PEOPLE living in the Weir Quay area are being asked to make their views known on a proposal to build a £400,000 watersports centre at the picturesque River Tamar site.

Weir Quay Community Watersports Hub Club was formed last year with the aim of providing a new base for the Tamar and Tavy Gig Club and Weir Quay Sailing Club.

The Hub Club is raising funds to buy land close to the public hard at Weir Quay and is expected to make a planning application to West Devon Borough Council shortly.

The club hopes to build a small clubhouse and boat park facilities on greenfield land, which would be managed by volunteers from the community. The facilities would be available for watersports enthusiasts and others who appreciate the area for its birds and wildlife, such as artists and photographers.

Now The Friends of Weir Quay, representing the people of the Bere Peninsula and formed to protect the quay area against inappropriate commercial development, wants to hear the views of residents, ahead of any relevant planning hearing.

Geoff Moss, FOWQ liaison officer, said: 'We want to find out what people really think about what's being planned.

'It's a highly sensitive and protected area, but the Friends of Weir Quay can't really have a mandate until they know what the people of the area really want.'

Mr Moss said the land in question was part of an area of outstanding natural beauty, was next to a site of special scientific interest, in a conservation area and part of the World Heritage Site.

He said the friends group wanted to hear from everyone in the area — whether they objected totally to any development at all, or whether they supported the plans under strictly controlled conditions.

'We would like to know what the majority of people think, before it gets to the formal planning stage,' he said.

Contact Geoff Moss of the Friends of Weir Quay on 01822 841393, email [email protected]">[email protected] or write to FOWQ, The Counthouse, Weir Quay, PL20 7BT.

Robin Musgrave, of the hub club, said the club had organised two consultation events attended by more than 150 people, and had also organised a questionnaire, in which 85% of the respondents were in favour of the watersports centre plan.

Mr Musgrave said: 'We are still working with architects on the appearance of the proposed centre and we are hoping a planning application will be submitted later this month.'