THE owner of a pleasure cruise company in Evesham says that her business is in jeopardy because of plans to install safety barriers on the River Avon.

Geraldine Cooper, who runs Avon Leisure Cruises with her partner Dave Smith, moors the Spirit of Freedom on the Avon alongside her Fladbury home when it is not in use.

But if the Environment Agency goes ahead with its plans to put a floating barrier on the weir next to Fladbury lock Mrs Cooper will not be able to turn the 70ft-wide beam cruiser round.

The barrier is one of four planned by the agency, which also wants to extend a fixed barrier in Evesham to stop boats which miss the lock getting into trouble on the weir.

They would also offer a safety line for anyone who fell in the river at that point.

"It's not what they want to do but where they want to do it," said Mrs Cooper, who has already written to Wychavon District Council to object.

There are two ferry wires on the river at Fladbury adding to the problem.

"They have got to really think about where they are going to put the barrier because they are taking away three quarters of the width of the river.

"We wouldn't be able to bring our boat home to its own mooring if they put the barrier up because we wouldn't be able to turn it round."

Mrs Cooper and Mr Smith set up the business in May last year and offer lunch and dinner cruises for up to 50 people, specialising in catering for disabled parties.

"We've just started to build up the business in Evesham and it's going quite well and we don't want anything to stop that."

Roger Nunn, flood defence engineer for the Environment Agency, said: "We are awaiting comments from anyone else in Fladbury and when we receive those we will come to a decision."