Firstly they have announced a series of dates and venues for their public exhibitions. More details of times and venues can be found at their web site www.eon-uk.com/rampion where interested parties can also register their opinions by filling in a questionnaire.
The dates are:
18th February - Brighton
25th February - Worthing
27th February - Newhaven
29th February - Steyning
5th March - Shoreham
10th March - Hove
12th March - Seaford
17th March - Albourne
21th March - Peacehaven
27th March - Henfield
29th March - Lancing
4th April - Littlehampton
For our part we'll be bringing you news later in March of how the Angling Trust and Sussex Sea Angling Network react to this and what they're likely to be submitting to the consultation.
Please feel free to give us your views about the project and whether anglers should rejoice or reject it! email angling@sussexanglingmedia.co.uk or comment on this blog.
We'll be posting more on our soon to be launched web site - more on that soon.
I went along to the E.on wind farm consultation yesterday with some reservations about this scheme . The biggest one being that the proposed site is right in the middle of an area that as a small boat (owner based at brighton marina )i have been fishing for the last 25 years . The feeling that you get from being in the middle of a vast sea with only occassional shipping and land on the distant horizon will be gone if the scheme goes ahead .
ReplyDeleteI spoke to one of the consultants about proposed restrictions within the site once the project was up and running .Basically angling will be allowed but activitys with a potential to snag up on underwater infrastructure (cables , foundations etc ) will be restricted . These activities are trawling , dredging and anchoring . So no anchoring within the site for recreational fishing !? . A restriction on trawling and dredging could have a positive effect as a fish recovery zone .Im not sure if the restriction extends to fixed nets ,the pylons are 600m apart with a 50m safety zone around each pylon so this would make nets congested if not restricted . The site contains a vast number of wrecks which depending on proximity to the turbine pylons could render some unfishable . Which could promote fish recovery .
Depending on the scheme between a 100 and 195 pylon structures will be installed . Once established the structures should promote shellfish growth which will in turn attract other species including fish .This is providing disturbance caused by the blades dosent have an effect . Again there is a potential for fish holding and recovery as the pylons are not going to be "fishable" due to the 50m safety zone. I asked how the restrictions will be policed . CCTV recording will record any infingements .
In summary i see that the wind farm could if trawling, dredging and fixed net restrictions are enforced, provide fish recovery if the turbines do not disturb fish behaviour and the instalation works not destroy breeding grounds .The fish could then re-populate pressurised inshore/offshore waters where the trawling would be more concentrated. If small boat anchoring is restricted this will limit legal recreational fishing to drifting , which isnt very productive at depth and limit fishing to wreck drifting .
It would be intresting to get views from angling clubs / anglers from areas Such as Solway Firth to see how the established wind farms have effected the marine ecology / angling. Eon have stated that at Solway Firth the turbine foundations have acted as a natural reef with a positive effect on the marine life within the wind farm area with a wide range of fish species being found in the farm area . Could 195 wind turbine foundations become 195 potential mini reefs encouraging black bream breeding and homes for crabs and lobsters ?