THE project to create a new watersports centre on the Bere Peninsula is moving forward, after clearing three major hurdles in the run up to a planning application.

Weir Quay Community Watersports Hub Club has now set up a new website, which went live last week.

The public as well as members of Tamar and Tavy Gig Club and Weir Quay Sailing Club can now read all about the plans to create a joint watersports facility for the two homeless clubs at http://www.wqwatersports.org.uk">www.wqwatersports.org.uk

The project has also succeeded in becoming a registered charity, and now the funding target for Phase 1 has been achieved. This means the charity now has enough money to buy the site next to the public slipway at Weir Quay, if planning permission is granted.

Peter Key who chairs Weir Quay Watersports said: 'Now we are really getting to the exciting stage.

'On the website we explain what the project is all about. Member of the two watersports clubs and local residents have asked many questions about the project. Some have real doubts. We can now address these as well as keeping everyone informed as the project moves forward‚ and continues to be shaped by what local people say.'

Peter said achieving charity status had been an important aim for several reasons.

'It gives everyone great assurance that the project is going to be properly run,' said Peter.

'Secondly it opens up a range of grant funding only open to charities, as well as bringing more certainty to future benefits.

'And thirdly, most importantly, it has already enabled us to secure £5,000 from the Dulverton Trust through Devon Community Foundation, and a legacy for a similar amount which depended on us becoming a charity. This means we are in a position to buy the land. Raising that money was probably the biggest hurdle of all.'

An ongoing appeal to club members for cash donations has, with Gift Aid, raised some £20,000. A debut concert for the local community by 'Bere Ukes and Friends' recently raised £1,255.

Peter said: 'With grants from Devon County Council, West Devon Borough Council, and the AONB, as well as some smaller gifts and donations from the local community, we are now turning our thoughts to raising the money needed for Phase 2.

'This will be to make the site usable for boating activities, including outdoor storage areas for dinghies and tenders, and a dry boat shed for the gigs and sail training gear.'

Much further into the future, as a third phase, the Hub Club hopes to build a clubhouse with toilets, showers, and a room that can be used for small social events, training and lectures. A separate planning application will be made for that phase.

Peter said: 'At the moment we are concentrating on preparing our application for planning permission for the site. We hope to apply at the end of June.

'A huge amount of work and discussion has gone into this. We have taken advice from many agencies and listened carefully to the concerns of local residents, and hope our plans demonstrate a shared concern to preserve the very special nature of Weir Quay.

'We have said we will not start work on the Phase 2 until we have enough money to complete it. We will know how much is needed when we have more information from our architect and engineers and see whether conditions are attached in granting planning permission.

'Our working estimate is some £72,000 to make an entrance, prepare the outdoor storage areas, build the boat shed and bring water and electricity supplies onto the site.

'It is brilliant news that we have reached this stage when the Hub Club was only formed in November 2010, and exciting that we can now be turning attention to the next phase of our work.'