Advice to Ian Mackenzie
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- From
- Ian Mackenzie
- Date advice given
- 11 April 2013
- Enquiry type
I would like to make my objections to the windfarm development, I am involved in the fishing industry And have had a meeting with representatives from the windfarm development, Nothing from that meeting reassured me That enough is being done For the environmental impact assessment to research the many problems involved with the construction and development of such a very large Windfarm. The noise levels produced from the drilling or piling Both High And low frequency will kill a large quantity of spawned Larvae And juvenile fish unable to move away from the area. Ongoing vibrations will have an effect on the shoaling behaviour For the life of the windfarm. sediments from the drillings will have a large smothering Effect in the water column and to the Habitat living on the seabed. The cables carrying the electricity to the land will cause much disruption to the seabed, and produce an Electro magnetic field which Research has shown some species of fish will not cross, This will have a large effect on the migratory patterns of many species. The position of this windfarm Is in the middle of a large spawning ground, One species sea-bass Spawns in this area Which provides the bass for the Protected Inshore Nursery areas, Established Buy seafas in the 1970s and 80s This could result in very low or no recruitment to these Nursery areas for a three year period,This will have a very large effect on the inshore fishermen along a large stretch of the coast. If more research and monitoring starting with a better baseline establishment of fish stocks, Migration patterns, Small mesh trawling surveys, larvae Sampling, and breeding grounds Is not established We will not see the results and possible destruction Of inshore fish stocks until seven years After the start of construction.
Advice given
Your comments have been noted and we will keep your correspondence on file and make it available for the Acceptance Inspector if an application is submitted by the developer.
As no formal application has yet been made to The Planning Inspectorate by the developer, the Navitus Bay Wind Farm scheme is at its 'Pre-Application' stage. Please note that the developer is expected to submit its application in Quarter 1 of 2014.
Until the application is submitted, your first point of contact should be the developer. Taking part by commenting at this stage does not prejudice your ability to make comments to the Planning Inspectorate on the scheme later in the process. Therefore you should inform the developer about your concerns as soon as possible and allow time for a response. In this instance I note you have already contacted the developer and as such at this stage of the Planning Act 2008 process I would encourage you to continue to correspond directly with them.
Before formally consulting people living in the vicinity of the project, the developer will have prepared a SOCC, having first consulted relevant local authorities about what it should contain. The purpose of the SOCC is to detail the consultation the developer intends to undertake with the local community about their project. The developer is then required to carry out their consultation with the local community as set out in the SOCC. If you have any concerns regarding the consultation that has taken place you may wish to notify the local authority, as they will later have the opportunity to report to the Planning Inspectorate on their view of the adequacy of the developer?s pre-application consultation, measuring what was delivered against the commitments made in the Statement of Community Consultation (SOCC).
Should the application be formally submitted, the Planning Inspectorate on behalf of the Secretary of State has a 28 day period to determine whether to accept the application to progress to Examination. If the application progresses to Examination, the process then asks people to register as an ?Interested Party? with the Planning Inspectorate by sending us a 'Relevant Representation' about the proposal. This Representation will be considered by the appointed Examining Authority during the Examination period.
The Planning Inspectorate has produced several advice notes to help provide an overview of the Planning Act 2008 process and the opportunities to get involved. These are available at the following link: http://infrastructure.planningportal.gov.uk/legislation-and-advice/advice-notes/ . In this instance I recommend the advice note eight series - 'How to get involved in the planning process'.