Day 1 of the Public Local Inquiry - and a power cut!

Came home from the Inquiry to a power cut. Thankfully this one only lasted an hour and not 23 hours like last time. It was an appropriate end to an eventful day.

The Inquiry started today and 8 members of the Joint Action Group were there. The whole of the morning was taken up by introductory matters and a few discussions regarding various procedural issues that have arisen during the last three months. The first Inquiry witness Mike Murray, Babcock's Site Development Manager, took his place. read his summary precognition and was then cross-examined by the Forth Ports Advocate and Maurice O'Carroll, the Joint Action Group Advocate. The planned programme had shown Mr Murray’s stint would be completed today. However, by 4.30pm, we (the Joint Action Group) were still only part of the way through our cross examination of him. Tomorrow we finish our questions, and then Scottish Natural Heritage will ask theirs, followed by the Reporters.

Next Babcock are to answer a few outstanding questions from this morning and, hopefully by lunchtime, we'll be start the order of Day 2.

There was a great turnout from residents. We didn't know who would be there, and it was a great lift when so many residents came through the door.

Tomorrow we are to hear the evidence from Babcock in relation to Design and Construction of the terminal and then the issue of the market that exists for more Container Terminal capacity on the Forth.