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Big plans for Bathside Bay
Page 20
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A recent planning decision means that container hauliers will soon have a new destination to add to the list of Southampton, Felixstowe and Tilbury. But what about transport links? Chris Tindall reports.
Following the government's decision to block the Dibden Bay project near Southampton and not extend the capacity of the container port. operators could be forgiven for thinking that container logistics was not high on its agenda.
The environmentalists had won the argument, marine life would be conserved, and Southampton ContainerTerminal was left licking its wounds.
Marine economist Nicholas Linney, MD of transport consultancy The Waterfront Partnership, explains: "[The inspector accepted that there would be a shortfall in container handling capacity for the UK hut he concluded, on the basis of a document which to this day remains obscure, that a 'temporary lack of handling capacity' should not be regarded as an imperative reason of overriding public interest sufficient to overcome the protection of internationally designated sites."
But although Southampton Container Terminal received a setback, the government seems to he more amenable to expansion plans elsewhere.
Increased UK capacity Felixstowe was recently granted permission to boost capacity by 50% (CM 9 February); now approval has been won for the first new container port in South-East England in more than 15 years.
The site is at Bathside Bay in Essex. Transport Minister Derek Twigg says: "I'm satisfied that all outstanding points have been addressed and that the project should be allowed to proceed.
-We're committed to sustainable distribution and this new project would play a large part in securing that aim."
Hutchison Ports, which owns Felixstowe Port, is behind the Bathside Bay development. Chief executive Chris Lewis says: "Wu are, of course, delighted. The government clearly understands the need for further UK port capacity. and has listened to the people of Harwich.
Not only will a new container terminal at Bathside Bay provide a significant boost to UK trade, hut it will bring much needed jobs and prosperity to Harwich and the surrounding region. A spokeswoman says the new port will complement and benefit Felixstowe. It will have an annual capacity of 1.7 million 20ft equivalent units (TEUs) and will be able to handle four large container vessels simultaneously. Felixstowe, the UK's busiest port, handles 5.2 million TE Us a year.
Road and rail links The Bathside Bay terminal will be connected to the rail network, but permission is still needed for an upgrade of the A120. This could take three years to be approved, due to the planning process.
Lewis says: "To minimise any delay, [Hutchison Ports] launched a Stage One Study in early 2005,in conjunction with the Highways Agency, to evaluate the road and determine what improvements are required." This study is expected to be completed by the summer.
Essex County Council believes the move will create jobs and economic development that has no detrimental impact on the county's road infrastructure. County councillor Rodney Bass says:"It begins to make a coherent whole of the 'Haven CialewaV' plan. At last we can start to look forward to capacity upgrades on the A120 between Hare Green and Harwich, although it will be some years yet —while procedures, including public consultation, are completed — before construction can commence." •