New Forest District Council intends to fight ABP's Dibden Bay plans (From Daily Echo)

New Forest District Council intends to fight ABP's Dibden Bay plans

9:20am Thursday 5th November 2009

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COUNCIL chiefs have vowed to fight the latest proposal to build a huge container terminal on the edge of the New Forest National Park.

Associated British Ports (ABP) has launched a second attempt to gain permission for a massive dock development at Dibden Bay – six years after its original scheme was blocked by the Government.

New Forest District Council’s ruling Cabinet met yesterday and agreed to lodge a formal objection to the ABP scheme.

The company’s new masterplan says facilities are needed at Dibden Bay because port traffic is expected to rise by 59 per cent by 2030. However, an 18-page report to the Cabinet accused the company of being over-optimistic.

It added: “Further work needs to be done to assess the realism of the forecasts, particularly in the context of the current economic downturn and other issues relating to world trade and transport costs. It’s also essential that the masterplan maximises the productivity of the existing port.”

Dibden Bay is a huge area of reclaimed land between Southampton Water and the national park.

It has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest and is subject to a large number of regulations that aim to protect wildlife.

Chris Treleaven, Cabinet member for planning and transport, said two important developments had taken place since the first Dibden Bay scheme was thrown out on environmental grounds following a 13-month public inquiry.

“Firstly the New Forest National Park is now established – and that brings a lot of strength to the habitat regulations,” he said.

“Secondly the Government inspector who examined our new core strategy did not uphold ABP’s claim that the document should allocate land at Dibden Bay for port development.”

Cabinet members agreed that the council should fight the port plan because of its potential impact on Hythe and the national park.

The decision comes just days after Hampshire County Council also declared its opposition to the scheme.

County council leader Ken Thornber said: “Any potential economic advantages need to be weighed up against the overriding need to protect our environment, and the impact such a development would have on our roads.”

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