DEPUTY Prime Minister John Prescott is being asked to block controversial plans for a huge extension to Southampton Docks at Dibden Bay.

Docks owner Associated British Ports has lodged a string of plans to build a new container terminal between Marchwood and Hythe and has been under repeated fire from New Forest East MP Julian Lewis.

Now Dr Lewis has written to Mr Prescott, who is also Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, asking him to intervene.

He wants the Deputy Prime Minister to have ABP's scheme withdrawn on the grounds that the company will never be able to prove the existence of an over-riding national economic interest to justify a costly public inquiry.

After claiming that there will be ample port capacity in the UK to cope with the growth in container traffic, he suggests that a public inquiry "cannot conceivably conclude that Dibden Bay must be developed in the national economic interest".

He told Mr Prescott that two major port plans on the Thames Estuary, at Shell Haven and Harwich, plus further expansion at Felixstowe and Tilbury can "cater for the container trade for many years to come".

Friends of the Earth has also listed the additional capacity being brought into use and has called on the government to "provide strong guidance to port companies considering expansion plans."

Its statement added that the Dibden Bay project would have the effect of "destroying an internationally important wildlife site".

But ABP Dibden project manager Jimmy Chestnutt said the expansion plans had underlined the recognition by the port trade that there is a need for expansion to cope with increasing demand.

He said: "We have been emphasising that the UK will need a number of new developments to meet even the most conservative predictions of growth of demand.

"So far this year, our view has been endorsed by Lord Sterling of P&O and representatives of the Port of London Authority.

"Our ports must adapt and expand to remain competitive. The only question is when and not if they should adapt."