 Dibden
Bay saved!
Plans to build a new superport have been rejected by the Government.
The proposed new container terminal at Dibden Bay in the New Forest would
have destroyed wildlife areas of national and international importance
and prevented the area’s inclusion in the new New Forest National
Park.
Read the press
release for more information on the decision.
Click here for a brief summary
and Portswatch's response to the decision.
Dibden Bay
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Dibden Bay (yellow line
encloses development area)
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Dibden Bay is situated on the South coast and lies within the Southampton
Water Special Protection Area (SPA) and the proposed New Forest National
Park. It is:
- a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)
- close to a candidate Special Area of Conservation (cSAC).
Proposed Development
A private company - Associated British Ports (ABP) - wanted to build
a vast new port on the New Forest side of Southampton Water. The site
and area around it is 'protected' by various international, national and
local environmental designations.
Objections to the proposal
The proposal was opposed by local people as well as the local MP, New
Forest District Council, Hampshire County Council and many other organisations
because:
- ABP had not fully proven the need for the port
- ABP had not fully assessed the alternatives
- the economic 'benefits' did not outweigh the huge environmental costs
- the Environmental Impact Assessment was inadequate
Wildlife in the area
The area provides important habitats for various wading and sea-birds
including:
- more than 50,000 waterfowl overwinter
in the SPA
- internationally important breeding populations of five bird species
in summer
The proposed developments would have meant the loss of substantial
areas of grassland and inter-tidal habitat.
Quality of life
The local communities would have been greatly affected by:
- traffic generated: 5,000 new vehicle movements and
50 new freight train movements per day
- air, noise, water and light pollution
- clear views from Southampton impeded and tranquility lost
For more information:
Felixstowe
>
Image © ABP
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