A CRUCIAL report on plans for a huge container terminal at Dibden Bay could still be under consideration when another report on a rival dock scheme hits the desk of Transport Secretary Alistair Darling.

The public inquiry into plans by Southampton Docks operator Associated British Ports for the Dibden Bay project between Hythe and Marchwood ended in January.

When it finished, planning inspector Michael Hurley said he aimed to complete his report on the hearing by October.

Since then, another inquiry has been taking place at Stanford le Hope in Essex, near the Thames Estuary, into plans by P&0 and Shell UK to build the UK's biggest container terminal at the former Shell Haven oil refinery there.

That inquiry, which began in February, has been temporarily adjourned after hearing all the scheduled evidence. Its inspector David Ward has agreed to wait for more documents from interested parties and reconvene, probably just to carry out formal closure of the hearing, on September 12.

Mr Ward has indicated that his report on Shell Haven should be delivered to Mr Darling in February and it is likely that the report from Mr Hurley will still be under consideration at that stage.

The planning inspectorate continues its battle to resolve the various issues of what can and cannot be built - and that means yet another move for Val Lucas, who was administrative officer at the Dibden inquiry.

She went straight to the London Gateway hearing and when its doors finally close and the files are taken away, she will head westwards for similar duties at another public inquiry - into plans for a 30-pole windfarm at Scarweather Sands in Swansea Bay.