A NEW boating lake could be built on Mersea Island in a bid to boost visitor numbers.

Land Farm Management Farms Limited has applied for planning permission to create the new lake near East Mersea Youth Camp, off Rewsalls Lane.

As well as the new leisure facility the landowner wants permission to install a new flood defence bund to protect the surrounding land.

The new boating lake would be used by various organisations in Mersea as a training area for beginners as an alternative to the island's existing "hard" facility.

If the plans are approved, the boating lake would also create eight part-time jobs for the area.

A report states: "The hard is crowded and at peak hours parking is in short supply.

"Many days sailing are lost because there is too little wind to sail against the tide ,or too little water at low water, or too much wind for safe sailing by beginners amongst the moored boats.

"Beginners are shipped to Ardleigh Reservoir or the Blackwater Sailing club where they have a six acre boating lake which forms a useful role model for this lake."

It continues: "There is also major demand from Mersea Outdoors, the neighbouring youth outdoor activity centre operated by Essex County Council.

"This is attended by large numbers of school age children over the summer months. Although Mersea Outdoors is located by the Blackwater Estuary, it is unable to run water sports activities there."

Activities like sailing, kayaking, raft building and paddle boarding could all take place on the lake if the plans are approved.

Land Farm Management says the new flood defences are needed due to damage suffered by the seawall following flooding due to bad weather conditions in 2014.

The report states: "The Environment Agency assessed the likely damage caused by flooding if the sea wall breaches before it made the decision to abandon maintenance.

"No dwellings are affected and the only land susceptible to flood is farm land together with some of the low lying land owned by Mersea Outdoors."

The Environment Agency has expressed its support for the proposals, which would tie in with similar works at the nearby caravan site, which is owned by Park Resorts.

Essex County Council, Mersea Island School and Dabricks Sailing Club have also back the bid to build the boating lake.

Colchester Council will have the final say on the plans.