THE £150m expansion of Southampton’s port is in “last chance saloon”, an MP has warned.

A public consultation into the redevelopment ended yesterday and a decision could be reached within a month.

Any further delays could be critical as the work, which will safeguard hundreds of jobs, needs to begin in September for environmental reasons.

The decision will rest with the Marine Management Organisation (MMO), which would not confirm whether any significant objections had been received.

The project has already been subject to a legal challenge from rival Felixstowe port. Opponents of the Southampton scheme say ABP failed to consult the necessary organisations when it lodged its first application.

As a result of objections, the scheme has been delayed and has become mired in legal red tape. However, government ministers have been sympathetic to Southampton’s case in recent weeks, with one accusing the MMO of a “cock-up”

over advice given to Southampton and urging Felixstowe to back off.

Romsey and Southampton North MP Caroline Nokes said: “There is a massive time pressure. Things have to move. Southampton desperately needs this to go ahead as soon as possible.”

Southampton Test MP Alan Whitehead added: “This is last chance saloon for this particular development, without running into very serious problems indeed for the future.”

ABP wants to redevelop two berths and carry out dredging work to allow the port accommodate the latest and largest container ships.

The Echo understands that there have not been a large number of submissions to the consultation.

Felixstowe port operator Hutchison did not respond to requests for a comment.

Even if no objections have been received during the consultation, it is understood that opponents could still lodge a request for a judicial review of the process, which could create fatal delays for Southampton.