HAMPSHIRE transport chiefs are studying claims that new cross-Solent ferries could add more than 2,000 cars a day to New Forest roads.
The 1,496-ton vessels are larger than the 30-year-old ferries that currently operate on the busy Lymington-Yarmouth route.
The Lymington River Association says the craft will be able to carry an extra 30 cars per sailing - twice the figure quoted by Wightlink.
They fear that thousands of additional cars will clog Forest roads at the height of summer. Association members have written to Hampshire County Council as part of their campaign against the new vessels, due to enter service later this year.
They also want New Forest District Council and the New Forest National Park Authority to take a fresh look at the traffic levels likely to be generated.
The new ferries have been a major source of controversy since Wightlink unveiled plans to replace the existing vessels on the Lymington-Yarmouth route.
Critics claim the 1,496-ton boats will damage environmentally sensitive parts of the Lymington River.
Fears about the prospect of extra traffic in the area were raised by Col Peter Sweet at the March meeting of the National Park Authority.
A Wightlink spokesman was unavailable to comment on the claims.
Previously Wightlink representatives have said the vessels would carry 600,000 vehicles a year only if every sailing was fully booked.
