THE chairman of the main campaign group fighting plans for a huge port development on the Waterside has appealed to residents to put up a show of strength when he has his final say at a public inquiry tomorrow.

Residents Against Dibden Bay Port, who have been co-ordinating the public battle against the scheme, will be making their closing comments to the inquiry into plans for a container terminal between Hythe and Marchwood.

Chairman Paul Vickers wants hundreds of supporters to show up to the hearing at Southampton's Eastern Docks.

He believes residents will suffer if the £750m scheme goes ahead.

He said: "This is the point where we can show the world just how strong the opposition is. We are running a petition and it has already soared to 13,000 signatures.

"I confidently believe that hundreds will turn up on Tuesday to put that message across."

Mr Vickers is set to tell the inquiry that the scheme is far too expensive to be viable.

TO READ MORE ON THIS AND THE DIBDEN BAY INQUIRY GO TO OUR DEDICATED SITE AT: http://www.thisissouthampton.co.uk/hampshire/southampton/shipping/dibdenbay.html