- Home >
- Ferry News >
- Ferry protesters fear eco damage
Follow us on:
Related News
News Categories
Articles by Year
- May 2012 (35 Articles)
- April 2012 (43 Articles)
- March 2012 (49 Articles)
- February 2012 (42 Articles)
- January 2012 (64 Articles)
Ferry protesters fear eco damage
CAMPAIGNERS fear new cross-Solent ferries will damage the environment because they will be 80 per cent heavier than current vessels.
Two new vessels are being built for Wightlink in Croatia and will be four metres longer than the three boats now operating between Lymington and Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight.
Protesters oppose the new vessels on environmental grounds claiming their increased size will cause damage to surrounding marshes and banks of the Lymington River.
Now they are calling for an independent study to assess the impact on the environment amid fears that the true potential damage has not been calculated properly.
Lymington harbour masters, the town council or the Royal Lymington Yacht Club have not officially raised any substantial objections to the replacement plans. The current ferries carry 130 tonnes of cargo and the new vessels can carry 360 tonnes.
A spokesman from Wightlink said: "The displacement of the new ferries on the Lymington-Yarmouth route is expected to be 1,495 gross tonnes, which is approximately 80 per cent more than the current ferries. The issue is with the size of the new ferries, which are the same footprint size of the current ferries.
"The environmental study that has been conducted contains confidential information between Wightlink and Lymington Harbour Commissioners. However, a copy of the study has been provided to all advisers and commissioners involved."
The company is a major benefactor to Lymington's local economy and there are fears that for this reason some groups are unwilling to publicly challenge Wightlink over their plans.
Two new vessels are being built for Wightlink in Croatia and will be four metres longer than the three boats now operating between Lymington and Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight.
Protesters oppose the new vessels on environmental grounds claiming their increased size will cause damage to surrounding marshes and banks of the Lymington River.
Now they are calling for an independent study to assess the impact on the environment amid fears that the true potential damage has not been calculated properly.
Lymington harbour masters, the town council or the Royal Lymington Yacht Club have not officially raised any substantial objections to the replacement plans. The current ferries carry 130 tonnes of cargo and the new vessels can carry 360 tonnes.
A spokesman from Wightlink said: "The displacement of the new ferries on the Lymington-Yarmouth route is expected to be 1,495 gross tonnes, which is approximately 80 per cent more than the current ferries. The issue is with the size of the new ferries, which are the same footprint size of the current ferries.
"The environmental study that has been conducted contains confidential information between Wightlink and Lymington Harbour Commissioners. However, a copy of the study has been provided to all advisers and commissioners involved."
The company is a major benefactor to Lymington's local economy and there are fears that for this reason some groups are unwilling to publicly challenge Wightlink over their plans.
Special Offers
-
- We speak your language:
Book with Confidence:
