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Sailors protest against bigger ferry plans
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.
| “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,” | | Protest organiser Mike Mayhew |
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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.
12:00pm Monday 15th October 2007
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CommentPosted by: keith, test valley home of the MIGHTY SANDRA GIDLEY on 2:20pm Mon 15 Oct 07
wouldn't say that 1 banner was much of a protest.BRING ON THE CROSS CHANNEL HOVERCRAFTS........
wouldn't say that 1 banner was much of a protest.BRING ON THE CROSS CHANNEL HOVERCRAFTS........
Posted by: Derek, Dibden Purlieu on 2:34pm Mon 15 Oct 07
[quote]A public meeting to discuss the plans is planned for October 31 at 7.30pm in the Lymington Community Centre.[/quote]
Good idea. Let them have a meeting, form a few protest committees, elect a chairman, senior chairman, senior vice-chairman,a few dozen secretaries and hangers on, a spokesman or two.....and everyone will feel better.
A public meeting to discuss the plans is planned for October 31 at 7.30pm in the Lymington Community Centre.
Good idea. Let them have a meeting, form a few protest committees, elect a chairman, senior chairman, senior vice-chairman,a few dozen secretaries and hangers on, a spokesman or two.....and everyone will feel better.
Posted by: keith, test valley home of THE MIGHTY SANDRA GIDLEY... on 3:43pm Mon 15 Oct 07
[quote][bold]Derek[/bold] wrote:
[quote]A public meeting to discuss the plans is planned for October 31 at 7.30pm in the Lymington Community Centre.[/quote] Good idea. Let them have a meeting, form a few protest committees, elect a chairman, senior chairman, senior vice-chairman,a few dozen secretaries and hangers on, a spokesman or two.....and everyone will feel better.[/quote] dont forget its halloween that night are we going trick or treating before or after the meeting....
Derek wrote:
A public meeting to discuss the plans is planned for October 31 at 7.30pm in the Lymington Community Centre.
Good idea. Let them have a meeting, form a few protest committees, elect a chairman, senior chairman, senior vice-chairman,a few dozen secretaries and hangers on, a spokesman or two.....and everyone will feel better.
dont forget its halloween that night are we going trick or treating before or after the meeting....
Posted by: Gladstone, Southampton on 3:45pm Mon 15 Oct 07
The article doesn't make it clear why bigger ferries will lead to the closure of this club. I'll tell you what - I bet they don't.
The article doesn't make it clear why bigger ferries will lead to the closure of this club. I'll tell you what - I bet they don't.
Posted by: Gladstone, Southampton on 3:45pm Mon 15 Oct 07
The article doesn't make it clear why bigger ferries will lead to the closure of this club. I'll tell you what - I bet they don't.
The article doesn't make it clear why bigger ferries will lead to the closure of this club. I'll tell you what - I bet they don't.
Posted by: Mr T, Langley on 3:58pm Mon 15 Oct 07
[quote][bold]Derek[/bold] wrote:
[quote]A public meeting to discuss the plans is planned for October 31 at 7.30pm in the Lymington Community Centre.[/quote] Good idea. Let them have a meeting, form a few protest committees, elect a chairman, senior chairman, senior vice-chairman,a few dozen secretaries and hangers on, a spokesman or two.....and everyone will feel better.[/quote] I can't imagine Derek old boy from DP would take part in Trick or Treating. Doesn't seem that type!
Derek wrote:
A public meeting to discuss the plans is planned for October 31 at 7.30pm in the Lymington Community Centre.
Good idea. Let them have a meeting, form a few protest committees, elect a chairman, senior chairman, senior vice-chairman,a few dozen secretaries and hangers on, a spokesman or two.....and everyone will feel better.
I can't imagine Derek old boy from DP would take part in Trick or Treating. Doesn't seem that type!
Posted by: Derek, Dibden Purlieu on 4:05pm Mon 15 Oct 07
[quote]I can't imagine Derek old boy from DP would take part in Trick or Treating. Doesn't seem that type![/quote]
Trick or Treat! The next thing you'll be asking me to watch 'Big Brother'
I can't imagine Derek old boy from DP would take part in Trick or Treating. Doesn't seem that type!
Trick or Treat! The next thing you'll be asking me to watch 'Big Brother'
Posted by: kololiboy, Kololi on 4:12pm Mon 15 Oct 07
How much bigger are these proposed ferries.
How much bigger are these proposed ferries.
Posted by: Mr T, Langley on 4:51pm Mon 15 Oct 07
[quote][bold]Derek[/bold] wrote:
[quote]I can\'t imagine Derek old boy from DP would take part in Trick or Treating. Doesn\'t seem that type![/quote] Trick or Treat! The next thing you\'ll be asking me to watch \'Big Brother\'[/quote] And what is wrong with BB? Don't forget Saturday night we have Xfactor and Strictly Come Dancing, can't decide which to watch.
