CAMPAIGNERS are plotting a second public meeting as concern grows over plans to introduce bigger ferries on a Hampshire waterway.

Members of Lymington River Association fear a replacement fleet of bigger Wightlink boats will increase water displacement and damage the area's famous salt marshes.

With the £10m boats due to be brought in to service in time for summer, protesters have launched a fresh petition opposing the scheme.

They are hoping New Forest MP Desmond Swayne will chair a second public meeting - just months after residents packed Lymington Community Centre to make their voices heard.

A petition leaflet distributed by the river association said: "The introduction of much larger ferries to the Lymington River has serious implications for the fragile environment, which is already under threat, as the Harbour Commissioners have recently shown.

"Proper detailed studies need to be carried out to establish the true facts about erosion, and ferry effects.

"Given enough public demand we can bring more effective pressure to bear on the authorities, and the unique river can be conserved for future generations to enjoy. There is so much at stake."

New Isle of Wight ferries to replace the current 34-yearold vessels are being built in Croatia at a cost of £10m each. Weighing 1,496 tons, they will displace almost twice as much water as the current boats.

At October's meeting, Wightlink representatives said the new boats were being designed to operate within the river and would be more efficient.

Company chief executive Andrew Wilson said the current service did not meet regulations and that the route may have to be withdrawn altogether if the old ferries were not replaced.

It was later confirmed that a third new ferry would be joining the Lymington to Yarmouth fleet in early 2009.