THE National Trust has submitted plans to improve the Sandbanks ferry service to Brownsea Island.

Plans have been lodged to build a new fixed jetty to replace the current ‘defective’ jetty in Sandbanks, along with the creation of a vehicle ramp and the installation of a crane.

The scheme would also see a visitor shelter which would ‘provide a gateway’ to Brownsea Island and Studland, while promoting the National Trust.

A design and access statement submitted by WSP on behalf of the applicant said: “The jetty is in poor condition, with extensive rot in some of the piles and timber bracing, so the use has been downgraded to the smaller vessels primarily for the departure of users and residents only, with the public temporarily departing from Poole Quay.”

The new visitor shelter would be located next to the slipway for the Sandbanks chain ferry.

There will be space on the new jetty for the three National Trust vessels that go to the island, as well as the John Lewis boat and Brownsea Island visitor ferry, as well as providing berthing space for the RNLI as required.

New security gates would also be installed, with the applicant saying it has been unable to manage behaviours including fishing, swimming, and jumping from the jetty.

The proposed scheme would ‘substantially improve’ the National Trust’s cargo logistics to the island.

Comments are welcome on the plans until August 3.