BOURNEMOUTH’S 144-year-old rowing club has issued a plea for councillors not to leave it homeless.

Carl McCrudden and Nick Rose of Westover and Bournemouth Rowing Club, spoke before Bournemouth’s cabinet as councillors considered eight seafront locations that should be redeveloped over the next five years.

The club’s site is the top priority on the list.

The council wants the club either to pay the market rate for the facilities by Bournemouth Pier or move somewhere else so the site can be leased out.

Club president Mr McCrudden said the club had been given a notice to quit the site in the next two weeks.

“We are the oldest sporting club in Dorset, founded in 1865,” he said. “It’s not just about the heritage of the club.

“Almost everybody has used the club or benefited from the club.

“We have been investing in the future over the last 10 years.”

They had looked at moving into what is currently the toilet area, but this was a quarter of the size, an area of high flood risk and a flood barrier would be costly.

But the club’s ideas for their Durley Depot site included expanding so the boat house and club house also had a gym open to others, a restaurant and an open air restaurant with a cafe.

He said Christchurch had extended its boathouse this year and the club was aware grants and funds were available.

Cllr John Beesley said a number of steps were involved in the “capital gateway” process before the notice to quit came into effect.

He said a “very strong” business case would have to come forward from the club, to seek approval for funding for very scarce capital resources from the council.

Cllr Beesley said he understood the concerns being expressed by residents Dr and Mrs Cremin about plans for the Middle Chine area.

He said those plans were further down their priority list and would be subject to public consultation.