Cotswold Water Park Society

Current Projects

There have been plans on paper to convert Cleveland Lakes into a nationally important rowing centre for almost 40 years.

This flagship project will provide paddle-sport facilities for everyone. The Cleveland complex will also contain a massive nature reserve which will be the most important site for wildlife in the region. The northern section of the site will be designated as a nature reserve and will be kept free from human disturbance to protect shy wildlife.
We?re planning to install carefully screened paths and hides allowing visitors to get close to nature, and to develop attractive walks linking to the Thames Trail.

There are plans for a regional, national and international training and competition flat-water course for paddle-sports. The Society is looking at the feasibility of extending the proposed course to 2,000 metres. This would mean that Cleveland Lakes would be one of the few courses in the UK which meets international standards and would be one of the few facilities in the South West with the potential to become part of the London 2012 Olympics as a training venue for Olympic rowing and canoeing crews.

Cleveland Lakes will open in stages over the next few years.

A vital element of the development of rowing and dragon boat racing at Cleveland Lakes will be encouraging its use by local residents. Neither of these two sports have clubs in the area so the Society has been involved in helping set up two new clubs that will have use of the course when it opens. Local clubs are already being established in different paddle sports to take advantage of the new course. The Cleveland complex, however, will be open to everyone - regardless of age or ability.

For the latest developments at Cleveland, including the addition of a stunning artist designed bird hide and new interpretation, see the Aggregates Levy project

BUSA Sprints Regatta, April 2008

The Cotswold Water Park Society and British Universities Sports Association are delighted to have held the first rowing regatta in the Cotswold Water Park.

This year?s event was organised by the WAGS region of the ARA and was hosted at Keynes Country Park on a cold and windy Sunday in April.

The reason for holding this sprints event in the Cotswold Water Park is to support the continued development of Cleveland Lakes, near Ashton Keynes (just a few miles down the road) into a multi-lane regatta course.

Cleveland Lakes is still an active gravel extraction site but restoration commenced in 2007 to create an initial 1,500m course which in future phases can to be upgraded to a full 2,000m FISA B course.

Once landscaping has been completed and there is access to a useable stretch to water we hope to be able to hold regattas at Cleveland Lakes.

Cotswold Rowing Club is the prospective host club at Cleveland Lakes and will be rowing on a temporary basis on this regatta lake from May 2008.

Download BUSA regatta information (PDF, 146kb)