Rampion 2 wind farm onshore works are ‘needlessly destructive

CPRE Sussex criticises poor public consultation and a lack of respect for the surrounding environment in response to wind farm plans.

CPRE Sussex is ‘intensely disappointed’ to object to elements of plans for a new offshore wind farm.

The charity backs an urgent move to renewable energy sources and, in principle, would be supportive of the sensitive expansion of the Rampion offshore wind farm.

However, it has raised major concerns over how the Rampion 2 public consultation has been run and the impact on landscape and nature of onshore cabling and grid connection works.

CPRE Sussex director Paul Steedman said: “We need to switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy as fast as possible and offshore wind can be a big part of that.

“It is therefore particularly disappointing that the applicant for Rampion 2 has done such a poor job of engaging with local people and appears to favour convenience of engineering over respect for the environment.”

Responding to the planning inspectorate consultation on the plans, CPRE Sussex raised several concerns including:

• Landowners and managers not being correctly notified of plans
• A lack of ‘balanced and effective’ communication with local communities
• Difficulties communicating with the proposers of Rampion 2
• ‘Needlessly destructive and disruptive’ onshore works
• A lack of information about the impact on the historic village of Cowfold

The charity has called for the consultation process to be halted and restarted to ensure all affected communities have a clear opportunity to see detailed plans.

Mr Steedman said: “It is with an intense sense of disappointment that we object to these proposals. It would not have been difficult for those behind Rampion 2 to do better on several aspects of the proposal.”

CPRE Sussex will continue to press the developers to engage in real dialogue with local communities and nature groups.