OPPONENTS to a planning application for a watersports centre at Weir Quay claim that a new proposal is still insensitive for an ANOB site (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty).

Residents are concerned that the 'wow' factor of the landscape at this beauty spot, which is frequented by walkers, locals and visitors, not just watersports enthusiasts, will be lost.

But the group behind the plans says that with a lease on facilities for the Tamar and Tavy Gig Club being withdrawn in October and continued use of the outer boat park uncertain, the future of the gig club and Weir Quay Sailing Club, which have 350 members between them, is under threat.

Alterations from the original plan include the removal of a car parking area which would be visible from the road and an outboard engine store and a new 'visually improved' entrance area.

A petition against the scheme organised in Bere Alston has been signed by more than 800 people.

Mary Logan, a member of the Friends of Weir Quay, which is opposing the application said: 'There are only five AONBs in Devon. Both sides of the river at this spot are untouched, if you start nibbling away at them you start getting piecemeal development.

'People go to Weir Quay to ride, walk and just sit there and take in the beauty of this open and tranquil place.'

The Friends of Weir Quay have questioned the need for the development, saying many other gig clubs managed adequately without gig stores.

The proposed site was about 100 metres from the public hard, said the friends, and dinghies and gigs manhandled along the road, which had a blind bend at the lime kiln, would delay traffic. The proposed entrance was at an acute angle allowing poor lines of sight and in their opinion a road accident was inevitable.

A four-metre wide embankment from the entrance to the top of the field, providing a use for the soil created by the build, and to be referred to as a Devon hedge, would be 'an eyesore' and 18 metres of mature hedge would be lost. Many aspects of the application, being above the existing bank, would be visible, they said.

The watersports group said it had paid close attention to local concerns but inevitably it would not please everyone.

'We concluded that the amended plan best meets the practical long term needs of the sailing and gig clubs for boat storage near the public hard and best takes account of some, but not all, local concerns,' said member Mike Poole.

He said various ideas had been suggested, including West Devon Borough Council compulsory purchasing the existing boat parking areas, obviating the need for this new site.

'Our understanding is that this is extremely unlikely if not impossible. Meanwhile the sailing and gig clubs expect to have nowhere to keep their boats from this coming October.

'Neither club wanted to be in this position in the first place. Should a better, realistic and practical alternative solution become available we would be delighted. However, we see no evidence that it will.'