A BOATYARD operator, whose business is threatened by the development of the South side of Brentford High Street, has vowed to fight the development plans, claiming that newly created legislation by the GLA could prevent the long awaited scheme from going ahead.

While the controversial application by Brentford Town Centre Ltd to create a restaurant and cinema complex south of the High Street has already been granted planning approval by the council, parts of the area to be developed have since been turned into a conservation area - which means that the plan will need additional consent, and is due to be submitted within the next two weeks.

Nigel Moore, of Ridgeway Boatyard, believes that recently created planning guidance by the GLA called the Blue Ribbon Network will give his boatyard the necessary protection to cause deep problems for the development to be given the go-ahead.

Previous applications have suggested a redevelopment of the inter-tidal basin around which his yard operates to make it non-tidal, but this appears contrary to the Blue Ribbon network, which gives protection to such areas - due to the environmental impact of developing them. Many rare species of bird and insect survive only around inter-tidal environments - including the endangered German Hairy snail and Two Lipped Door snails that are also protected under Hounslow council's own policies.

Mr Moore, who is a stakeholder representative on the board that put together the Blue Ribbon guidance, told the Times: "Brentford Town Centre are adamant that the boatyard must go, but there is no other location for us to go to, as the other docks aren't tidal. This would also mean that smaller boats would find it harder to be repaired, as they are less suited to the other, larger docks.

"The last plan BTC put in runs against council policy that there will be no infilling of sites such as this and also goes against environment agency advice for destroying wetlands.

"The plan will change nearly half an acre of inter-tidal habitat into an unnatural basin. At the moment it's a sanctuary for breeding birds."

The basin is the oldest operating in Brentford, and shows up on maps dating back to 1777.

Mr Moore has had sympathies expressed by the Isleworth Community Group, which also makes up part of the relevant planning body - the Isleworth and Brentford area committee.

Cllr Phil Andrews of the Isleworth Community Group, said: "I have every sympathy with the river community and the canalside industry, which has existed there for generations. Permission was granted to the developers with indecent haste to inflict this project on the people of Brentford. I am all for regeneration where it is sympathetic to the local amenity, but this will completely distort the historic character of Brentford."

Chris Atherton, on behalf of developers BTC, however, slated Mr Moore's suggestions as rumours and untruths': "We have worked closely with the boating community, and have offered Mr Moore alternative sites. Our application meets all policy documents."

He added that he was confident that conservation area consent would be given when the new plan was unveiled.

There are other companies yet to sell the necessary property to BTC - including the Twickenham plating company. Managing Director David Hill, said that the company was not hostile to selling their property, but would have to be offered an alternative site in Hounslow.

The council said they would take the Blue Ribbon guidance into account.