COWDENBEATH Area Committee has thrown out a request from St Andrews University Boat Club to lease ground which would allow a shed to be constructed at Lochore Meadows Country Park to house craft belonging to students.

The Boat Club has been using the Meadows' loch for three years for practice purposes and pays a fee of £500 for this.

Wednesday's Area Committee heard that the Boat Club wanted to provide community rowing opportunities at the Meadows and the University would aim to build their shed on land leased from Fife Council beside the Outdoor Education Centre.

The Club backed up their request for a lease with a document which outlined that they would have a four year pathway connected with the project and the overall idea was to have community rowing programmes undertaken at the Meadows.

The Community Programme would, the Club stated, require extra equipment to be stored at the park in the Boat Shed, such as stability boats and oars, and this could not start until the equipment was available. There would also be an Open Boat Club which people would join at a cost per annum of £350 for an adult and £200 for juniors.

Also before councillors was a response from Benarty Community Council which contended that there was 'no benefit to the community from any proposals put forward by the boat club'.

Their conclusion was: "The document is entitled 'The provision of Community Rowing' but does everything it can to exclude the community by pricing and conditions.

"The proposals from the University of St Andrews Boat Club are not acceptable and in no way provide any benefit to the community in return for a boat shed built at Lochore Meadows and should be fully rejected."

The committee members tended to agree with the community council stance.

Vice chair Rosemary Liewald said: "When I first heard of the proposal I felt it was something that could provide huge opportunities for young people, but the pricing structure is not something that would be sustainable in our area. They really need to think again."

Councillor Alex Campbell agreed: "£350 for a membership fee is totally ridiculous", which was echoed by Councillor Lea McLelland and youth member Bailey-Lee Robb.

Councillor Alistair Bain added: "I went to a regatta and spoke to Boat club people and it was suggested then that they could do a lot for us, but this is very disappointing."

Chair, Linda Erskine, said: "The Boat Club's response is suggesting very little commitment to community benefit."

The committee agreed to oppose the lease proposal.