Representation by BARRY MILES
- Date submitted
- 1 November 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
This dreadful proposal is characterised by having minimum benefits and maximum drawbacks despite huge costs:- -We are being asked to accept what is being described as only an ”extension” to the existing Rampion 1 windfarm, when in fact Rampion 2 will be in a different league in respect of size, layout and with turbines more than twice the height of Rampion 1 turbines. -The enormous cost of more than £3 Bn would only result in an installation having a low efficiency of around 36% and have only a limited life expectancy of 25 years, following which it will need dismantling and disposal of the huge amount of material involved. The times when generation will be zero or very low, the shortfall in demand will have to come from energy sources on demand. Better deployment would see the siting being moved to a region of higher wind density that could produce efficiencies of 60% or more. Such areas exist in the North Sea and off the coast of Scotland. Surely there must be a topic specific hearing held to review alternatives ? -The visual impact offshore will completely ruin the beauty of Sussex enjoyed by residents and visitors alike. The experience gained from the Navitus Bay project in Dorset should have taught us some lessons ?. That project was turned down because of the impact on the visual effects on the Heritage coast, and the downward trend of tourists and visitors concluded from a survey. There are clear parallels in this case to Sussex. In addition, the potential for damage to migrating birds and insects, the marine ecology, and the kelp forest that is just beginning to grow back. -The scouring of the seabed to clear cable trenches and foundations for the turbines will result in huge amounts of sediment being disturbed, and the piling noise for foundations will be very loud and prolonged, and result in a major deterrent for visitors ,the tourist industry generally and residents in particular. - The onshore 36Km connection route will pass through the South Downs National Park resulting in major upheaval to the hedges,trees and hedgerows along the way, and set back the efforts that have been made over the past few years to encourage “Rewilding”. In addition the chaos on the major roads like the A 259 during the construction process will be dreadful. You cannot mitigate for these events.