Halfway through 20-weeks’ consultation comments and opinions on Poole Harbour Commissioners’ proposals are arriving thick and fast.

The draft Port Master Plan includes the possibility of a 900-berth marina in the harbour, which has proved controversial.

Meetings are being held with dozens of groups and organisations and around 400 people attended two drop-in sessions at the port at the end of last week.

“It has thrown up a lot of new ideas,” said chief executive Jim Stewart, “which is part of the purpose of the consultation in any case.”

Around 95 per cent of all enquiries have been about the marine centre. The possibility of a marina and cruise ship berth in front of Hamworthy Park raised a storm of protest and an alternative of extending the Poole Quay Boat Haven is also attracting criticism from the newly-formed Poole Harbour Action Group.

“We are trying to encourage people to come forward and say if the marine centre was built, what features would local people like to see included,” he said.

Mr Stewart, who is chairman of the British Ports Association, said: “This has been the most extensive public consultation on a draft master plan I’m aware of, anywhere in the UK.”

He said the only group they had not yet got views from was young people. “We have done our best to understand what people’s views are. Hopefully we won’t be accused of failing to consult and engage.”

Mary Parsons, chairman of Lake Residents’ Association, said the Hamworthy residents’ associations were unwilling to comment before there were detailed proposals on the table.

The lack of detail was criticised by Mike Barnett, a windsurfer who organised a massive online petition against the Hamworthy proposal. He said the consultation was “not fit for purpose” because there was no detail of individual schemes.

PHC are about to appoint the tender for a year-long environmental impact assessment, which will look at the plan in detail.

“The commissioners won’t make firm decisions until we have seen the outcome of the assessment in early 2013,” said Mr Stewart.