SOS RESPONDING TO PROPOSED RAMPION OFFSHORE WINDFARM
 

The proposed Rampion Offshore Windfarm is planned to stretch from Worthing to Newhaven and consist of up to 195 individual turbines with the tips of the blades 180-210 metres above the sea level. Although it would be 13 km offshore, the windfarm would be visible not only from the coast but also from parts of the South Downs National Park. There would also be extensive cabling to be carried onshore between East Worthing and Bolney.

 

The Society’s main concern is the proposed windfarm itself in terms of migrating birds colliding with the turbines plus the displacement of feeding birds from such a large area. These concerns have been expressed in writing to E.ON.

 

A Draft Environmental Statement has been prepared for E.ON by independent environmental consultants. One section of the report concerns ‘Marine Ornithology’ which is based on a series of thirty boat-based surveys. The report contains details of the numbers and species recorded during the surveys together with an analysis of the risk of the various bird species colliding with the turbines. The SOS is using its own sea-watch records to add to this information.

 

SOS is represented on the Environment Project Liaison Group by David Howey and in conjunction with the RSPB we are now studying the E.ON Environmental Statement in detail. On completion, SOS and the RSPB will be in a position to finalise our written responses.