the Emergency Action Plan. Minor fires may be tackled with an extinguisher; these are located throughout the building. A Fire risk assessment is held for both buildings.

Duty Officers should be aware that some fire exits lead to locked compounds. Where activities involve non regular users of the facility it is advised to consider having gates unlocked for the duration of the activity.

First Aid

Ajax main first aid kit: Ships office

Warspite main first aid kit: Galley 

Other first aid kit: Powerboat Boat Boxes

Accident forms are available online for all boating activities complete a center form here:

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=FrWUC97Bl0S7XxYUjFRyn_rg053YmZRPmwOxHs35zQFURTNBOEJRQkowTkpWTjVSREcyQ0U1UjRBSC4u

External Spaces

Slipway

There is a public slipway adjacent to the centre for launching into the river. The Centre has no priority on the slipway and centre users will show due consideration to the public. The slipway must not be blocked – boats should be swiftly launched and recovered.

The Slipway can be very slippery below the waterline, all participants should be reminded of this when launching and recovering.

When using trailers or trolleys on the slope of the slipway, consider the use of chocks where individuals may struggle to hold a trolley. (See Appendix D or guidance on manual handling)

Launching trolleys are to be returned to the centre.   

The slipway is steep enough to require care with launching heavy boats, when sufficient people must be used to properly control the boat on launch and recovery and under the supervision of the Instructor. Particular care must be taken of the enclosing walls and slope.  Under 18’s should never be behind a trailer’s wheels on a slope. A banksman or similar may be appropriate. Road trailers should not have wheels dropped into the water – the boats should be carefully pushed off / winched up their trailers. Road trailers may be left on the grass beside the slipway.

Once launched boats can be taken to the pontoon and secured as necessary. Boats should not be left moored by the slipway. Sailing dinghies must not return to the slipway under sail but return to the pontoon. Sails must be secured prior to recovery.

Grass Area outside Centre and Quayside

This area is public open land and the centre has no priority over it. No damage should be done to this area. The steep nature of the slopes and solid concrete quayside have significant trip hazards. There should be no running anywhere past the slope, towards the river. 

All litter created should be cleaned up and put in the bins provided by the council. Any concerns over this area should be referred to Elmbridge Borough Council.

Pontoons.

The pontoons have been installed for the convenience of all river users. There can be a significant drop to the pontoons during average or low water levels and centre users should be very careful. Steps or elephant boxes may be used to help access and egress.

The pontoon can get slippery when wet or soiled by wildlife, so care is required. Personal Buoyancy must be worn when on the pontoon.

No boat is to be left unsupervised on the pontoon for any longer than a few minutes. Power boats must have keys and kill cords removed. Boats are never left there when the centre is closed (all boats must be left secured in the centre compounds or on river moorings). 

River Moorings

The Groups have approximately 100m of river moorings downstream of the slipway, based around 5 mooring piles. The downstream end of the moorings is marked by a yellow buoy. The gaps between Piles 1 & 3 (upstream to downstream) are for the use of Ajax. The gaps between 3 & 5 are for the use of Warspite. These moorings are only to be used by boats belonging to the groups. Any exceptions to this must be authorised in advance by the relevant Group Scout Leader or other designated individuals.