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At present there is a Tower of Babel.
The RYA, in evidence to the Dibden Bay inquiry foresaw a doubling of leisure boating over the next 15-20 years
But Chichester harbour has had a zero moorings growth policy for some years; boatbuilders, employing many people in the area, cannot sell boats unless there are moorings. But New Forest District Council have indicated that they do not want additional moorings; the Hamble River is proposing reorganisation of moorings, But all the benefit is going to environmental improvement rather than capacity increase; Much needed expansion at Cowes is likely to hit environmental objections.
Meanwhile, Lymington is losing some moorings because of erosion of the salt marsh, which English Nature has not (until recently) wanted to protect because to do so would interfere with natural coastal processes.
Salmon populations in the rivers Test and Itchen are at dangerously low levels, so the Environment Agency is against any development that could involve the slightest risk to the fish, but another department of the same Agency needs river works done to prevent flooding.
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