Proposals to form a new wildlife habitat as compensation for a major port development will be discussed next week.

Harwich International Port wants to create an alternative haven for birds if it gets the go-ahead for a new container terminal at Bathside Bay. The bay is an internationally-important area for migrating birds and the port has agreed to provide a new habitat at Hamford Water, Little Oakley.

It includes removing vegetation and topsoil, as well as realigning the sea wall near Foulton Hall. A planning application asks for the existing sea wall to be breached, creating 76 hectares of inter-tidal mudflats, and a further 29 hectares of inter-tidal mudflats and saltmarsh.

Tendring Council will consider the plans at a special meeting on Monday.

Published Wednesday January 28, 2004

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