OUTRAGED Poole harbour stakeholders are being urged to make their feelings plain to the Crown Estates as details of a rival marina plan for the quay emerge.

MDL, which owns Cobbs Quay, has emerged as the Crown Estate’s preferred bidder for a Poole Quay marina, over Poole Harbour Commissioners proposal, and could be confirmed in early January.

However no details of the rival bid have emerged until now and the commissioners called a meeting of their stakeholders to share what they have learnt – and “strongly encourage” people to lobby the Crown Estates, which owns the seabed, over the process.

Jim Stewart, chief executive of PHC told the stakeholders meeting that MDL had revealed plans for a bridge from close to Green Gardens at the edge of Baiter, across a protected SSSI with a road out to an island with parking for 200 cars.

There would be a 600-berth marina on the outside of their existing boat haven, restaurants and bars. But no public consultation has been carried out on the proposal.

“I think it’s appalling,” said Cllr Mark Howell, who represents the ward and is the leader of Poole People. “I think it will be really damaging to the harbour.”

He said: “I would urge people, if they feel they should have been consulted and haven’t been, to write to the Crown Estates to make that point.”

He added: “The time to act is now to try to make a strong case to Crown Estates they have not gone through the proper process.”

Cllr Brian Clements said: “I have quite strong reservations about the visual impact on the quay of moving Cobbs Quay to Poole Quay – that’s the way I see it.”

“The fishermen of Poole have not been consulted at all,” said Gary Wordsworth, chairman of Poole and District Fishermen’s Association and a harbour commissioner.

Mr Stewart said they had no quarrel with MDL. But PHC had carried out an 18 month environmental impact assessment and two years of consultation to get to this point.

“We are very concerned that MDL will be awarded the scheme with no consultation,” he said. “We have had the rug pulled from under our feet.”

Crown Estates was aiming to make a decision, which could not be challenged, by January 14, he said. He said if it went against them they would be “deeply disappointed”.

Anyone wishing to have their say should write to The Crown Estate at 16 New Burlington Place, London W1S 2HX or email enquiries@crownestate.co.uk