BEFORE long there will be a new marina on the Nene at Earls Barton, with it planned to be connected to the river on the 26th of this month.
White Mills Marina will of course have floating pontoons, being on the river, with the filling of the marina expecting to take two days, then after this, there will be an Open Weekend on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th November from 10am to 4pm, to give visitors the opportunity of seeing for themselves how the marina will look filled up with water and with the floating pontoons installed.
Accepting boats
Work on White Mills Marina began at the beginning of July this year, and will be able to start accepting boats in time for the Winter moorings season at the beginning of November.
Commenting on the much anticipated cut-through, Marina Manager Chris Dixon explained:
"The one question everyone has asked at our Open Days is ‘when are you cutting through?' Cutting through to a river to flood a marina is not an everyday occurrence so I can understand totally why people are so interested."
Berths already reserved
Throughout the development White Mills has hosted a number of open weekends, and we are told that 10% of the berths have already been reserved.
With its wide access to the broad locked river and its range of floating pontoons White Mills Marina is capable of accommodating narrowboats, wide beams and cruisers.
Each boat will have access to water and electricity direct to its mooring, and WiFi will be available throughout the site. In addition, the facilities available to boaters will include, ladies and gents showers and toilets, disabled shower and toilet, laundry room, basic chandlery supplies as well as fuel, pump out and Elsan disposal.
Living aboard
Adds Chris, pictured, who will be living aboard his 58t narrowboat Bees Knees with his wife Wendy:
"It has been difficult for visitors to imagine what the marina will look like once it is full of water, so we are very pleased to have secured 10% of the moorings already. Filling up the marina cannot come soon enough; it is going to look terrific."
Further information is available by calling Chris on 07802 890874.