YOUR article about the refusal of the regulators to allow terminal redevelopment, and a ‘mud recharge scheme’ to allow Wightlink to go ahead with their new ships on this route unfortunately shows a photograph of the old C-class ships, which were barely half the displacement and windage of the new W-class.
The High Court declared the introduction of these ships unlawful, so it is not surprising that the New Forest National Park Authority and New Forest District Council have rejected Wightlink's applications, and requested the Minister to call them in, because of the implications nationally of permitting them to proceed.
Nobody wishes to stop ferry operations on this route, but Wightlink proceeded with the introduction of huge ships into a Special Area of Conservation protected area against the advice of the Lymington Harbour Commissioners, in the expectation that its fait accompli would succeed.
It only has itself to blame if the gamble does not come off.
TOM MCEWEN, South Street, Pennington, Lymington
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