CALSTOCK'S thriving rowing club is looking to expand its facilities and has highlighted the parish quay as the perfect place to do it — if parish councillors agree.

At present, the club, which boasts almost 100 members, has a storage shed at the back of the village hall, but after acquiring two new boats alone this year, that is no longer adequate.

The club has written to Calstock Parish Council asking for permission to take over the parish quay and develop a clubhouse and pontoon.

Chairman Mark Reynolds said the quay, also know as 'Steamers' Quay', was only occasionally used when steamers came up the river.

'It's a bit of a vacant space really but if we could put new facilities there, which could be used by the whole village, and launch our boats directly from the quay it would bring an underused area back into use,' he said.

Mr Reynolds said part of the reason for wanting a clubhouse was that it would comply with child protection legislation and children would be able to be contained within a safe area, but it would also give the club a base as it was now one of the major rowing clubs in the area.

'We have a lot of younger members and they need a safe area rather than running around on the village green.

'It would also give us more opportunities to do things in the winter. We have just acquired a new plastic boat that allows us to turn out in the winter and with indoor facilities we can work on fitness and training.'

Calstock Rowing Club has been in existence for more than 100 years and Mr Reynolds said club members were looking to the future with this expansion so it could carry on the strong rowing history of the village.

Club treasurer Steve Gentry said that with several boats, life-jackets and outdoor motors, the shed at the back of the village hall was overflowing.

'We have had to store boats elsewhere, which makes it difficult,' he said.

'The club has enjoyed a lot of success this year and we want to give the kids, which make up 50 per cent of the club, something for the future.

'Cargreen Sailing Club constructed a purpose-built buidling several years ago and we feel we could do the same if we could get the land.

'At present this is a preliminary investigation to see what the views of the parish councillors are.'

Calstock Parish Council at its meeting on Tuesday night deferred the item to the moorings committee for discussion.