Save Minster Marshes
NEW CONSULTATION - ofgem
Before planning has been granted for Sea Link, OFGEM are proposing to advance funds to National Grid Plc to speed through the following works:
1) Early construction activities.
2) Compulsory purchase of land.
3) Enabling works such as reconductoring the newly built line from Richborough to Canterbury (this line is not included in the Sea Link DCO or within order limits for project).
4) Early procurement commitments (buying cables etc).
5) Other activities approved in advance by Ofgem (not disclosed).
The funding request is for 48% of the total projected project cost, higher than the usual 20% cap for advancing projects without planning permission.
They are asking for public to respond on email by 21st August, the response should be entirely based around funding and works prior to planning permission. Impacts should be directed to the Planning Inspectorate.
EMAIL RESPONSE TO:
(Points are added to this email when you click on it to send)
National Grid - Sea Link Project
the largest electricity converter station in Europe
Proposed to be sited on the Minster Marshes close to the Minster Stream and River Stour.
The development will be 28 meters tall (the height of a 10 storey building) covering a huge 9 hectares (22 acres), within meters of Hackling Marshes Site of Special Scientific interest, known for it’s Nightingales and red listed species.
“An act of environmental vandalism”
The proposed construction schedule is seven days a week 7am to 7pm and 5pm finish on weekends.
The site lies in a groundwater flood zone, surrounded by ditches. The converter station would be built next to the Minster Stream, which flows into the tidal River Stour and out to Pegwell Bay.
The Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) plans are inadequate, the soft clay soil drains poorly and is unsuitable for heavy construction, as structures sink into it. In an attempt to address this, a late application was made to raise the building 2 meters using 40,000 lorry loads of aggregate and deep piles to stabilise the building, however the bedrock is too deep to support the piles.
A permanent 10 meter wide haul road would cross the marsh, with 27 culverts at water crossings, due the important archeology under the marshes the road is required to sit on top, this will again be a challenge on this soil type.
Roads and footpaths would be closed during construction.
The project requires large volumes of water, and project documents note a risk of groundwater contamination, on which Thanet relies.
The area was heavily bombed in World War II, creating a high risk of unexploded ordnance for excavations deeper than three meters.
“A lot of water fowl like to fly over water so they follow the Stour river valley through Minster Marshes, but they are now planning to put up supersized pylons. In 2003 there were 179 mute swans killed because they hit power lines here, they now want to put up more.”
Pegwell Bay where the cables will make landfall is a North East Kent Marine Protected Area (NEKMPA) a highly protected area for nature conservation:
Two Special Areas of Conservation (Thanet Coast SAC & Sandwich Bay SAC)
A Special Protection Area (Thanet Coast & Sandwich Bay SPA)
A Wetland of International Importance (Thanet Coast & Sandwich Bay Ramsar site)
Site of Special Scientific Interest (all Thanet Coast SSSI – see below, and part of the Sandwich Bay to Hacklinge Marshes SSSI)
Kent’s largest National Nature Reserve – the ‘Sandwich and Pegwell Bay NNR‘
Thanet Coast Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ)
“Pegwell Bay is an internationally important site for wildlife.
It’s also home to Kent’s largest seal population its mudflats, salt marshes and intertidal habitats provide vital feeding, breeding and resting areas.”
Boundary map
Save Minster Marshes Merchandise
Show your support in the fight against destruction from National Grid's SeaLink project. We agree with the need for green energy but this should not be built at the expense of our environment.