A public enquiry will begin today into the saga of the co-called 'Ghost Ships', former US Navy vessels berthed on Teesside waiting to be dismantled. Residents have vowed to prevent the boats being scrapped, while Able UK says the work would bring investment. Reporter Mick Chipchase takes a look at the twists and turns of the story so far.

NEARLY four years since the former warship Caloosahatchee docked outside Hartlepool, the battle for and against dismantling her and three other vessels from the US Navy Sixth Fleet rumbles on.

Able UK won the contract to scrap the ships in June 2003, hailing the deal as a forerunner to pulling in millions of pounds for the local economy and creating hundreds of jobs.

But right from the outset, the company has been bogged down by opposition.

Already subject to an international spat between Britain and the US over the rights and wrongs of the arrival of the ships, subsequent wrangles with the Environment Agency, a High Court judge, Hartlepool Council and a determined band of residents has left Able's plans in limbo.

After eventually appeasing the Environment Agency over pollution concerns, Able was in a position to seek planning permission from the council.

Planning officers gave the scheme the go-ahead and recommended approval at a meeting in October last year.

But just as it looked like a resolution was in sight, the planning committee added a new twist to the tale by turning down the proposals.

Able appealed against the decision and set in motion a public inquiry, which starts today. In June, Hartlepool Council announced it would not contest the appeal, claiming new Government guidelines insisting Britain needed a ship-dismantling facility, along with advice from specialists, had led it to climbdown.

Able even had a chance to circumvent the inquiry, when its latest applications for planning permission were put before councillors on Friday. But on this occasion committee members voted overwhelmingly to defer a decision until after the planning inquiry.

The investigation by the Planning Inspectorate is expected to last about 12 days, with a decision coming in the new year.

Until then, the four rotting ghost ships will remain at their moorings, their future still in doubt.

No one should be in doubt of what's at stake

ON the eve of today's public inquiry, Able UK's chairman, Peter Stephenson, reiterated his belief in the benefits the company's plans offer to the region.

He said: "It's about people or prejudice - and employment and investment against smears and distortion.

"The issue which has faced Hartlepool councillors for the past four years, and which still faces them today, is whether they are prepared to put the interests of the overwhelming majority of townspeople, and indeed people living across the region, ahead of the very small minority of vocal self-publicists."

Able has also warned that, should it be successful with its appeal, it estimates Hartlepool Council will be faced with a bill of more than £1m.

"No one should be in any doubt about what is at stake," said Mr Stephenson.

"The construction contracts which we can bring over the next two years would create over 750 jobs in the next year.

"They would also bring £300m into the economy over four years.

"These are contracts which have nothing to do with ship recycling, but are for building large steel and concrete structures for international companies.

"We still hope that Hartlepool councillors will recognise the enormous benefits which our proposals will bring before it is too late, and the contracts, the jobs and the investment are lost for good.

"In the meantime, we approach the planning inquiry confident that our plans are some of the most scrutinised on record, that they have been cleared by all the statutory environment and safety agencies and that they have twice been recommended for approval by the council's own planning officers."

Able UK has been involved in the dismantling and demolition industry for 30 years.

It will damage the area forever

FOR four years, green campaigner Iris Ryder has been an inveterate opponent of Able UK's plans to break up decommissioned ships on the edge of Hartlepool.

She has spoken at meetings, held protest placards on the steps to the town hall, and been the voice of opposition on the media.

She sees the start of the anticipated 12-day public inquiry as a watershed for the town.

Hartlepool born and bred, she passionately believes the town and its surroundings, including sensitive sites of scientific interest surrounding the Tees estuary could be irretrievably damaged, if the plan gets the go-ahead.

"This is going to change the course of history for the town,'' she said.

"Some people think it is just a matter of getting rid of four ships that are already here. They don't realise that is just the catalyst; once you change the use of the land there will be no stopping them.''

She has no regrets about her opposition.

"It's about protecting the environment and public of Hartlepool and the surrounding area and the contamination which will spread."

Mrs Ryder, who lives in Seaton Carew, near the Able UK's yard, cannot understand why the US ships, the Caloosahatchee, Canisteo, Compass Island and Canopus could not have been broken up in the US.

She said: "If it was not good enough to break them up on the James River, Virginia, because they were a threat to the environment, why ship them to an area surrounded by sensitive sites of scientific interest?"