Comments on: Can we afford to lose Nottingham’s Holme Pierrepont whitewater course?

By: Changes to Nottingham’s Holme Pierrepont whitewater course - what’s the story? « Nottingham HPP whitewater course users group

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 21:49:33 +0000

[...] into a fast, shallow and even-gradient course for slalom canoe trainking. In fact, I might have had something to do with posting that information. The problem was that no-one had told the other people who use the course – like recreational [...]

By: Richard

Richard — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 22:48:57 +0000

Correct me if I’m wrong, but squirt boaters tend to us the magic roundabout these days? Maybe a compromise that you could put forward is that that eddy is left deep? The pyramid pool can definitely be shallowed out as it has now features what so ever. As for the looping pool, I think doing what they did in australia should be done straight away here. The whole pool can be made shallower, but incorporate a plunge pool where the drop will be. This would be what would happen on a natural river and would give the depth that the player boaters would need.

Its all about compromise!!

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 22:09:51 +0000

I have no probs with change, but, I do have a prob with the depth at 1.2m it will not be anyware deep anoth for squirt boaters, I myself am one and i have found no were better in the north for this tipe of paddle sport. For squirt boating you need two things, a currant and deepth which hpp have now but i am afrade that if these plans are given the go ahead we will lose the deepth. You have got to remember that unless hpp is running at 1/2 and above it’s capaticy it’s no so deep in some places.

By: hppconcern

hppconcern — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:58:09 +0000

Hi Richard,

Cheers for the feedback – it sounds like you’re as excited by these proposals as I’d like to be! I think that the main thing it shows is how much doubt and confusion this scheme is spreading.

I’m not going to try and answer back your comments on the plans because, frankly, your guess is as good as mine. We’re all just stabbing in the dark, and that’s no basis for making changes on this scale.

You’re right that working closely with World Class (as well as the BCU, Notts County Council, Leisure Connection and Sport England) is the way to go. That’s exactly what everyone wants – clear and open consultation.

But despite our best efforts, that’s not what we’re getting at the moment. We’re hoping that, through public support, we can bring all water users into the process.

Pete Cornes.

By: Richard

Richard — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:55:39 +0000

p.s. the plans say nothing of filling in the back channels, only that they will be blocked off by gates. I’m guessing that these gates can be opened as and when the use of the back channel is requested. Maybe they would do this on weekends when there are more lower ability recreational paddlers around.

Whoever had written this article really needs to either read the plans again or get someone to explain them.

By: Richard

Richard — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 14:53:09 +0000

As far as I’m aware no date has actually been set for starting the work. People have been guessing that it will be in November because the peak rafting season finishes at the end of October. As for the designs, this is actually the first time I have seen it myself, but I have had rough explanations of what is hoping to be done. Personally I think its all very exciting and should bring the course, that was designed about 10 years before it was even built, up to date.

I read through the article that you have linked to and I feel that the plans have been misinterpreted. Yes it says that all the concrete obsticals are to be removed, but they are all being replaced by the omnifloat system as shown by the red shapes in the river channel. The omnifloats come in various sizes and will mimic the old concrete blocks with the added benefit of being able to move them around to change the features. These features will not be limited to eddies as stated in the article, but can also be used to create waves and stoppers.

The depth issue is an interesting one. The simple fact is that in most places Nottingham is way to deep. The only place that the depth change will have any affect on playboaters is in the looping pool. However, the depth is said to be, on average, 1.2m. I’m almost certain that the looping pool is one of those areas that will be deeper than this and so cause no problems for boats that are actually not much longer than 1.2m!! In the pyramid pool there aren’t any features at the moment that would need any kind of depth for a playboater. As for the muncher section, I believe that it is already quite shallow in that hole for playboating and the depth is not being changed in that hole, just on the bit just after it next to the magic roundabout.

It was also mentioned about the shins of those people doing white water rescue courses, I think you’ll find that the first thing you learn is to swim on your back with your feet on the surface of the water, but lets face it, Nottingham will still be much safer than any natural river!

As for the issue of a lack of water power to flip rafts, that’s just ridiculous. The increase in gradient of the course along with the shallowing of the deep areas will increase the water flow, and so in theory, increase the water power.

As for the shallower ledges to slam your white water racer into, I simply don’t understand that statement.

I would suggest contacting World Class and have them explain the plans a little better to you.