New concerns over controversial Morgan and Morecambe Offshore Wind Farm cabling plans amid wildlife worries
“Although the survey works do have consent they are already causing inevitable disturbance to these fragile environments.”
Calls have been made to safeguard the precious and much-loved dunes in St Annes and a neighbouring nature reserve as ground investigation surveys get underway on behalf of a controversial windfarm project.
Residents are concerned that works such as bore hole drilling, on behalf of the Morgan and Morecambe Offshore Wind Farms Transmission Assets, could cause damaging disruption to the dunes and the nature reserve on the other side of Clifton Drive North.
One resident says it appears that the work is already causing damage.
He and others have sought assurances that the ongoing activities are being properly monitored by Fylde Council and other organisations.
The contentious transmission assets and cabling corridors projects were approved by the Secretary of State on September 14, overriding a recommendation for refusal from the independent Planning Inspectorate.
Fylde Council leader, Cllr Karen Buckley, spoke out bitterly against that decision, but has ruled out any legal challenge to that decision.
Despite its opposition to the development, the council said the legal threshold for a challenge had not been met, meaning it would not pursue litigation.
Meanwhile, some concerned residents say it is in the public interest for ongoing works to be monitored and activities given greater visibility.
At 66 year old St Annes resident who lives close to the dunes, said: “The Nature Reserve incorporates at least one Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and both it and the Sand Dunes are recognised as important and fragile coastal environments.
“Although the survey works do have consent they are already causing inevitable disturbance to these fragile environments.
“Both the Nature Reserve and the Sand Dunes are also habitats for the statutory protected Sand Lizards.
“Fylde Council advise me that the project contractors have environmental monitors on site and that the Fylde Coast Rangers are also observing the on site activities.
“However, there has been very little information made available to the general public and I believe it is in the public Interest for these activities to be reported on and given greater visibility.”
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Fylde Council said today: “The ground investigation surveys taking place on the beach, dunes and Nature Reserve at Clifton Drive North are being carried out by Morecambe Offshore Windfarm as part of its proposed project.
“Fylde Council is not involved in organising or managing these works.
“We understand residents care about this stretch of coastline. The dunes are a fragile and important habitat, home to valuable plant life and protected species including sand lizards.
“Our parks and coastal team are monitoring the works and keeping in close contact with the Morecambe project team about the wildlife on the site.”
The spokesman advised that questions about the works, including timescales and reinstatement, should be directed to Morecambe Offshore Windfarm at [email protected].
More information is available at https://morecambeoffshorewind.com/ground-investigation-surveys-landfall-sites/