A LEADING wildlife group has hit out at plans to build a massive dock development at Dibden Bay.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) said the controversial scheme would destroy one of the best feeding grounds in Southampton Water.

David Elvin QC accused Associated British Ports (ABP) of exaggerating the impact of planned mitigation measures, which include a new inter-tidal creek.

Mr Elvin was making the charity's closing submission to a public inquiry into ABP's application to build a container terminal north of Hythe Marina Village.

He said: "The Dibden foreshore is one of the best sites for feeding waders in Southampton Water.

"It has specific physical characteristics in terms of form and function and provides particularly rich pickings when it is exposed at low tide."

Mr Elvin added that the huge area of reclaimed land on which ABP wanted to build the £750m port was an important site for waterfowl.He told the inquiry: "ABP has played down the value of the habitats affected and exaggerated the value of its 'off-setting' measures."The RSPB considers that ABP's predictions are unrealistic and that there will be significant adverse impacts on bird populations in Southampton Water."

Mr Elvin also claimed that ABP had under-estimated the number of birds likely to be affected by the planned port.

He added: "ABP calculates, with no data to justify its assumptions, that displaced birds will be accommodated in unaffected areas within Southampton Water.

"Recent studies from Cardiff Bay show that even in the Severn Estuary - a system far larger than Southampton Water - displaced redshank suffer serious impacts."

Summing up, Mr Elvin claimed: "ABP knows it hasn't been able to satisfy genuine problems and hopes that the Secretary of State will let it off the hook."

The inquiry also heard from Emily Richmond, representing the Ramblers' Association.

She said: "The Dibden Bay scheme will affect millions of visitors to the New Forest, who will experience a whole new dimension of noise, traffic and industrial development."