Watersports clubs urge approval for new Tyne boathouse

It is the venue of one of the biggest annual rowing regattas in Britain and the country's largest canoeing event, Tyne Tour.

But the boathouse is now in a dilapidated state and does not have the storage room required by the clubs - preventing them taking on new members.

A bid for £150,000 funding from Sports England has been made by the clubs, while the remaining £300,000 for the project would come from the council as landowner and the party responsible for the proposed development.

Last night, captain of the rowing club George Doody, said it was vital the planning applications for the replacement boathouse are approved.

He said: "All three clubs have been thriving and have basically outgrown the facilities. If there was not a new facility, I do not know what the future would hold."

The applications are for the construction of a steel framed portal boathouse and change of use of an existing cafe to boat club pavilion, and conservation area consent for demolition of the existing boathouse.

The council's planning committee is being advised to give conditional approval to both bids at its meeting on Thursday.

The first proposal has met with an objection from the council's senior conservation officer, who is opposed to the colours proposed, and claims the design would be more in keeping with "an industrial estate than a pleasant country park".

But Mr Doody said: "If you are going to have watersports facilities the only place you can put them is next to a river."