'Super-Port Would Wreck Vital Wildlife Habitats'
Copyright 2001 The Press Association
November 27, 2001
By Amanda Brown, Environment Correspondent, PA News
Precious wildlife habitats will be wrecked by a proposed super-port, nature campaigners warned today.
Associated British Ports wants to build the giant facility on a 202 hectare site at Dibden Bay on Southampton Water, near the New Forest.
Friends of the Earth is leading protests against the scheme as a public inquiry opens in Southampton this morning. The proposals are opposed by most local residents who complain that ABP's scheme is the type of major project which the Government says should be covered by a "fast track" the planning process.
Dibden Bay is an important site for wildlife with international and national protection.
English Nature, the Government's wildlife advisory group, says the super port will have a detrimental effect on birds such as Brent geese, oystercatchers, ringed and grey plover, dunlin, curlew and redshank, all of which could be driven out, along with lapwing, wigeon and teal.
The sites which English Nature will be arguing should not be harmed include:
Solent Maritime region, a candidate for special area conservation (SAC) status, and which includes The Hamble Estuary;
Solent and Southampton Water Special Protection Area (SPA), which is also a Ramsar wetland site of international importance;
The River Itchen, a candidate for SAC status.
Tony Juniper, director designate of Friends of the Earth said: "This proposed port is unnecessary, unpopular and will cause enormous damage to one of the most sensitive and supposedly protected areas in the UK.
"It is astonishing that such a well-known corporation as Associated British Ports is seriously proposing it.
"Quite simply it must never be built.
"At least this mad-cap plan has gone to public inquiry where the massive damage caused by the port and local objections will be carefully scrutinised.
"If the Government fast-track planning proposals are introduced, even the modest safety net we have now would be removed. It would be a disaster for environmental protection and local democracy."
Richard Leafe, of English Nature, said it "objects to the impact the terminal construction scheme is likely to have on nature and would like the inquiry inspectors to fully recognise the harm this development is likely to cause".