Representation by Littlehampton Town Council (Littlehampton Town Council)
- Date submitted
- 3 November 2023
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
Dear Sirs Response from Littlehampton Town Council to the Rampion 2 Wind Farm Proposal These proposals were considered by the Town Council at its meeting held on 12 October 2023. The Council welcomed the proposal which embraced the use of wind farm technology as both a sustainable form of power generation and, recent evidence would suggest, encouraged the regeneration and growth of the marine environment. The proposed development will have a significant effect on the Town. The visual, environmental, and engineering challenges that the scheme presents are significant and Council sought reassurances regarding the safety and minimisation of the impact on the environment of the onshore cabling system needed to transmit the energy generated to the inland network. In the early days of these proposals, the Town Council identified the impact of the wind farm on the local fishing fleet, the Harbour, and the existing sea and river flood defences as their primary concerns in connection with this scheme. In terms of the impact on the local fishing industry and harbour, we await publication of Arun District Council’s Local Impact Assessment. The other concerns however remain, and the Council would like to put forward some practical ways in which the Scheme, if approved, could contribute to the area. It is our view that a development of this size and significance could have a significant impact on the existing sea and river flood defences and their management in the future. We therefore consider that the Scheme should make a meaningful contribution to the much-needed repair and ongoing maintenance of the existing river and coastal defence infrastructure. Another way that the Scheme could provide long-term community support would be a visitor centre facility similar to that which has been set up in Brighton for Rampion 1. Our members believe this would work well as a visitor attraction and could be introduced in Littlehampton. Finally, regarding the process of approving this type of development and in view of its central location and facilities, we would like to offer the Town Council’s Offices as a possible venue for the Public Examination. Yours sincerely Councillor Freddie Tandy Town Mayor Littlehampton Town Council