THE focus of the year-long Dibden Bay container terminal inquiry has turned to the environment, ecology and leisure.

Fears were again raised that the huge project planned by Associated British Ports to create a safe haven for wildlife displaced by the massive construction plans, would end up destroying the environment the inquiry was told.

Dredging expert and Environment Agency spokesman Mike Dearnaley, outlined some of the problems the creation of the proposed mudbanks, potentially the largest such artificial scheme ever undertaken, could cause.

Firstly, the banks themselves could end up discharging contaminated material into the estuary system, as well as the inability of experts to predict how long the banks would be sustainable for and how effective. Secondly, anxiety was felt that the banks could also affect the stability of the saltmarshes lying next to the coastline, both in terms of their future and the likelihood of silting-up.

Mr Dearnaley said: "I am of the opinion that there are numerous issues associated with the proposed design and construction that give rise to a fundamental concern for the viability of the proposal.

"Consequently, it is not possible to establish accurately the habitat value of the new mudflat, and thereby the contribution that the mudflat would make in ameliorating the impact of the Dibden Terminal."

Dibden Councillor Graham Parkes, a former cartographic surveyor for Ordnance Survey with 34-years' experience, voiced community fears over the accuracy of some of ABP's water level predictions.

He said there were several factors that led him to believe the figures for coastal erosion and water levels predicted by ABP were inaccurate.