CLAIMS by developers of a southern port that there is not a traffic problem in the South have been dismissed as "barmy" by Teesport owner PD Ports.

PD is hoping to build a deep-sea container terminal on Teesside, which it says could narrow the £30bn economic gap between the North and the South and create up to 7,000 jobs in the region.

Politicians, business leaders and residents have joined PD Ports in lobbying the Government to allow the northern port to expand ahead of congested southern ports.

But Richard Pearson, managing director of rival Hutchison Ports UK, said ports should be developed where there is demand from shipping lines, not for the economic good of a region.

Mr Pearson's company operates the UK's busiest container port at Felixstowe, in Suffolk, which could also be in line for expansion.

However, if his two ports at Harwich and Felixstowe receive Government permission to expand, the UK's port capacity shortage will be met, which would force Teesport to abandon its plans.

Mr Pearson also said trunk road average speeds in the east of the country, where Felixstowe and Harwich are, were higher than any other region in the country.

But Martyn Pellew, group development director at PD Ports, said: "That claim is barmy.

"I have looked into the figures and the amount of traffic that travels below 40mph is 14 per cent in the East, and even worse in the South-East.

"It is only eight per cent in the North-East. Hutchison Ports' figures showed higher average speeds because it was taking into account traffic that travels above 70mph - which of course isn't the average speed of lorries carrying containers from ports."

One of Teesport's arguments for expansion in the North is that it would take thousands of lorry miles off the road, instead transporting cargo directly to the region by sea.

The port has strong local business backing for building its £300m container terminal on brownfield land on the south bank of the Tees.

PD Ports has reminded ministers that the Northern Way, a Government growth strategy, has as one of its objectives an increase in the tonnage passing through northern ports.

Mr Pellew said: "You can carry on overheating the South-East or use planning to address the economic gap.

"How much confidence can you have in the Northern Way if, at the first opportunity to do something, the Government chooses to ignore the opportunity?"

Next month is expected to be make-or-break time for Teesport's plans, as the Government will decide whether to allow Felixstowe and Harwich to expand.

Last month, it gave the go-ahead for a new port on the Thames, which has been opposed by local people concerned about the effect on the environment and traffic congestion.

The Northern Echo is backing Teesport's bid for expansion with its Support Our Port campaign.