A STORM is brewing over plans to dump huge amounts of silt on a specially protected stretch of foreshore near Hythe.

Associated British Ports (ABP) intends to carry out a massive dredging operation near the site of its proposed container terminal at Dibden Bay.

ABP plans to create a deep-water channel by removing ten million cubic metres of gravel, silt and clay.

The company is asking the Ministry of Agriculture for consent to deposit a million cubic metres of the silt along the foreshore between Hythe and Cadland.

Its application follows a trial carried out in the Hythe area two months ago.

ABP says the operation will enlarge a feeding ground used by birds and "cap" toxic material said to be present in the existing mud.

But New Forest District Council claims the scheme - the first of its type in the UK - could cause flooding and other environmental problems.

Council chiefs are urging the ministry not to determine the application until the Department of environment has studied ABP's plan to develop Dibden Bay.

A council spokesman said: "We don't think the ministry should make a decision until the impact of the proposed port has been properly evaluated."

The proposed dredging and dumping operation was debated at a meeting of the planning development control committee.

A report to councillors said: "It's very difficult to create a replacement habitat that functions correctly. The assumption that the proposed recharge of mudflats will significantly improve existing conditions is therefore questionable."

The report also said that silt deposited on the foreshore would intercept surface water that currently drains into Southampton Water from adjoining land.

Former council leader John Coles said the scheme could cause flooding on the Totton to Fawley railway line.

The proposed dumping ground is part of a special protection area and has also been earmarked as a special area of conservation.

An ABP spokeswoman said a company representative at the committee meeting was unable to answer all the technical queries in the three minutes allotted.

"We therefore welcome a recommendation that these be discussed at a further meeting," she said.

A Ministry of Agriculture spokesman was unavailable for comment.