THE battle of the bund has taken off in earnest at the public inquiry into plans for a huge new container port between Hythe and Marchwood.

Plans by Southampton Docks operator Associated British Ports to build a dock extension at Dibden Bay involve massive earthworks on land immediately to the north of Hythe Marina.

It includes completely reshaping the hill which forms an open space on the edge of the marina.

But that strategy has fallen foul of the marina community and Marina Developments Limited's property development director Geoff Phillips claimed that ABP "has ignored the detrimental effect of the bund works on Hythe Marina Village."

ABP is applying for a compulsory purchase order on the mound and plans to excavate and remove it before building a bigger and stronger one in its place.

But Mr Phillips said in his evidence to the inquiry: "The proposed works will completely destroy the landscape backdrop and buffer zone margin that has been painstakingly established over the past 13 years."

The importance of the bund to Marina residents, he said, could not be ignored and he added: "The ABP proposal not only introduces an unnatural landscape but also reduces the available area for access by pedestrians to approximately 30 per cent of the existing open space."

Mr Phillips also pointed out that alternative plans had been put forward by the Marina but had not been taken up by ABP.

Its benefits included a reduction in the earthworks and a consequent reduction in the impact on Hythe Marina Village structures, the nearest of which would be 100 metres away.

The inquiry also heard an objection from Marina resident Robert Dees, who warned: "Most of the Waterside residents, especially those who live in the marina, are very much against it as it will radically degrade their environment and they do not think it is needed." The proposed port layout, he said, was unacceptable on the grounds of noise, light, smell, vibration, water pollution, navigation dangers and traffic problems.

He suggested that if it had to go ahead, it should be moved further north-west away from the Marina. But he was told by inquiry inspector Michael Hurley that that would push it into a greater part of the the New Forest Heritage Area than ABP's proposals.

Mr Hurley explained that major development would not be allowed in the Heritage Area "except with the most rigorous examination".

The scheme also came under fire from Hythe resident and keen bird-watcher Christopher Barltrop.

"My quality of life would deteriorate dramatically and I object to the way the Waterside is being treated as part of Southampton," he said.

He supported plans to bring passenger trains back to the Hythe area and he feared that these would be stunted if not destroyed all together by the bay scheme. Adding his resentment that the local authorities were having to spend large amounts to fight the scheme, he said: "If ABP get the go-ahead, they will be free to sell off port land."