A MASTERPLAN for a clubhouse development at Rhu Marina has been withdrawn more than three years after it was submitted to council officers.
Officials from the Royal Northern and Clyde Yacht Club (RNCYC) made the application for approval to Argyll and Bute Council in April 2023.
The club planned to relocate from its premises in Rhu to a new clubhouse on the marina site, saying that costs were proving prohibitive.
But the authority has reported that the proposal has been withdrawn, with no confirmation as to whether a new masterplan will be lodged.
One neutral representation had been received by the council from the public during the time that the plans were active.
The masterplan said in April 2023: “RNCYC plans to relocate from its current premises in Rhu to a new clubhouse to be erected on the RNCYC area at the marina.
“Its current premises are no longer fit for its purposes, being a large Victorian listed building, with inadequate access to the water for, particularly, youth training and dinghy sailing, an area of activity which the club needs to develop and expand.
“It can only do that from purpose-built premises and facilities at the marina. The cost of maintaining, repairing, insuring and heating and lighting etc the listed building is simply prohibitive, and has caused the club to be in an annual loss-making position in recent years.
“Unless the club moves to more suitable premises at the marina, with a purpose-built slipway and boat parking area, it is inevitable that in the not very distant future the club will have to close its doors and cease to exist. Almost 200 years of yachting history on the Clyde will be lost.
“There would also be implications in that event in respect of the saving of the listed building.”
An email from Simon Pender to Argyll and Bute Council, published by the authority on Monday, October 12, said: “This is to confirm, on behalf of the Royal Northern and Clyde Yacht Club, that the club wishes to withdraw its application for approval of a masterplan for Rhu Marina, meantime.”
