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MP demands action over introduction of controversial ferries

6:00am Thursday 20th November 2008

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WIGHTLINK should be stopped from introducing a new fleet of larger ferries until a proper study can determine their likely impact on the environment, an MP said last nightWEDS.

Desmond Swayne, Tory MP for New Forest West, told a Commons debate he was concerned that the ferries may harm the salt marshes that protect Lymington Harbour.

He told the Daily Echo: "Wightlink has decided unilaterally that they will start using the new ferries from December.

"I am demanding that ministers take up the matter with the Department for Transport to see what legal restraints there are on Wightlink.

"It's now time for ministers to call for a full environmental impact assessment, which it is in their power to do."

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The row centres on fears that the new ferries, which will operate between Lymington and Yarmouth, may contribute to the erosion of salt marshes, which include protected wildlife under the European Habitats Directive.

Damage to the salt marshes would, in turn, threaten the future of Lymington Harbour, which depends on the marshes for its survival, Mr Swayne said.

The MP accused Wightlink of wanting to replace two ferries with "three gigantic" new vessels which, he said, would "intimidate the leisure yachtsmen of Lymington", with potentially serious consequences for the economy.

He added: "I want to make sure due process takes place, with a full environmental assessment."

A spokeswoman for Wightlink said the new "Wight Class" ferries, two of which had already arrived in Lymington, were needed because the passenger safety certificates for the older C-class ferries expired early next year.

The number of cars carried by the ferries would increase by just 15 to an average of 65.

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Your Say YourDaily Echo

Lone Ranger, Southampton says...
8:06am Thu 20 Nov 08

The same old Tory New Forest MP looking for the next party donation from the the Yacht squad and a few cheap votes.

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hulla baloo, southampton says...
8:20am Thu 20 Nov 08

Surely a licence must be applied for, and need to be granted, before these ferries can be operated.

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Adrian Smith, Planet Earth says...
8:25am Thu 20 Nov 08

"It's now time for ministers to call for a full environmental impact assessment, which it is in their power to do."

To include all river users? - some people need to be careful what they wish for.

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Andy Locks Heath, says...
8:34am Thu 20 Nov 08

Quite right Adrian. I have done a bit of research into this including obtaining a number of aerial photos of Lymington river taken at various times. It can clearly be seen that large leisure craft create as much if not more wash than the ferries (because they frequently break the speed limit - where were you, Lymington Harbourmaster?) and also of course there are many more of them. If Desmond Swayne is not a hypocrite he should be prepared to see the river shut down to ALL traffic if he is that concerned about making a bad point in order to chase votes.


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Andy Locks Heath, says...
8:37am Thu 20 Nov 08

I should point out that these new ferries are onl;y 0.8m wider and 4m longer than the existing ferries. They are also more manoeuverable and have more safety features than the current ferries which are nearly 38 years old. The LRA seem to have hidden this in trying to scaremonger people.
Just ask Mr Swayne if he would like to see these old ferries soldier on for a further 10 years and watch him prevaricate.

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hulla baloo, southampton says...
8:43am Thu 20 Nov 08

Andy Locks Heath wrote:
I should point out that these new ferries are onl;y 0.8m wider and 4m longer than the existing ferries. They are also more manoeuverable and have more safety features than the current ferries which are nearly 38 years old. The LRA seem to have hidden this in trying to scaremonger people. Just ask Mr Swayne if he would like to see these old ferries soldier on for a further 10 years and watch him prevaricate.
That may be true about the safety, but their main concerns, apart from keeping the river free to use for the hooray Henries, is the extra wash these ferries will create.
The extra size will bring more wash onto the salt marshes and erode them
As Adrian rightly says,time for the Ministers to do their bit and see what the poitcome is.

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Andy Locks Heath, says...
9:20am Thu 20 Nov 08

But there is no evidence that they are any worse than the existing ferries HB now that they have started sea trials. Before they arrived the Lymington Society had already spread unfounded scare stories about the "horrendous wash" and when the ferries started trialling there was no such thing. However the Lymington River Association like all single issue Nimby groups just morph their objection rather than accepting reassurance. First it's size, then it's wash affecting small craft, now it's erosion. The LRA are a nasty, spiteful little group infiltrated by outside interests who want to see the ferry service stopped. Example - take away the railway bridge to Lymington Pier and you have another mile of river frontage accessible to yachts. The LRA are about as interested in salt marsh erosion as my granny (Who lived in Lymington for 93 years and was still not as old as the ferry service)

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Rudd Gillett, Saffhampton says...
11:01am Thu 20 Nov 08

safety over salt marshes surely?

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volvopaul, notts says...
11:09am Thu 20 Nov 08

As an ex berth holder in Lymington we still visit regularly and always enjoy the town moorings and atmosphere that Lymington gives.
To us the ferries have been part of the scene all the years we have been visiting.
I have read the reports with interest as one point has been missed.

The point is that the wash from 3 ferries and as a motor boat owner know quite well, must over one day alone create more wash than the proposed 2 new ferries running all day to give the same amount of service required as per the existing 3.
No one to date has pointed this out.

I must admit on my last visit to Lymington, around the end of September I did notice the new ferry moored up, it did look quite attractive, im in favour of up to date safety and standards as im a marine engineer by trade.

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Old Man of the Sea, seven seas says...
11:19am Thu 20 Nov 08

'The MP accused Wightlink of wanting to replace two ferries with "three gigantic" new vessels which, he said, would "intimidate the leisure yachtsmen of Lymington", with potentially serious consequences for the economy.'

The ferries' Officers are certificated, qualified seafarers operating to some of the highest standards in the Marine world. If the "leisure yachtsmen of Lymington" operated at the same standards there would be no intimidation. Instead we have incompetent, selfish and down right stupid WAFIs ignoring the rules laid down for EVERYONE Check the International Regulations for the Provention of Collision At Sea, which incidentally covers all navigable waters.

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Andy Locks Heath, says...
12:50pm Thu 20 Nov 08

Hi Volvopaul - the confusion has occurred because the idiot MP cannot even count to three. There are THREE ferries currently offering the service, not two so it is a like for like swap. The three ferries are Cenwulf, Cenred and Caedmon.If anything illustrates what an ill informed bandwagon jumping bloody fool Desmond Swayne is then this is it.

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southy, redbridge says...
1:08pm Thu 20 Nov 08

a point thats being missed out on to is that the old ferrys hull designs have change the new designs means you can have larger vessels and have less wash.designs have changed alot over 30 years.
this i find intresting and i need to check up on is "which include protected wildlife under the European Habitats Directive" might be usefull to know the ins and outs of this ruling for cracknor hard battle thats coming up.

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wighteagle, Shapwick says...
2:59pm Thu 20 Nov 08

Wightlink only need to do a study if the works at Lymington are to be started. If they have decided that they can use the new ferries without those works, then they can carry on. No more arguments, they just can. Then all the LRA RLYC and other moaning NIMBYS can crawl back into their caves and moan about omething else. like how leaf fall in the forest means they cant see the road through the windscreen of their Jags and how someone should clear up all of the wild horse dung that seems to be left lying around....

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Brock_and_Roll, Brock says...
1:26pm Fri 21 Nov 08

As I understand it, a very large proporition of the Lymington Salt Marshes has already been lost due to "natural" coastal/sea level changes.

Regardless of whether the new ferries or other craft have an impact, if global warming contributes to even mild sea level rises, then in the absence of major and uneconomic coastal defences, the rest of the salt mashes are going to be lost anyway over a relatively short period.

As ever with nature, if rising sea levels cause these marshes to disappear, over time new ones should form elsewhere.

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