Time is running out - your emails & letters are needed now!
If you believe, as we do, that this proposal must be stopped – please send your emails/letters to the following, as soon as possible (plus any others you can think of)…time is running out!
- mailbox@ofwat.gov.uk (put the subject as 'Rapid Desalination Fawley'
- George Eustice MP, Secretary of State for the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, george.eustice.mp@parliament.uk
- By letter to: Rt Hon Dr Julian Lewis MP for New Forest East, House of Commons, Westminster, London, SW1A 0AA
- consultations@naturalengland.org.uk
- enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk
- Philip Dunne MP, Member of Parliament for the Ludlow Constituency. Chairman of Environmental Audit Committee, philip.dunne.mp@parliament.uk
- Southern Water, 'Water for Life'. WFLH@southernwater.co.uk
- The Rt Hon Michael Gove MP Minister for the Cabinet Office, michael.gove.mp@parliament.uk
- The Rt Hon Robert Jenrick. MP Secretary of State for Housing, Communities & Local Government. MHCLG2, Marsham Street, LONDON, SW1P 4DF, robert.jenrick.mp@parliament.uk
- Angela Rayner MP. Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, angela.rayner.mp@parliament.uk
- Luke Pollard MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, luke.pollard.mp@parliament.uk
- Steve Reed MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, Communities & Local Government. steve.reed.mp@parliament.uk
- Tim Farron MP. Spokesperson for HCLG and Environment, Food & Rural Affairs. farront@parliament.uk
- The Green Party, Sian Berry, Jonathan Bartley & Amelia Womack. leader@greenparty.org.uk
If you’re not sure what to say – please feel free to use part or all of this sample letter….
Dear Sir/Madam
I am writing to ask you to object to Southern Water's proposal for a seawater desalination plant at Ashlett Creek, Fawley in Hampshire. This proposal is part of Southern Water's 'Water for Life' programme and would be an environmental disaster.
Approximately 100,000 tons of deoxygenated brine would be discharged DAILY into the shallow waters of the Solent; into oyster beds and fish nurseries. The large intake pipes will draw in small marine creatures.
The Solent comprises -
- Sites of Scientific interest [SSI].
- Wetlands of International Importance [Ramsar].
- Special Protection Area [SPA].
- Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) containing marine habitats and species of European importance.
Desalination is the most expensive way to provide water and has a high carbon footprint, up to 15 times more than alternatives. Southern Water says it wants to be carbon neutral by 2030.
This proposal is within the New Forest National Park and will make a mockery of National Park status.
High-power, 40MW pumps will be creating potential noise nuisance and they will be using enough electricity to power 80,000 homes (equal to the number of homes on the IOW!).
The plant will generate tons of salt landfill waste daily.
The proposal is for the plant, large pipelines and pumping stations. This is a major infrastructure project and will cause disruption for all of Waterside.
Southern Water says it will "Manage public perception through education as a key to obtaining customer acceptability of desalinated water"…!
There will be huge costs of around £600 million for something very rarely needed (a once in 200 year water shortage event), paid for by the customers. Is a hose pipe ban for a couple of months every 200 years really that bad until alternatives in place?
Alternatives to Desalination:
A pipeline to Havant Thicket reservoir will be about one-third of the cost, more reliable and more environmentally friendly. Reservoirs also have great potential to create new community leisure facilities and wildlife habitats. This reservoir now has council approval.
Recycling discharge water at Budds Farm; discharge water which is already freshwater that just needs treating to be brought up to drinking standards.
Southern Water's motto is catchment first. They also need to fix leaks.
Desalination is an expensive, environmentally-damaging solution.
Yours faithfully