BITTERLY disputed plans to moor a floating restaurant at the river in Ely may still go ahead, despite reports the project had been shelved. Lilija Povepaiko and Arturas Tamosaitis withdrew their application last month to convert a Dutch barge into a rest

BITTERLY disputed plans to moor a floating restaurant at the river in Ely may still go ahead, despite reports the project had been shelved.

Lilija Povepaiko and Arturas Tamosaitis withdrew their application last month to convert a Dutch barge into a restaurant, prompting speculation that the controversial proposals were dead in the water.

Now the couple have said they intend to re-submit the plans to the district council after a risk assessment is carried out with the Environment Agency.

Miss Povepaiko spoke to The Ely Standard about the negative reaction the plans have received from local businesses and residents who fear the restaurant will crowd the riverside, devalue properties and pump waste into the river.

"There has been a lot of criticism," she said.

"But this would be a small family restaurant, not the Titanic."

She said the issue of waste was dealt with in the original application and that the measures taken had been approved by the Environment Agency.

Miss Povepaiko said noise would be kept to a minimum and that the restaurant would not have an impact on parking in the area.

"The Boathouse doesn't have any parking, and the Maltings or the tea house doesn't have parking either - ten more tables here will not stretch the parking.

"The riverside is for the enjoyment of all of the public, and they can decide whether or not they will use this restaurant."

Waterside resident Patricia Beattie, who organised a petition against the proposals said: "Ten tables sounds to me like the thin end of a very nasty wedge.

"I think it is an unwise idea, and I think the decision to withdraw it was a sensible one.