A New Forest MP has told Southampton Port owner Associated British Ports to consider scrapping its plans for a huge port development at Dibden Bay and look at a site in Essex.

Julian Lewis, below, has written to ABP Holdings' group chief executive Bo Lerenius and has suggested that the Shell Haven refinery site on the Thames estuary would be an ideal location for a new container terminal.

Shell Haven has five jetties on its deep water terminal and the refinery is due to close in December with the loss of around 350 jobs.

In his letter to Mr Lerenius from his New Forest East constituency Doctor Lewis pointed that he has been in touch with Angela Smith, Labour MP for Basildon, and adds: "She and her constituents are deeply concerned about the future of the Shell Haven refinery site, which lies within her constituency.

Mrs Smith told the Daily Echo: "I believe the Shell Haven site would be worth looking at from ABP's point of view and I would be very happy to talk to them about it and so would the local authority."

Doctor Lewis also confirmed his opposition to building a port at Dibden Bay, which, he says, would "have a seriously adverse effect on the quality of life of thousands of my constituents".

He added: "If APB proceeds with this application, there will be years of bitter argument, objection and campaigning to be endured. In a nutshell, we have neither the appropriate environment nor the adequate infrastructure to enable the effects of a large container port to be integrated successfully with the requirements of the local community."

But Mr Lerenius has hit back by stressing that as its harbour authority, ABP's responsibility is to Southampton.

He added: "Whilst we understand the desire of those responsible for the Basildon region to enhance employment and wealth in that location, I am frankly surprised that as one of ABP's local MPs, you think it right to propose the export of jobs from Hampshire.''

Clearly disappointed at the impasse, Doctor Lewis said: "ABP seem to be rigidly focused on the Dibden Bay option.''

Converted for the new archive on 25 January 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.