THE government has been warned that the world will be watching when it decides whether a new dock can be built on Southampton Water.

Shadow environment secretary Peter Ainsworth issued his broadside against plans for a new container terminal when he visited the Dibden Bay area.

As the public inquiry into the scheme completed its sixth month, the Conservative praised campaigners from the action group Residents' Against Dibden Bay Port for their fight against the new dock.

But while accepting that their quality of life would be affected, he said: "Dibden Bay will have implications far beyond the local community.

"The site is recognised locally, nationally and internationally as being of outstanding environmental value. The secretary of state's final decision on whether the development should go ahead will send a clear message to the world about whether the government is serious about protecting the environment."

He asked: "In 20 years' time, will our children thank us if, instead of salmon, trout, lapwings and curlews, they have another port which could have been built somewhere else anyway?"

He was welcomed to the area by New Forest East MP Doctor Julian Lewis, who said: "My principal fear has been that Labour ministers will be biased in favour of Dibden Bay for political reasons."

ABP hit back, saying in a statement: "Everyone who has an interest in the future of Southampton and the Bay is fully represented in this public inquiry. This inquiry is the proper forum for the presentation to the planning inspector of all information relating to the proposal, especially on the environmental issues and on the essential need for a new terminal to be developed.

"ABP is presenting a considered proposal which takes full account of any environmental effects the new terminal might have.

"Environmental considerations are integral to ABP's proposal and we believe that these are represented in the evidence that we have given to the public inquiry."

The inquiry into the scheme is in recess this week and resumes on June 12. It is due to end in mid-December.