A VALE watersports club has voiced fears that controversial Environment Agency plans for river-borne safety barriers are being forced through the planning process.

After a meeting with agency officials, members of Wychavon Kayak and Canoe Club were upset that the plans, for barriers at Evesham, Fladbury, Chadbury and Wyre Piddle, as well as at Nafford, had not been withdrawn.

And after the first of the planning applications, for a safety barrier at Welford, won approval, kayak club chairman Adam Hall restated the club's objections.

Mr Hall said: "Although the Environment Agency were quite open to suggestions they have not actually withdrawn the planning applications.

"With the Welford planning application granted, I'm concerned this will pass through Wychavon District Council without being given the consideration it deserves."

The agency wants to put the safety barriers in place to stop boats getting into trouble by drifting into weirs. But the plans have raised protests from pleasure boat cruisers who say their business will be affected and from the owners of the historic Cropthorne Mill hotel at Fladbury, who say the barrier is an eyesore that will also affect their trade.

Now the canoe club has voiced its opposition, saying the barriers pose a safety risk to canoes, which could become trapped against them, and prevent access to weirs as well as being unsightly.

"I understand that the Environment Agency has belatedly committed to consultation with local canoe clubs but in the meantime could I please urge people to review the planning applications," added Mr Hall.

The applications for Evesham, Fladbury, Chadbury and Wyre Piddle were set to be decided by a Wychavon planning officer without going to a planning meeting at the time of going to press. Decisions under delegated powers on these applications were due yesterday.