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If the Relevant Authorities can only see 5% growth potential within existing arrangements, they would need to look for other approaches.
Being imaginative, they would then look for radical solutions. They would, for example, look for Greenfield mainland sites where some road infrastructure already exists. Such sites would interfere as little as possible with natural processes, Of these, a new marina at Ventnor has already been suggested. It would not interfere too greatly with the natural environment as it is located on a rocky coast swept by fierce tides. But Ventnor is more a destination than a serious contribution to capacity as it is on a remote part of the Isle of Wight. Moreover, it is likely to be an expensive construction if it is to be able to withstand winter SE Gales.
Still not enough.
Perhaps more radical solutions are needed. Would it be environmentally better to go for a new very large marina (2000+ berths) at a site like Lee on Solent (towards Titchfield Haven)? Or, at the other end of Lee on Solent, Stokes Bay offers a location that would be aside from major environmental features. Moreover, there is probably MOD land nearby that could provide shoreside facilities - assuming that MOD could be persuaded that they no longer need it! Either of these developments would probably have minimal effect on the littoral drift of silt along the Solent shore, and would at one hit provide about 10% capacity increase. If this were done, could a tougher line be taken on developments proposed in more sensitive areas. If a project of this nature were combined with a major lottery funded project to rebuild the saltmarsh along the West Solent shore, the net effect could even be environmentally positive.
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