HOUSEKEEPING was the order of the day at the Dibden Bay public inquiry - tidying up and checking on the progress of points agreed by parties for and against the scheme during the 48 weeks of the hearing so far.

Inspector Michael Hurley said that this first "round table" session in the inquiry into the plan by Associated British Ports to build a £750m container port at Dibden Bay was a useful "stocktaking measure" to save time later on.

"We want to have a comprehensive list of all the conditions and agreements that have been proposed, and see where we have got to on each of them," he told the inquiry at Southampton's Eastern Docks.

The list included ABP's commitment to compensate communities like Totton for traffic management problems due to the proposed port, nature conservation plans, and rights-of-way agreements. Applications for planning permission for road improvements and railway alterations were also scanned.

Richard Drabble QC, representing Hampshire county and New Forest district councils, said a lot more work was needed on the details of some agreements: "Much more thought needs to go into conservation management plans, for example," he said.

But ABP's counsel Martin Kingston said good progress was being made behind the scenes.

"We have had some very useful meetings, for example on the issue of the revised design of the Hythe Marina Bund," he said.

The inspector has timetabled several days at the end of November for the fine detail of conditions and agreements to be ironed out between proposers and opponents of the port scheme.

Meanwhile the inquiry is in recess until next Tuesday, October 29, when the so-called Part Two Participants - individuals and groups without legal representation - get their chance to speak for 15 minutes each.

Groups such as the Sholing Community Action Forum and Denny Lodge Parish Council, and individuals such as Marchwood councillor Alan Shotter and Hythe and Dibden parish clerk Brian Beaven are in the three-day line-up. The hearing is being moved to Applemore College in Dibden Purlieu for the duration of this topic.

Proceeding on Tuesday, October 29 at Applemore College.