THE FAILED plan to build a world class container port at Dibden Bay on Southampton Water cost Associated British Ports (ABP) nearly £45m, it was revealed today.

That was the amount spent by the port group on preparing its ambitious blueprint and presenting its case to the long-running public inquiry which finally resulted in the government turning down the plans on environmental grounds.

Figures issued by ABP for the first six months of the year highlighted the jolt that the proposed terminal had on its six-month results.

Bo Lerenius, ABP's group chief executive, said: "As previously indicated, the write-off of substantially all of the costs related to this project resulted in an exceptional charge of £44.9m.

"The government's decision on Dibden Terminal will have no significant short-term impact on the group's underlying UK ports business.''

Last week it was revealed that Southampton Harbourmaster Captain Jimmy Chestnutt, 61, who co-ordinated ABP's Dibden Bay blueprint, is to retire.

John Trustram Eve, a professional planning consultant and Hythe Marina resident who helped fight the Dibden Bay application, said: "It's a hell of a lot of money but there's a hell of a lot of money invested in producing adequate evidence, which they did, but it just wasn't enough to convince the inspector there was overriding public need.

"They intended to succeed so they had no choice but to go for broke and cover every angle. If there was a flaw in their case it was the fundamental dimensions they set out to exploit."

Brian Dash Hampshire County Councillor for Hythe and Dibden, said: "It's their money, they took a chance and it went wrong.

"That's the nature of the business. It proves how much they had to gain and that's why their share price went down.

"Given the threat to our way of life it's difficult to feel sympathy."

ABP reveal figures, click the shipping link at the top of this page.