Britain’s oldest river sailing club has claimed plans to develop the Surbiton filter beds could put its future at risk.

Hydro Property’s plans include 60 floating homes and a marina on the filter beds, a lock linking it with the river, and moorings for house boats and day visitors.

But the Thames Sailing Club, based near Harts Boatyard on Portsmouth Road, Surbiton, said the development would reduce the river’s navigable width.

This would create a dangerous cross-flow of river traffic along the narrowest and busiest stretches between Kingston Bridge and Hampton Court Bridge, it said.

Ian Pratt, on behalf of the club, said: “This would seriously jeopardise the safety of all river users and make continued, shared use extremely difficult.

“The club supports the creative rejuvenation of the Surbiton filter beds but not at the expense of the sport of sailing nor the safety and amenity of river users, local residents, the local community and the wider public.”

The club, founded in 1870, said its historic Thames A Rater vessels dating from Victorian times would be particularly threatened because of the extra room they need to manoeuvre.

Hydro Property said it had met with the Thames Sailing Club and other river users, some of whom supported its proposals, and its plans were not set in stone.

Stephen Byfield, of PPS, working on behalf of Hydro Properties, said: “There are genuine points and they are very strongly held.

“There’s a balance that needs to be struck, and I’m not sure where that will be yet.

“We want something that will lessen the impact on the sailing club. I suspect there’s a position that will narrow the river less and affect the club less.”

He said the formal planning application could be submitted in five or six week’s time.

The exhibition will take place at the Holiday Inn on Portsmouth Road, Surbiton on Friday, April 15, from 3pm to 8pm and Saturday, April 16, from 10am to 1pm.