Poole Olympic sailor Rodney Pattisson has fired a broadside at proposals for a new marina in the harbour.

The triple Olympic medallist has added his support to the hundreds of people opposing plans by Poole Harbour Commissioners for a 950-berth marina.

The keen yachtsman, who lives at Hamworthy and won golds in the 1968 and 1972 Flying Dutchman classes, said the massive marina would become the second largest on the south coast, doubling the number of alongside berths available in the harbour.

“Even now, on fine weekends in the summer, especially Bank Holidays, pleasure boat activity is so intense, that traffic in and out of the harbour entrance is already dangerous,” he said.

“With this new proposal, pleasure boat activity will double everywhere and so too the number of collisions and possible fatalities.”

He said the marina, which would include a new home for Poole Yacht Club, marine centre and cruiser berth, 200m off Hamworthy Park, would have an area greater than the boating lake at Poole Park.

“Over the years we have seen south coast estuaries and harbours slowly become ruined by marina construction,” he said.

“If the commissioners get their wish, Poole Harbour will suffer the same fate.

“It would appear that they have no concerns at all about conserving the natural beauty of the harbour and its activities, but instead think only in terms of commercial profit.”

Harbourmaster Brian Murphy pointed out that in the past five years there have been 259 incidents reported in the harbour, including everything from oil leaks to near misses, out of 1.2 million vessel movements.

“PHC take marine safety very seriously, with particular emphasis on the harbour entrance,” he said. A number of additional measures had been introduced to ensure high safety standards and there had been a reduction in the number of incidents at the harbour entrance, he added.

Jim Stewart, chief executive of PHC, said they had also received positive reactions from local people.

“We would like to reassure everyone that we will look very carefully at any potential design of the Poole Harbour Marine Centre in order to ensure that the natural beauty of the harbour is not adversely affected.”

He said the centre would occupy approximately half-a-per-cent of the total area of the harbour and any additional revenue would be reinvested back into the harbour.