Plans to build a £2 million boathouse in a Marlow park to replace school rowers’ current “atrocious” boat launch have been submitted.

If given the green light, the plans will provide somewhere for rowers at Sir William Borlase’s and Great Marlow School to store their equipment.

The boathouse, in Gossmore Park, has been branded a “true community project” by the Marlow and District Schools Boathouse Trust, which submitted the application.

In the design and access statement, they wrote: “This is very much a true community project bringing together the towns two secondary schools to share in an exciting and successful sports activity for which Marlow is renowned.”

The schools currently use the field at Longridge, which Rick Krajewski, who is on the committee behind the plans, called “atrocious”, and said that while it was inexpensive, as a boat launch in anything other than sunny dry weather it is “rubbish”.

Fergus Murison, head of rowing at Great Marlow School, said: “We have reached the point where investment in the future of the sport is essential.

“Raising funds to build a boathouse on the Thames for our students deserves widespread support. This sort of investment and vision encourages social mobility and equips young people from all backgrounds to compete at the highest levels both in sport and in all aspects of society. 

“It is also possible that if a permanent boathouse cannot be found then rowing for both schools may become unsustainable.” 

In the design and access statement, the Marlow and District Schools Boathouse Trust said that several sites have been “carefully considered” for the venture over the years, and finding a suitable site for a boathouse close to Marlow has proven “difficult”.

They said: “The location has to be within walking distance of both schools and have unhindered access to the river with a riverbank area suitable for landing stages for boating and unrestricted vehicle access for boat trailers and some parking.

“Over the past fourteen years or more several sites have been carefully considered, nearly all of them on the north (Buckinghamshire) side of the river but for various reasons negotiations with landowners, residents and local or highway authorities meant none have progressed satisfactorily.

“The current set up at Longridge is very makeshift and is not acceptable for the welfare of the children or the equipment in the long term.”

They added that it has been costing more than £20,000 a year in excess maintenance, while athletes do not have their own toilet and changing facilities.

A neighbour, Kerry Bentley, supported the application, saying: “It is great to see this investment into a facility that promotes sport to our Marlow youths and carries on the heritage of rowing in our town.

“I hope it can also be extended to other schools where many of our Marlow children attend such as Wycombe High, John Hampden and RGS [Royal Grammar School].”

Peter Holding, headmaster at Borlase’s, said: “Securing a permanent home for school rowing will create transformative opportunities and inspire excellence among local children for generations.”

The plans are expected to be debated at Marlow Town Council’s planning meeting on Tuesday next week and a decision is expected to be made by Wycombe District Council on November 8.

What do you think of the plans? Let us know in the comments below or email shruti.sheth@london.newsquest.co.uk.