New harbour plan fears

The port wants to keep more ammonium nitrate '“ used in some terrorist bombs '“ on site, but residents are worried about security risks and safety threats.

Michael Allen, of the Southwick Society, said people were concerned.

"This is a very volatile substance if not treated properly. There is 24-hour surveillance with video cameras, but they are good for recording only what has happened, not raising the alert.

"If people were trying to break in or if there was terrorist activity, I doubt whether they would raise the alarm."

The port already stores up to 1,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrates and wants to increase capacity to 2,800 tonnes.

Captain Colin Crookshank, the port's harbour master, said: "We have port security processes in place and national counter-terrorism security procedures that are over and above what is required by law.

"We already keep up to 1,000 tonnes of ammonium nitrate here and it is removed on a daily basis '“ it is not kept here long."

The fertiliser is shipped in and stored at the port before being distributed to farms.

Any company wanting to change storage conditions of hazardous substances must formally apply for permission and consult various experts.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said it would probably advise against the Shoreham Port plan, but was carrying out further assessments before it made its recommendation.

An HSE spokesman said: "Our main concern is the safety of people '“ how safe people would be working on the site, the safety of people needing to go on to the site and the safety of people living nearby. We have indicated that we are likely to advise against this application, but there is more assessment work going on and that decision could change."

West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service has not objected to the plan. Counter-terrorism expert Garth Whitty said the fertiliser was inert under normal conditions and would be unlikely to explode, even in a fire.

Sussex Police made no objection and a report following an inspection from the National Anti-Terrorist Unit said there were no security issues.

Adur District Council is expected to make a decision about the application in January.