Archived press release

Government rejects dibden bay port plans

20 April 2004

Friends of the Earth today congratulated the Government following its decision to reject plans to build a massive new container terminal at Dibden Bay in the New Forest.

The new super-port, which was proposed by Associated British Ports (ABP), would have destroyed wildlife areas of national and international importance and prevented the area's inclusion in the new New Forest National Park [1].

Major port developments are also being proposed at Bathside Bay, near Harwich (the Public Inquiry starts today), London Gateway (Shell Haven - which has already had a Public Inquiry) and Felixstowe South). Friends of the Earth is calling on the Government to develop a national ports strategy [2].

Friends of the Earth director Tony Juniper said:

"This is a bold Government decision that we warmly welcome. Ministers have been subjected to an intense but spurious business-backed campaign that was based on mis-conceived claims about the need for the port and the benefits it would bring. The truth is it is not needed, and that the environmental costs would be far too high. We hope this decision heralds an era when the environment really is at the heart of policy, and not simply a resource to be sacrificed for short-term business gains.

"The spotlight now falls on similarly damaging port proposals elsewhere, especially at Bathside Bay where a Public Inquiry starts today. The Government must now come up with a national ports strategy instead of subjecting local communities to the blight of piecemeal proposals.

Friends of the Earth's South East Campaigns Coordinator Brenda Pollack said:

"We are delighted that this highly destructive development has been rejected. It would have destroyed a number of nationally and internationally important wildlife sites and severely affected the lives of people living locally. ABP should never have proposed such a scheme. Other developers must now take note.

New Forest Friends of the Earth Julie Astin, said:

"This is a great day for everyone living locally. All the hard work exposing ABP's flawed case has been worthwhile. The local community will be overjoyed that this destructive port will not be built."

Sally Plummer from Southampton Friends of the Earth added:

"This decision is fantastic news. The Government obviously listened to its environmental advisors who all pointed out that the port would have destroyed part of our heritage and that no amount of compensation could make up for that".

Notes

1. A Dibden Bay briefing is available from Friends of the Earth.

2. see: www.portswatch.org.uk

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust