I HAVE read the reports regarding the Poole Harbour Commissioners’ proposals for the building of a yacht marina off Hamworthy Park.

I believe this perceived need has arisen not so much to provide berths for the rich and famous (most local residents can’t afford them) but by the reduction in conventional and ferry traffic at the port.

This has left a large hole in the Harbour Commissions’ finances and also made redundant a large area of the 68 acres of the previously in-filled harbour. I have a fear that in two years’ time when the 2012 Olympics are over, Weymouth will have many unused faculties with better road links and we could then see the existing ferry service from Poole leaving for Weymouth.

Over the years, Hamworthy and Upton residents’ endured the consequences inflicted upon them by the lack of infrastructure to support the port development (one of the reasons given for the port’s loss of trade).

I believe that the proposed regeneration area of lower Hamworthy presents the Harbour Commissioners with a unique opportunity.

We are told by the Environment Agency that the old power station site is liable to flood due to global warming?

To prevent this, the level of the land needs to be raised by 1.5 metres before developing the site.

I should like the Harbour Commissioners to carry out a feasibility study into the possibility of creating a marina within the confines of the existing port development, excavating what now appears to be redundant land down to the old seabed.

It should be possible to sell the excavated material to developers to raise the level of the power station site, moving the material in barges late night/early morning causing the minimum disruption to residents and avoiding even more in-filling of our beautiful harbour.

FRED WINWOOD, founder chairman of Residents against Port Expansion, Poole