All three Croatia-built Wight class ferries are in service between Lymington and Yarmouth, yet Wightlink still faces opposition in Lymington and has had to make a full planning application for work on the link span and a passenger walkway.

The area’s MEP Caroline Lucas also made a formal complaint to the European Commission that Wightlink has failed to protect environmentally sensitive areas of Lymington River.

Wightlink made no comment. They brought Wight Sun into service just before the end of May to join Wight Light and Wight Sky, introduced last autumn, but have been unable to implement a planned 30-minute service as foot passengers still have to board over the vehicle ramp in Lymington.