GREEN campaigners have urged Southampton residents to join in the fight against plans to build a new container port at Dibden Bay.

Green MEP Dr Caroline Lucas told a meeting at the city's Afro-Caribbean Centre that, as the long-running public inquiry into the controversial development reached its final stages, it was important that there was "no let-up" in the political pressure.

Campaigners also hope to hand-in a 50,000-signature petition to Tony Blair opposing the scheme when the inquiry comes to an end. They urged residents to put pressure on Southampton City Council and the city's MPs so they would back their fight to force Associated British Ports to drop the plans.

Dr Lucas said: "As the inquiry moves into its final stages, it is crucial there is no let-up in the political pressure. At the end of the day, it will be a political decision. We must continue to send a very strong message that we don't believe the development proper or necessary."

She said although Dibden residents would be affected directly by the huge scheme, there would still be an impact for people in Southamp-ton.

She added that there was uncertainty over how many jobs would be created by the scheme. And even if the jobs were created they were "unlikely" to benefit the jobless in the city.

She said: "We do know for certain that there will be major environmental, social and recreational impacts for Southampton and the New Forrest. We know that the development will cause irreparable damage to wildlife sites and leisure sites."

Phil Henderson, one of the core members of the campaign group fighting the scheme, said there was no need for the port to be built and urged the meeting to help collect signatures for the petition. He said: "It would be a nice swansong for us."