MPs’ concerns over wind farm as expansion debate rages on
Two Sussex MPs have expressed concerns over plans to expand the Rampion wind farm off the West Sussex coast as the project continues to divide public opinion.
The project could see up to 325-metre-high turbines – the same height as the Eiffel Tower and taller than the highest peak of the South Downs — installed.
The expansion of the existing wind farm would involve the construction of a 22 mile onshore cable corridor, up to 50 metres wide, running through Climping beach and cutting diagonally through a large swathe of the South Downs National Park to a new substation at Bolney.
Nick Gibb, MP for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton, said: “I support the government’s aim for the UK to be a world leader in renewable energy and the government’s ambitious programme to tackle climate change, but this stretch of the West Sussex coastline is an inappropriate location for such a large wind farm.
“The English Channel is too narrow to enable the turbines to be positioned far enough out to sea to be acceptable. This proposal does not, therefore, comply with the government’s recommendations for offshore wind farms of this size.
“There are far better alternatives for wind farm expansion, for example at Dogger Bank in the North Sea.”
Andrew Griffith, MP for Arundel and South Downs, shared a similar view.
He said: “Offshore wind power is already playing a valuable role in our journey to net zero. However, with plenty of capacity available at sites with more reliable wind in the North Sea, I am unconvinced that West Sussex is the best place for such a large wind farm expansion.
“In particular, I share the concerns of local residents that creating a second onshore cable corridor is unnecessarily disruptive, cutting across ancient-woodland and prime farmland. The South Downs National Park rightly has the highest degree of protection in law and has been bisected by cables once already.”
During public meetings in Littlehampton and Middletonon-sea, campaigners argued that there was already 60GW of capacity in the Crown Estate’s pipeline to meet the 2030 target of 40GW, and so it is expected that these ‘less attractive projects’ will not go forward ‘without affecting the target’.
In their joint statement, the MPs added that, in 2016, the UK Government’s Offshore Energy Strategic Environmental Assessment recommended that wind farms should be at least 25 miles from a national park.
They said: “The proposed expansion, however, would be only ten-and-a-half miles from the South Downs National Park boundary. The wind farm would be no further from the shore than the existing turbines at a minimum of eight miles.
“Badly planned wind farms have the potential to cause unnecessary onshore and offshore harm and damage the local economies of seaside towns along the south coast.”
Meanwhile, council leaders have cast doubt on claims tourism would be affected by the plans – a concern raised at the recent public meeting in Littlehampton.
Mr Gibb also suggested the visual impact on the seascape would be ‘hugely damaging, particularly to tourism’.
But in a Twitter post, Shaun Gunner, the Conservative leader of Arun District Council, wrote: “Can anyone provide evidence on the impact on, e.g, Brighton? Not sure they are struggling for tourists.”
The leader of Worthing Borough Council Daniel Humphreys said there was ‘no evidence’ Rampion 1 had a negative effect on tourism.
Deputy leader Kevin Jenkins echoed that claim. He wrote: “No evidence of negativity, it could provide an opportunity for Littlehampton harbour businesses. Sounds like a lot of ‘hot air’ about nothing.”
For more on the story, see page 6. What do you think? Email us your thoughts to ws.letters@jpimedia.co.uk – or write to us via the address on page 8.