SAILORS in Lymington have stepped up protests against Wightlink Ferries bringing larger vessels into the town's waterways.
During the start of the Lymington Town Sailing Club's first Sunday racing event a small craft was spotted on the water carrying the banner: No Bigger Ferries.
The protest by the Wednesday Junior Sailing club is aimed at Wightlink who sponsor the weekly racing event and who are currently proposing to replace their present vessels which sail between Lymington and the Isle of Wight with bigger ferries.
"We are not against ferries coming between Lymington and Yarmouth but the river is already full and we just can't fit in the bigger ferries they are proposing," said Mike Mayhew who helped organise the protest.
The award-winning project is known for its work with sailors who go on to represent Britain in the Olympics and say they will be forced to close if the new ferries are allowed into the river.
Mr Mayhew said that not only do hundreds of children benefit from the scheme, which uses a training area designated by the Royal Yachting Association, but scores of disabled youngsters also use the project.
"We have around 70 disabled children a week and they get a huge benefit from the Junior Sailing Club along with some great life skills," he said.
The controversial plans by Wightlink have angered sailors and environmentalists in Lymington and the ferry crossing company has said if it is unsuccessful in its bid to bring in the larger craft it would pull services from Yarmouth out of Lymington all together, resulting in the loss of 200 jobs.
Concerns from the sailing community include the size of the vessels, the wash generated on the river and the increase in large vehicles travelling through Lymington.
As previously reported in the Daily Echo Wightlink's chief executive, Andrew Willson, told New Forest West MP Desmond Swayne that the current ferries are 34 years old and nearing the end of their useful lives.
"Without the introduction of the new ferries the route would inevitably have to be closed down, which would have a detrimental affect on the economies of Lymington and Yarmouth," it said.
The letter said the loss of ferries would be disastrous for the travelling public, and addressed some concerns by stating any larger wash from the new ferries could be overcome by reducing speed.
Mr Swayne said: "We've got to find a way of making sure that the community wins and that might take a bit of give and take on both sides."
A public meeting to discuss the plans is planned for October 31 at 7.30pm in the Lymington Community Centre.
