A HISTORIC sailing centre will be put at risk by proposals to build homes, a planning inquiry heard.

The commodore of West Mersea Yacht Club spoke out against plans to redevelop part of Peter Clarke’s Boatyard, in Coast Road.

William Wyatt, which owns the land, wants to demolish an old workshop, which faces the road, and build three flats.

It is bidding to get the entire site designated as suitable for residential use, to help it gain planning consent in the future.

The inquiry, at Colchester Town Hall, was told the scheme could start a “domino effect”, which could see traditional coast-al industries gradually replaced by housing.

Yacht club chief Nick Glanvill said: “The reason Mersea is a successful sailing centre is because you can come ashore and visit the chandlers and sailmakers and have a drink at the yacht club. Everything is there in one place.

“To lose any facilities in West Mersea could be the death blow.”

Clive Richardson, representing William Wyatt, said the boatyard had signed a lease until 2030 on the rest of the site, so there was no risk of further redevelopment beyond the workshop itself.

He said the building was in poor condition and no one was interested in taking it over. Plans to convert it into shops, or smaller units for boat repair companies, had also proved fruitless.

Mr Richardson added: “Our research has shown residential development is the only commercially-viable option.”

He claimed West Mersea had declined as a yachting centre, as larger boats could now use marinas at Tollesbury, Bradwell and in Tendring.

Owners of smaller craft did not have the cash to support more marine stores or repair yards, he said.

The boatyard has been earmarked as suitable for employment use only, in Colchester Council’s local development framework, the blueprint for building in the borough over the coming decades.

William Wyatt was trying to get the ruling overturned by giving its evidence at the inquiry, which was a last chance for companies to have their say before the framework is set in stone.

Planning inspector Terence Kenman-Lane will announce his findings at a later date.