A FRESH plan to help resolve a long-running dispute over a boat store has been rejected by a sailing club for the disabled.

Award-winning Sailability was granted permission for a boathouse on the lakeside at Rudyard after a public inquiry.

But Rudyard Lake Ltd, a company set up to manage the lake, is refusing to allow it to be built, because the firm says it is too big and will spoil the picturesque lake.

Ray Perry, the man at the helm of Rudyard Lake Ltd, has now drawn up his own plan for an alternative site for the store, near the car park at the dam head area of the lake.

Sailability has dismissed the proposal, saying it is in the middle of a car park and would be unsafe for volunteers and sailors.

Members say it is a delaying tactic aimed at forcing them off the lake.

The club is facing planning enforcement action next February to stop them using existing temporary facilities.

The action will see the temporary store demolished which supporters fear could lead to the closure of the club.

Chairman Dennis Priebe, pictured, said: "We have seen the new plans. It is an idea that was dismissed some time ago. It is absolutely nonsensical.

"At the end of the day, it is delaying tactics to get us evicted from the site. We are determined to win. We have got planning permission."

The charity is meeting the Minister for Marine and Natural Environment, Huw Irranca-Davies, next week in a new bid to resolve the dispute.

But Mr Perry, who has submitted his plan to British Waterways which owns the lake, called on Sailability to consider the proposal.

He said: "We have listened to the needs of Sailability and have come up with a suggestion which we have floated to British Waterways as a mediator in the hope of appeasing everyone concerned. We believe an extension to the current toilet block would suffice and be more efficient and practical. We think this would answer many of the current issues.

"We all want to be very careful not to drive the wedge between us any further. We are trying to do as much as we can to break the impasse.

"I am concerned that is has now become a political hot potato.

"But I do not know of any problem which cannot be resolved with a little bit of give and take. I hope my suggestion will be taken on board. Let us try to find a solution."

Sailability won the support of a Government inspector after Staffordshire Moorlands District Council rejected the plan for a new boat store three times.

Work had been due to start on the building in September and one third of the £300,000 total cost has already been raised.

Sailability has been awarded centre of excellence status and its facilities are being considered as a venue for the 2012 Paralympics.