Shipping giant P and O has welcomed new arrangements for public inquiries into its plans to build the UK's biggest container port at the former Shell Haven refinery.
The Planning Inspectorate has announced that three separate applications connected to the £1bn project will now be heard together at a single public inquiry, starting on February 25 next year.
Its previous plan was to stage three separate inquiries - one for the industrial park, one for the changes to the rail system and the issuing of compulsory purchase orders, and the third for the port itself - with the first starting on January 21.
The director of P and O developments, Stephen Kerridge, said: "The fact that the applications will now be considered together should speed up the inquiries process. The inquiries will fully consider our separate applications and enable all the issues to be aired and all interested parties to have their say.
"We are confident our proposals will stand up to this public scrutiny."
Objectors to the plan have also welcomed the amalgamation of the three inquiries.
Published Friday November 15, 2002
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