A row has erupted at North Queensferry harbour as the local boat club fears for its future.
Members of North Queensferry Boat Club have claimed they could be evicted from their home at the harbour if the long-term lease of the site is given to North Queensferry Community Trust (NQCT).
Both North Queensferry Harbour Trust (NQHT), which was established by the boat club, and NQCT were invited by Fife Council to submit plans for the harbour area, and NQCT is the preferred bidder.
The council is yet to confirm who will take over the lease.
David Stewart, North Queensferry Boat Club chairman, urged councillors not to support NQCT and claimed there were “serious irregularities” in its proposals.
“The NQCT committee’s plans are to decimate the space for the boat club and at the moment we use every available space,” Mr Stewart said.
“The NQCT chairman is a QC and we do not have the legal expertise to know our rights if the NQCT decide to evict us and as there are no suitable alternative premises in the area, this may cause the disbandment of a club that has lasted for 60 years.”
When contacted by The Courier, NQCT said it was prepared to hold talks with the boat club to resolve issues. However, the club has refused to meet NQCT.
Mr Stewart added: “If they become landlords we will talk to them because then they would be a legal entity. We’re not going to be bullied into talking to people who at this minute have no standing.”
Iain Mitchell, who chairs NQCT, said the group would help to secure the future of the boat club by sub-letting harbour space to it on a long-term basis, in contrast to the short-term arrangements the club has with the council.
“The community trust would certainly wish to reassure boat club members that they are not going to be forced out, that the area for boats will actually be expanded and the boat club, for the first time in a long time, would be offered a security of tenure,” Mr Mitchell said.
“The plans involve setting up a harbour users’ group to take care of the day-to-day running of the harbour, on which we would hope the boat club would be represented.
“We are always willing and able to talk to them, although we recognise at the moment it may be premature to enter into detailed discussions.”
Mike Thorpe from structural services said: “In 2005 Fife Council agreed in principle to consider a long-term lease of the harbour to a community-based company or trust with the aim of regeneration.
“However, no single community entity has evolved and there are now two formally constituted ‘trusts’ in existence.
“To move matters forward the council invited both parties to make independent submissions last summer and present their vision and plans for the harbour area.
“In November both parties were advised that the NQCT was selected as the preferred bidder and that the council would begin discussions with them on a long-term lease and to develop a business plan.
“At present, these negotiations remain ongoing and no decision has yet been taken by any committee of Fife Council regarding the transfer of ownership or sole rights to manage and maintain the harbour.”