UPTON Rowing Club's dream of a top class water sports facility being homed by the town have taken a blow, leaving its members "disappointed".

A lake will be created on flood meadows near Upton after company Cemex UK has completed its eight year extraction project on the site. It is hoped six professional standard racing lanes will be created on the subsequent water spot.

The club were dependent on Cemex UK extending the boundaries it will source materials from, which would create a lake large enough to achieve the dream.

However, it has already submitted its planning application for the work to the county council- without the required boundary extensions.

The outcome of the application is still pending.

Peter Barker, of Upton Rowing Club, said: "We are encouraged by the response we have had from the authorities, including Upton town council, the county council, planning officers and everyone else in the town who are in support of creating the racing facility.

"We are disappointed with this revelation, but we will not give up on the dream and will continue to push for it."

Ideally, 1km of open water would be created in order to accommodate the racing lanes.

A spokesman for the company said it is "sympathetic" to the club's aims, and will work with interested parties to see if the dream can be realised in the future.

If the planning application is accepted, there will be a three year period in which the plans could be revised, meaning hope is not lost for the club.

Ian Southcott, of Cemex UK, said: "The company is extremely sympathetic to the aims of the club. However, it is apparent these aims and our requirements are not currently aligned.

"There is scope to create a shorter course, but either length could only be accommodated if the proposed restoration was substantially revised.

"We would be extremely reluctant to revise the working and restoration schemes at this stage, given that this work would lead to a significant delay in the application’s determination.

"We would happily to be part of a group of interested parties seeking to progress the rowing course concept, but in the short term we must focus on maintaining our current business."

As well as the racing lanes it is hoped the lake could be used for wind-surfing, kayaking and a number of other water sports too.

The club also plans to use the spot as a teaching facility, if the work goes ahead.