THE controversial scheme to build a new watersports base in an area of outstanding natural beauty in the Tamar Valley has hit a major obstacle — despite being granted conditional consent by planners in October. Weir Quay Community Watersports Hub Club's project would have seen a boat park, boatshed, engine store and associated works created on land adjacent to South Tamar Mine, by the River Tamar.

But to gain full planning consent, all ownership parties were required to sign a section 106 agreement within three months, relinquishing the use of the existing boat and gig club facility.

The agreement was imposed by West Devon Borough Council planners in an attempt to control the detrimental impacts of intensification of the use of the land within such a sensitive area.

Planning officer Ben Dancer, in a report to next week's meeting of the planning committee, said: 'It has been confirmed by the applicants that there is no possibility for all the required parties to sign the S106.

'The application will be refused consent, in line with the original terms of the resolution.'

Mike Street, secretary of the Hub Club, said: 'A small section of the current dinghy park is owned by Mt Edgumbe estate, and they have refused to be a party to the agreement or to sell the land.

'This has long been known to West Devon and we had assumed that our contention that this excluded area of land would become isolated, with no practical access for boats, and that it was on its own inadequate to support the clubs' activities, had been accepted as a compromise solution.'

Mr Street said that in November, planning officers suggested the matter be referred to the planning committee, so it could consider whether a partial S106 agreement would be acceptable.

Mr Street said: 'The Hub Club was informed, just two days before Christmas, that this was no longer the case — the planning officer is now to report to the January meeting that the application is to be refused.

'With a vote at the October meeting of eight to one in favour of granting permission, and from comments made by committee members, it was very clear that they wished to see the Watersports Club project succeed.

'The non-inclusion of the small area of Mt Edgcumbe land in the S106 agreement seems to us a very minor issue, and it can surely not be the council's intention to force the closure of two thriving and viable community sports clubs, the sailing club and the gig club, at this time just because of this?'

A spokesman for the Mt Edgcumbe estate was unavailable for comment due to the Christmas break.

A spokesperson for West Devon Borough Council said: 'Unfortunately, the applicants were given incorrect information as to the process of the application going before the planning committee next week and we apologise for any confusion this may have caused.

'We have suggested that we will, of course, be prepared to consider a revised S106, but this must be with a new planning application so that all new details will be in the public domain.

'This particular planning application has attracted a great deal of attention from people living within the community and any changes to the application and S106 must be consulted upon openly.'

News of the refusal recommendation has been welcomed by the Friends of Weir Quay.

A spokesman for the Friends said: 'The S106 is an important requirement which seeks to avoid intensification of use in environmentally sensitive areas.

'In relation to Weir Quay it prevents more and more use of the riverside for boat storage. For the future the two clubs will have the use of most of the yard and the Edgcumbe dinghy park, ensuring club activities can continue.

'With regard to the S106, Mt Edgcumbe Estates informed us they had made it perfectly clear as early as January 2012 that the estate would never sign such an agreement.

'Knowing the situation, the Hub Club should have withdrawn their application last January.'

The spokesman said the long drawn-out planning issue had placed a 'large burden' on council tax payers at a time of financial constraints.