Off-shore wind farm plan in the spotlight

Proposals for an offshore wind farm stretching across the Sussex coastline and leading to a sub-station at Bolney will be discussed by a county council scrutiny committee tomorrow (Friday).
By The Newsroom
Published 8th Jul 2013, 18:25 BST
Porposed Rampion Wind FarmPorposed Rampion Wind Farm
Porposed Rampion Wind Farm

Plans for the Rampion Offshore Wind Farm have been drawn up by energy giant E.ON and the latest West Sussex debate on their viability will be webcast because of huge public interest. The meeting of the Environmental and Community Services Select Committee takes place at County Hall in Chichester.

County councillor for Haywards Heath East and committee chair John de Mierre said: “This is one of the biggest planning applications that Sussex has seen for many years, so given the implications and the public interest, we felt it important that the debate should be webcast.”

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A report to the scrutiny committee says ‘qualified support’ could be considered but expresses “disappointment” that E.ON’s proposals to mitigate the impact do not go far enough.

Aerial view of Robin Rigg wind farm in the Solway Firth at the half way point of construction. The wind farm off Sussex would have a similar appearance.Aerial view of Robin Rigg wind farm in the Solway Firth at the half way point of construction. The wind farm off Sussex would have a similar appearance.
Aerial view of Robin Rigg wind farm in the Solway Firth at the half way point of construction. The wind farm off Sussex would have a similar appearance.

It says: “Immediate benefits to local communities and the local environment have been overlooked and there is a missed opportunity to give greater weight to the acceptability of the scheme to local communities along the cable route and near the sub-station.”

WSCC has to submit comments to the Planning Inspectorate by August.

The proposed Rampion Offshore Wind Farm would extend from Peacehaven to Worthing with up to 175 turbines out at sea. Cables would make landfall near Brooklands Golf Centre between East Worthing and Lancing then travel under the beach, the sea defences, the A259 and part of the national cycle route.

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They would go underground for around 26kms through Adur, Worthing, Horsham, Mid Sussex, and parts of the South Downs National Park to reach a new sub-station at Bolney. If given the go-ahead the operation would generate electricity for 450,000 homes a year.

WSCC officers are also concerned about the impact on Shoreham Port with fears it may suffer due to loss of fishing areas and shipping which would find the port less attractive due to having to divert around the wind farm.

The online webcast will start at 10.30am on July 12 from http://www.westsussex.public-i.tv/core/portal/home

Related topics:E.ON