VETERAN New Forest commoner Col Peter Sweet has called on the National Park Authority to oppose plans for larger ferries on the Lymington to Yarmouth service.

Col Sweet told the New Forest National Park Authority meeting he was born at Ferry House on the banks of Lymington river and was a sailor before becoming a commoner.

"Though Lymington is not in the park the river is and I am surprised that you seem not to be concerned by the huge new ferries being introduced by Wightlink here shortly," he said.

"These ferries will dramatically increase the traffic through the New Forest by Lyndhurst, Brockenhurst and Beaulieu.

"They will have the capacity to carry 600,000 vehicles every year which means an extra 7,000 vehicles on the New Forest roads each bank holiday."

He was "surprised" the authority appeared to support the Marine and Fisheries Agency's limited environment impact assessment for the new ferries "when it seems obvious to us that the new ferries will do immense damage to the river channel banks and mudflats which are already under threat, to say nothing of the effect on other river users".

He asked members to reconsider and asks the Marine and Fisheries Agency to carry out a comprehensive environment impact for the vessels.

"The conservation of our river should concern you," he said.

Stephen Trotter, the authority's director of conservation, recreation and sustainable development, told Col Sweet the authority had little leverage and it was a matter for the Marine and Fisheries Agency, Lymington Harbour Commissioners, Natural England, Environment Agency and New Forest District Council as planning authority.

"Wightlink and the harbour commissioners are going to be employing a specialist engineer to study the impact of the ferries when they arrive," he said.

After that speed limits or other conditions could be imposed on the craft in the harbour.