MEMBERS of a sailing club which was kicked off Portishead's marina after using it for more than 50 years are stepping up their fight to get back on the water.

Portishead Yacht and Sailing Club, which was once based at the docks, has used the Parish Wharf end of the marina to train its cadets and other sailors for more than half a century.

But it was asked to move off in November 2006 to make way for building work being carried out as part of the multi-million pound regeneration of the docks.

When the building work was completed, the club, which is now based at Sugar Loaf Beach, asked dock developers Persimmon if it could return to the marina for its training exercises.

But developers said no and when the club contacted North Somerset Council for help it suggested they apply for a certificate of lawful use to allow it to resume training activities on the water.

Members of the club submitted an application for the licence in November last year, but 10 months later have still not received permission to use the marina.

Portishead Yacht and Sailing Club commodore Bob Curtis said: "It concerns us greatly that 10 months after we applied for the certificate we still haven't been issued with it.

"When we question North Somerset Council about why it has taken so long, the legal department blame it on the planners and visa versa.

"We feel that we are being constantly batted between different council departments.

"We have waited and waited and still no decision has been made."

Mr Curtis said the club, which launched in 1952 and has around 250 members, had seen a surge in people wanting to learn to sail as a result of the 2008 Olympics.

He added: "We have been training our young members on the lake at the Lake Grounds and have been renting the boathouse from North Somerset Council. But there are lots of teenagers and adults who want to learn to sail following the success of Team GB at the 2008 Olympics and we need to use the marina to do this.

"We have now enlisted the help of our local councillors and the Royal Yachting Association is also supporting us

"As a club we are champing at the bit to get back out on to the marina.

"Prior to the marina development, the residents of Portishead always had the right to navigate through the docks and to store boats at Parish Wharf.

"We want to retain this right, at least for training."

But despite the club claiming rights to use the docks, its owners, Persimmon, say this is not the case.

A spokesman for Persimmon Special Projects Western said: "Portishead Yacht and Sailing Club was allowed to train in the marina as a gesture of goodwill and it was only ever a temporary arrangement.

"When building work on the marina meant that activity could prove dangerous, they were asked to stop using the marina for their safety".

North Somerset Council spokesman, Nick Yates, said: "We are aware that this issue has been going on for a number of months, but we are still assessing the legal information the sailing club has provided us with."