Jan sees the light on floating centre
Therapist Jan van der Elsen has applied to moor a converted lightship on the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal near the historic priory.
Jan, who is a reiki master and teacher, said the idea for a floating therapy centre came to him during meditation.
He said: “We were meditating one day and the word ‘lightship’ came to me.
“I was doing automatic writing and that is what came up.”
Jan, 50, said Gloucester Docks was an obvious choice to moor the ship.
He said: “The main reason is we think it will benefit Gloucester and the place has a good energy.
“The Docks are very central and unique. There is a lot of development and we think our business will blend in very nicely.
“The whole area is just right for us. We looked at other places but Gloucester worked best.”
The application submitted by Jan and his wife Agnes, 53, would see a 50-year-old lightship brought to the Docks.
Lightships are traditionally used as ‘floating navigational aids’ and are equipped with bright light to warn ships of hazards like sandbanks and submerged rock formations.
The couple’s vessel is currently undergoing renovation at Sharpness Docks to transform it from a floating lighthouse to a therapy centre.
Jan said: “Between us we have many years of experience in complementary medicine.
“This will be totally different to other centres, we will also have a shop alongside the treatment areas.”
He said the development of Gloucester Docks and Quays meant this was an exciting time to plan a business in the area.
In the application submitted to Gloucester City Council, he said: “Our lightship project will fit perfectly with the current renovation of the Docks and Quays, aiming to revitalise this essential part of the city and to attract tourism and commercial development.”
The application, which was submitted earlier this week, will now be considered by the city council’s planning department.
For more information on the project visit www.lightshiptherapies.net.
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