PLANS to provide “affordable” moorings for boat-owners have been blown out of the water – by problems likely to occur on land.

Council chiefs have rejected an application to build a small marina between Eling Great Marsh and Eling Wharf amid fears that sailors parking in nearby roads would clog the streets.

The Southampton -based Eling Marsh Yacht Association had applied for planning permission to install 30 moorings.

But the lack of parking resulted in the proposal being sunk at a meeting of New Forest District Council’s planning and development control committee.

Councillor Maureen Holding said: “The area looks very industrial and it would be nice to have a marina there. But the problem that worries me is the parking – the streets would fill up with parked vehicles.

“If that could be solved, everything else would fall into place.”

The applicants said the scheme would benefit boat owners who needed affordable moorings, but the proposal was rejected by 14 votes to two.