Save Our Coastal Environment

YES To Renewable Energy BUT NOT at the Cost of the Environment

If you care about your coastline and endangered species please read and sign the petition

If you have been lucky enough to visit the South Coast of the Isle of Wight you will appreciate it is blessed with a unique micro climate, stunning scenery, rare flora and an abundance of wildlife including endangered UK species; The Dormouse, Red Squirrels, Lizards, Bats and Buzzards, plus the more common but equally precious Partridge, Badgers and Foxes to name but a few.  All of these species can be found at Flowers Brook.  The beautiful stretches of Coast, from St Catherine’s lighthouse along the stunning Undercliff, and on to Ventnor, are home to a variety of treasured sea life such as Seals, Brown Crab, Lobster, Sea Bass and a delicate, unique marine eco system, St Catherine’s Deep.

Perpetuus Tidal Energy Centre Ltd have applied for planning permission to install 4 x Transformers up to 4.7 Metres high rated 11 kv/33kv and a control room some 24 metres long and 6.8 metres high in an area known as Flowers Brook situated next to the beautiful Steephill Cove. Flowers Brook was, until recently, acknowledged as an AONB and a site of Archaeological Importance. This recognition of Flowers Brook’s beauty and significance mysteriously disappeared in 2012 but, as you can see from the photos, it remains beautiful and the last public meadow in Ventnor, visited, voluntarily cared for and enjoyed by thousands of visitors over many years. 

The offshore aspect of this destruction to your coastal heritage is equally as frightening and, worse still, vague about its impact on the delicate marine environment.  Perpetuus plan to use an area known as St Catherine’s Deep, about 1.5 miles off the coast of the beautiful village of Niton, to install and experiment with different types of sea based turbines many of which will be anchored to the sea bed with cabling, footings and chains weighing hundreds of tonnes and once these are anchored in St Catherine’s Deep it will be impossible to remove them, leaving them to destroy and erode this delicate area of coast for years to come.  For hundreds of years the Ventnor fishing community have practised sustainable fishing in this delicate marine environment, don’t let Perpetuus destroy their good work with experiments.

There is little doubt that any disturbance of St Catherine’s Deep and the surrounding area will cause irreversible damage to this unique and valuable environment. WWW.Coastalwight.gov.uk page 216 acknowledges St Catherine’s Deep lies offshore from the major Undercliff landslide complex and runs parallel to the coastline. The bathymetric deep means that deep water is present relatively close to the toe of the Isle of Wight Undercliff and this may have an effect on wave energy striking this section of coast.  This area has a recent history of extreme landslides and this report indicates any disruption to St Catherine’s Deep where the “Toe” of the Undercliff is located could be detrimental to the areas conservation.  For further information please visit http://www.coastalwight.gov.uk/swmems/conservation_objectives.htm

We acknowledge the need for renewable energy but there are better options and locations rather than allowing the destruction of valuable natural habitats such as Flowers Brook and St Catherine’s Deep.

The Island relies on Tourism as its largest industry/employer and is famous for events such as Walk The Wight, Round The Island Race, Cowes Week and numerous world famous music festivals. 

Will you still want to come to the Island if we let Perpetuus destroy your Heritage Coast?

Why Development At Flowers Brook & St Catherine’s Deep must be Stopped:-

• The loss of habitat for endangered and protected species such as the dormouse and red squirrel
• The destruction and irreversible damage of the seabed and loss of the feeding and migratory area for Brown Crab, Lobster and Sea Bass to name but a few
• The irreversible damage to the environment and habitat of protected species of Trees, Flora, Birds and Animals
• Development is planned in a Conservation Area – blatantly acknowledge on planning notices!!
• Does this proposal contravene the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, established to protect your environment?
• From an IOW government report under the section entitled Conservation: There is only one international designation within this PDZ, the South Wight Maritime SAC, which includes both intertidal and sub tidal habitats and species. The designation covers the entire length of the PDZ and is of biological importance for its reefs, maritime cliffs and submerged caves (http://www.coastalwight.gov.uk/smp/FINAL_SMP_for_web/pdf_MainDoc/Chapter4/Chapter4_PDZ4_Dec10_Final.pdf)
• The destructive impact on beauty spots such as Flowers Brook, Steephill Cove, St Catherine's Lighthouse and Niton
• Damage to tourism, fishing and associated industries resulting in the loss of employment in an area already lacking employment opportunity
• The impact on world famous sporting events and leisure activities such as our Surfing Community, Round The Island Race and Cowes Week – sailing and surfing in the area will become dangerous if this development is permitted.
• Surfers Against Sewage raise many concerns that the offshore development will adversely affect wave behaviour and the reefs necessary for the sport and subsequent economy based upon it.
• The unknown dangers posed by testing and installing new technology in an area notorious for extreme landslips
• The action of turbines are likely to release MORE C02 (carbon dioxide) from the seawater than is saved by use of the turbines.
• Comments about the development can be recorded at:-http://www.iwight.com/planning/AppDetails3.aspx?frmId=29315