Derek wrote:
I can\'t imagine Derek old boy from DP would take part in Trick or Treating. Doesn\'t seem that type!
Trick or Treat! The next thing you\'ll be asking me to watch \'Big Brother\'
And what is wrong with BB? Don't forget Saturday night we have Xfactor and Strictly Come Dancing, can't decide which to watch.
Posted by: waiting on 5:40pm Mon 15 Oct 07
"The river is already full" It is not full of ferries, but sailing boats no doubt placed many years after the ferries started service. When will people stop this "not on my back door" attitude The ferry service is a vital link for both Lymington and the Isle of wight. There is a clear code to allow all shipping to pass safely, and if people do not have the ability or knowledge to use the river without causing difficulty or danger to others, then they need to undertake further training before venturing out in their craft. With regard to the environmental impact on the river, I am sure one less ferry movement per day, i.e. two crossings would reduce the erosion to less than current levels.
"The river is already full" It is not full of ferries, but sailing boats no doubt placed many years after the ferries started service. When will people stop this "not on my back door" attitude The ferry service is a vital link for both Lymington and the Isle of wight. There is a clear code to allow all shipping to pass safely, and if people do not have the ability or knowledge to use the river without causing difficulty or danger to others, then they need to undertake further training before venturing out in their craft. With regard to the environmental impact on the river, I am sure one less ferry movement per day, i.e. two crossings would reduce the erosion to less than current levels.
Posted by: Mike Mayhew, Lymington on 5:56pm Mon 15 Oct 07
Keith - I agree, one boat with stickers isn't much of a turn-out, but maybe if you & Derek can show me how to form a committee etc things will really take off... oh, sorry, you'll be too busy trick & treating.
To be serious for a moment, the new ferries will be approx 80% bigger in terms of displacement (ie the amount of water they push out of the way to move thru it) with approx 3 times more engine power to control their 2 x more windage (height x length). So they'll be very big for a small meandering river like Lymington.
And why will they stop Wednesday Junior Sailing (which is a community program licensed by the Adventure Activity Licensing Authority and the RYA, run by volunteers, not a club) ? Well, to stop these very large ferries destroying the salt marsh and mud flats they'll have to travel at 1/2 their current speed when in the river, so they will be in the area of the Junior Sailing approx 47 mins every hour, ie the children could sail for 6 minutes, stop for 24, sail for 6, stop for 24 etc. Not really very practical. Of course they could just cut the number of ferry sailing, say one every hour, but imagine how the folks in Yarmouth & West Wight would feel about that? The real solution is to buy new smaller ferries that fit the river, not try to sneak in massive ones that ruin everyone else's current enjoyment, and eventually the river itself. Hope the above helps; I'll try to answer any other related questions.
Keith - I agree, one boat with stickers isn't much of a turn-out, but maybe if you & Derek can show me how to form a committee etc things will really take off... oh, sorry, you'll be too busy trick & treating.
To be serious for a moment, the new ferries will be approx 80% bigger in terms of displacement (ie the amount of water they push out of the way to move thru it) with approx 3 times more engine power to control their 2 x more windage (height x length). So they'll be very big for a small meandering river like Lymington.
And why will they stop Wednesday Junior Sailing (which is a community program licensed by the Adventure Activity Licensing Authority and the RYA, run by volunteers, not a club) ? Well, to stop these very large ferries destroying the salt marsh and mud flats they'll have to travel at 1/2 their current speed when in the river, so they will be in the area of the Junior Sailing approx 47 mins every hour, ie the children could sail for 6 minutes, stop for 24, sail for 6, stop for 24 etc. Not really very practical. Of course they could just cut the number of ferry sailing, say one every hour, but imagine how the folks in Yarmouth & West Wight would feel about that? The real solution is to buy new smaller ferries that fit the river, not try to sneak in massive ones that ruin everyone else's current enjoyment, and eventually the river itself. Hope the above helps; I'll try to answer any other related questions.
Posted by: Chris, Sandown on 1:32pm Wed 17 Oct 07
For god bloody sake, the new ferries are a METRE longer and centimetres wider!!! Wightlink are not stupid, bigger ferries dont fit, not that they would be allowed them anyway. Any greater draught would prevent them going up the river at low tide for one thing. The extra room for vehicles is a longer mezzanine deck, better placement of deck equipment and a minor decrease in seating area that is still much more generous than the farsical Red Funnel ferries. The ferries are a lot more important to Lymington than the sailing club anyway!
For god bloody sake, the new ferries are a METRE longer and centimetres wider!!! Wightlink are not stupid, bigger ferries dont fit, not that they would be allowed them anyway. Any greater draught would prevent them going up the river at low tide for one thing. The extra room for vehicles is a longer mezzanine deck, better placement of deck equipment and a minor decrease in seating area that is still much more generous than the farsical Red Funnel ferries. The ferries are a lot more important to Lymington than the sailing club anyway!
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