THE outgoing chairman of Oxford's oldest public rowing club has said there is still 'a lot to do to make the river in Oxford a truly democratic space'.

Peter Travis said the river Thames is Oxford's biggest sports facility but 'town' boating clubs are still massively outnumbered by Oxford University ones.

He said Oxford residents see the river as a student space and boating is too often unaffordable to youngsters at state schools.

After 25 years as the head of Falcon Rowing and Canoe Club, leading continual fundraising efforts for facilities to match the university's, he is now stepping down.

It comes just months after a major blow this summer when Sport England rejected the club's long-held hopes of a £300,000 grant towards a new clubhouse with waterproof boat storage, disabled toilets, new showers and a cafe to raise extra funds.

Falcon now has 490 members, about half of them children, and many younger members have joined through rowing clubs Falcon runs at three Oxford state schools – Cheney, Cherwell and St Gregory the Great.

But Mr Travis said it could offer rowing to many more youngsters and adults if only it could get funding to improve its facilities.

Mr Travis, 76, said: "We have an opportunity for excellence, but when kids turn up they and their parents expect excellent facilities.

"I know Falcon can deliver more than it does at present.

"If we set up more clubs in schools that would spread among other schools and could change the mindset of heads of sport.

"The perception among some people in Oxford is that the river is a space for the university. In fact, there are a number of very vigorous town clubs but the cost of rowing limits which people can access it."

A racing kayak costs between £800 and £2,000; a single rowing eight is more like £10,000.

Clubs like Falcon also have to buy Environment Agency river licences for every boat, insurance and pay coaches as well as rent.

Falcon fundraises to subsidise its membership costs and has a team of three committee members who write grant applications year-round.

A youth kayak membership currently costs £40 a year and a youth canoe membership £60.

It then has to find extra money for capital expenses.

Mr Travis said: "I would simply like to see an increase in the number of kids from state schools and lower-income families able to row and kayak.

"There are 30 university clubs and two town clubs: local kids and local adults should feel the river is a space for them.

"It is by far in a way the biggest sporting arena in the city, bigger than all the sporting grounds, and comparatively not used very much."

Founded in 1869, Falcon claims to be the oldest non-university rowing club in Oxford. The biggest is the City of Oxford Rowing Club.

As for its improvements, Falcon is now looking at a stripped-back project, building just a new pavilion with disabled toilets and a cafe at a cost of about £120,000.

Commenting on his retirement, Mr Travis said: "Its' time a younger person took on this role but there's still a lot to do to make the river in Oxford a truly democratic space.

"Without improved local facilities, gaining and retaining new rowers and canoeists at Oxford will remain and uneven struggle.

"One thing that an old club like Falcon can do is take the long view: one day Falcon and Oxford will have a building to match our young athletes' prowess."