THE threat of an extra 4,700 vehicles a day on the country lanes of Marchwood and Dibden is being analysed at the long-running public inquiry into plans to build a £750m container port at Dibden Bay.

As the hearing at Southampton Docks reached Day 64, the spotlight fell on road, rail and sea routes around the Bay in Southampton Water.

Waterside councillors and residents are queuing up to object to a scheme many fear will cause traffic chaos on inadequate rural roads.

Associated British Ports (ABP) - behind the container port plan - argue that Dibden Bay offers the maximum chance to provide nationally-needed facilities at minimum environmental impact.

ABP's transportation consultant David Tucker said that they had committed themselves to "significant and appropriate" cash contributions to improve local roads, and planned to make the best possible use of rail and sea routes to reduce car and lorry traffic.

He said employees at the new container port - an estimated 500-1700 people at various stages of the development - would be able to come to work by staff-only boat from Southampton, by a staff-only shuttle bus, on an express bus service, or via the Hythe ferry.

"We aim to minimise employee car travel with at least 30 per cent of trips by non-car modes," said Mr Tucker.

He said that to cut road traffic while the port was being built, bulk materials would be shipped in by barge, and concrete would be made for the project on site.

ABP estimated that upgrades to the Fawley railway line would enable it to carry up to 44 freight trains a day into the completed container port, as well as four trains into Marchwood Military Port and eight to the Esso Refinery.

Mr Tucker added that the level crossings along the Fawley branch line would get safety upgrades.

"For example at Totton, money has been set aside to improve facilities - like the footway where people wait to cross - to compensate for the extra traffic across the level crossing," he said.

But Mr Tucker admitted that despite these measures, the port development could generate an estimated 4,684 vehicles a day and the biggest impact would fall on the A326 Marchwood bypass.

"The worst case scenario is a traffic increase of 15.7 per cent daily," he said.

"Government policy is not to over-provide.

"If roads are improved to cope with peak periods there is no incentive to people to transfer to other modes of transport."