The group behind planned new boating facilities alongside the river Wye in Hereford has reacted angrily to claims it doesn’t have to right to build them.

Made up of Hereford Sea Cadets, the neighbouring rowing and rugby clubs and the Leftbank Village development, Vaga Marine Services (VMS) proposed a new launching ramp in front of the cadets' base on the north bank of the river, 200 yards west of Greyfriars Bridge, along with two boating cranes.

Solicitors on behalf of Hereford and District Anglers Association (HDAA) have said that, as owners of the river bed in the city, it regarded VMS’ proposals as amounting to trespass, and said it would respond accordingly.

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VMS now says the anglers “appear to have given incorrect and misleading information” to their representatives Fish Legal over their claim, submitted as part of the planning process to approve the works.

Contrary to what it claimed, the HDAA had been consulted both before and during the application process, during which VMS had “listened to their concerns and the threat of legal action”, and in light of this had altered the ramp’s design “so as not to impact the river bed”.

The new facilities, intended to replace an “ageing” 150-year-old jetty, would not prevent the anglers’ access to the river here, VMS added.

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The “Wyeside Project” is one of 15 schemes under the £22-million Stronger Hereford programme to boost the city’s cultural, recreational and learning facilities.

But VMS now claims that the anglers “do not want anybody to use the river for recreational training or other pastime use”.

A Hereford Sea Cadets spokesperson said: “For many years we and the other water users have suffered horrible aggression and verbal abuse from the anglers which has necessitated calling the police.

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“It would appear that the anglers just want everyone off the water and will do anything to achieve this.”

VMS has also claimed that a forthcoming planning application by the anglers association to build more fishing platforms on the same stretch of the Wye would cause further environmental damage to it.

HDAA has been approached for comment on VMS’ claims.