Hauliers have called for UK laws to be relaxed to make it easier for ports to expand. Keith Gray, business planning director at Freightliner, believes applications to develop Dibden Bay in Southampton and the London Gateway at Shell Haven have been subject to a "too lengthy" planning process. He says the Felixstowe South extension scheme application, announced in December 2002, has taken too long and firms will only start to see the benefits by 2011.
"September to December is a busy time of year because of the run-up to Christmas and every year it seems to get that much worse," Gray says. "Many ports around the country have plans for expansion, but the whole process should be much quicker." John Williams, managing director of Maritime Transport, says: "Unprecedented volumes are coming into the country, capacity is beneath this, and the planning application process is a long one."