Wightlink has vowed to end the misery suffered by foot passengers using its new cross-Solent ferries in bad weather.

The company has applied for planning permission to upgrade its outdated Lymington terminal in a bid to protect customers from wind and rain.

The new W-class vessels are too tall for the enclosed gangways that linked the waiting area with the old C-class ferries, which were taken out of service last year.

Pedestrians have to leave the terminal and use the same boarding ramps as vehicles.

Now Wightlink is planning to build separate facilities for foot passengers.

However, the improvements are unlikely to be carried out until early next year.

A Wightlink spokesman said environmental factors such as migrating birds and breeding fish meant the work could only be carried out at certain times of the year.

Last night customers welcomed plans to upgrade the terminal but criticised the delay.

Gary Theobald, who lives on the Isle of Wight, said: “Foot passengers are often exposed to wind and rain. It also causes delays because it’s obviously not possible to load vehicles at the same time as people.”

Wightlink is also planning to dump 2,000 cubic metres of mud near the entrance to the Lymington River in an area known as Boiler Marsh.

The scheme aims to help wildlife by replacing habitat likely to be eroded by the actions of the ferries over the next 30 years.

It follows a court case in which a High Court judge ruled that the introduction of the vessels violated wildlife protection laws.

The case was brought by the Lymington River Association, which is angry at the potential loss of salt marsh and the proposed mitigation measures.

Chairman Marc Malanaphy said: “It cannot be right that Lymington is expected to lose much of its natural beauty because Wightlink imposed this unlawful operation on the local community..”

But Wightlink defended the scheme, saying the proposals had the backing of Natural England.