Week 2, Day 7

Today started with responses from other parties to Babcock’s proposal of yesterday to introduce an additional witness, along with a precognition and additional documents relating to further investigative work on the likely impact of dredging on the foreshore and the designated site. Forth Ports, SNH and JAG each made statements setting out their view on the proposal.

Babcock representatives then distributed a number of newspaper cuttings that they wished to be lodged as documents for the Inquiry.

We then heard the witness for Forth Ports who was giving evidence relating to Carbon Balance. There followed relentless cross-examination of this witness by Babcock.

When the session finally ended at around 5pm, the Reporters sought to confirm the arrangements for the next day. At this point, the representative for Babcock asked that there be a fundamental change to the order of witnesses, bringing in their witness for Carbon Balance in the morning, followed by the witness for their socio-economic (jobs) case in the afternoon. This means that the noise witness will not be called until Monday.