threatening to call in the Premier to help their cause.

Operators who rely on the waterway for their livelihood believe the work on the famous bridge could have been delayed until after the tourist season.

And in a bid to prove their case, they may also bring in an independent engineer to inspect the structure -- and present the report to Works and Engineering Minister C.V. (Jim) Woolridge.

It is also understood that one operator has contacted Premier Pamela Gordon over the controversy.

Currently Government staff are laying a boulder causeway to enable a temporary bridge to be built whilst renovations are made to the historic crossing.

The work has closed the cutting to marine traffic -- and may remain shut well into July.

Robinson's Shell Marine Station -- which relies on traffic from the Great Sound and Ely's Harbour -- fear the impact could harm their business. Other boat hire firms and water sports companies are bracing themselves for a difficult time ahead.

Tony Roach, owner of Mangrove Marina, claims his trade could be badly hit, and has hit out at Mr. Woolridge, who he says could have delayed the work until after September.

"It is a bully-boy approach. He (Mr. Woolridge) has gone ahead regardless,'' said Mr. Roach. "I am prepared to bring in an independent engineer to look at the bridge to say `is Mr. Woolridge telling the truth'. That bridge could have waited.'' Mr. Roach says he could lose a lot of money if he is unable to send his hire boats through the bridge, when the weather is poor on the South Shore.

Malcolm Swan, managing director of Robinson's Shell Marine Station, said a plea for compensation was worth considering.

"I have no marine traffic,'' he said. "We make most of our money between April and September. I am stuck. There is nothing I can do.'' Outgoing Chamber of Commerce president David Rowntree, who lobbied the Government over the work on behalf of water sports operators, said they recognised that the bridge was in dire need of repair, but were disappointed that the work could not be delayed until the end of the season.

But Mr. Woolridge, speaking in response to Mr. Rowntree, said Government could not let a small number of people jeopardise vital work that would ensure the safety of motorists and pedestrians using the bridge.

"They (the boats) can go around, and it is only very small boats that can negotiate it,'' he said.

He said repairs during last winter would have been difficult since the plans were only in the conceptual stage, and there may have been the possibility of delays from bad weather -- making the inconvenience even greater for the public.

The work needed to be done as quickly as possible, with the volume of traffic going across the bridge, to avoid any potential danger from the structure.

The environment lobby has also voiced its concern over the work, which they fear may cause side-effects on marine wildlife.

National Trust marine biology experts are now probing the project as a matter of immediate concern.

But Mr. Woolridge said water would be allowed to flow freely around the boulders, and nothing would be done to harm the environment.

The opening of the temporary causeway is reliant on approval from St. James Church that a piece of land at the site can be used.

Agreement in principle has been given but a meeting is due to take place today to formalise the agreement.

If that fails, the original plan of using a Bailey Bridge will be brought back into the frame.

ENVIRONMENT ENV