Rampion Bosses Move To Calm Concern Over New Proposed Cable Route

A new route across Sussex for electricity cables from a proposed expanded Rampion wind farm is causing concern among some residents living nearby.

Their worries have been taken up by Andrew Griffith, the MP for Arundel and South Downs, who's told his constituents:

"The proposed Onshore Cable Corridor impacts a large swath of countryside and communities in the constituency of Arundel and South Downs.

"[It] directly affects at least twelve Parishes from the south west to the north east with Arundel and South Downs."

"Residents may share my concern about the environmental impact on some of our last remaining unspoiled countryside with the proposed route cutting through many ancient habitats and heritage sites on the South Downs."

However, this week Rampion bosses have given more information about the suggested expansion of the sustainable power generation source in the English Channel.

They've suggested that cable installation work would be far less disruptive than has been suggested by some critics.

A spokesperson said:

"The existing cable route for Rampion 1 is not wide enough to accommodate the cables needed to carry this much power ashore.

"Additionally, when the first Rampion was built, it was not known that there would be an opportunity to extend the wind farm."

"Temporary work on the underground cable route would be undertaken over a period of approximately two years, carried out in short sections, to minimise disruption.

"Each key area will be addressed in the appropriate way, directionally drilling under Climping Beach, railways, major roads such as the A27, the River Arun and other key areas, so that they are unaffected by cable laying.

"Rampion is also committed to full reinstatement of the land, so that it is returned to its former state or better along the whole cable route.

"The successful reinstatement of the Rampion 1 cable route demonstrates this commitment."

Andrew Griffith MP outlined his role in the planning process:

"Although Members of Parliament do not have any role in determining planning applications and are not statutory consultees on this aspect of the scheme, I would like to hear the views of local residents and will ensure that these are passed on to the planning authorities, Rampion 2 and local councillors."

The wind farm's own figures say a proposed extension, "Rampion 2", has the potential to supply over 1 million UK homes with "clean, renewable energy", reduce carbon emissions by around 1.8m tonnes per year, and create jobs in the green sector.

A search is going on at the moment to locate a suitable site, off the Sussex coast, for 116 new wind turbines.

Turbines, at present, can generate three times the power output of those currently in use by the existing Rampion wind farm.

It's possible that the turbines will be twice the size of those in place at the moment, but will still be at least eight miles offshore.

If consent is given by public authorities, construction would begin, at the earliest, in 2025.

A formal public consultation on the expansion of the wind farm, and the cable route, is due to begin on July 14, and run for nine weeks.