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Save our Goodwin Sands from dredging by Dover Harbour Board

goodwinsandssos@gmail.com
Goodwin Sands SOSGoodwin Sands SOS
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Next Stop, Downing Street!

Next Stop, Downing Street!

Oct 28, 2016

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***LATEST NEWS***

Listen and watch out for us in the news on Monday (31st October 2016) from 6:30am! BBC Radio Kent and BBC South East Today are both covering us delivering the campaign petition to Downing Street, which has now reached a massive 11,840 signatures – with an increase of 933 in the past 48 hours!!

And don’t forget to write your second letter of objection before November 16th 2016. It can be as brief as you like, but just write it as every email or letter counts!

Campaign Funds Urgently Needed

Campaign Funds Urgently Needed

Oct 26, 2016

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Dear Supporters, as a result of the high level of public opposition we have generated through the SOS Campaign, the MMO opened a second pubic consultation phase which ends on the 16th November. This consultation phase is an opportunity for everyone to write/email again to the MMO to express their objection to DHB’s inadequate responses to the questions raised during the first public consultation phase.

We have plans for a final push on the Campaign as the deadline approaches and need to raise some funding to pay for the materials we need to create a high profile impact. Can you please help us by donating a pound or five to help us win this Battle of the Sands and STOP THE DREDGE? We are hoping to raise £200. The precise nature of our plans has to remain confidential at this point, but all will become clear in the near future.

Please pledge a small donation and bring it to the Astor Theatre where James has kindly agreed to collect and hold the funds for us.

Many thanks again for your support and don’t forget to send your second objection email to the Marine Management Organisation on marine.consents@marinemanagement.org.uk before Weds 16th Nov. Please quote reference: MLA/2016/00227

Main image: “DONATIONS PLEASE” (CC BY 2.0) by Michael C Clark

Groups warn dredging will put proposed Kent marine conservation zone at risk

Oct 19, 2016

The Guardian, 19th January 2016

Plan to extract sand and gravel to further develop Dover port will endanger marine life, say conservationists

A stretch of sandbars and shoals off the Kent coast home to seals, famous for shipwrecks and proposed as a marine conservation zone is at risk from dredging, conservationists warn.

Dover Harbour Board is considering dredging for sand and gravel from Goodwin Sands, which lies around six miles out from Deal, to expand cargo facilities and build a marina at Dover port.

But groups including the Kent Wildlife Trust, Marine Conservation Society and British Divers Marine Life Rescue have all expressed their concern at the extraction, which could start as soon as August.

Although the area has been dredged before for Dover port and Ramsgate up the coast, the amount of sand and gravel would be more than a third of the total amount extracted previously, between 1976 and 1998.

Goodwin Sands has also been under consideration for the last five years as a marine conservation zone (MCZ), which nearly doubled in number in England over the weekend.

An important site for grey and common seals to “haul out” on the sand to mate and rest, it provides foraging grounds for birds and the seabed is home to blue mussels and ross worm reefs. The worm is associated with a greater variety of marine life.

If the shifting sands of the area are confirmed as an MCZ next year, as conservationists hope, any dredging would need to undertake additional assessments to those needed without the protection.

Stephen Marsh, operations manager at the British Divers Marine Life Rescue, which rescues seal pups up and down the Kent coast, said he was concerned at the prospect of dredging at Goodwin Sands.

“Common seals give birth to their pups out on the sandbanks; there are animals being born in July and possibly August. August is peak moulting time. The adults need to come out of the water then and spend as much time on the sand as possible. If they dredge at that time, that’s of concern.”

Bryony Chapman, marine policy officer at the Kent Wildlife Trust, said although the area had been dredged before, the amount being proposed now was a large volume.

“It’s still recovering from that previous dredging and we wouldn’t want it taken right back again. It’s an important site for seals. There are hundreds of seals that haul out there – it’s a significant number of animals.”

She added that the trust had met with the port and hoped they would seriously consider alternatives.

Dr Jean-Luc Solandt of the Marine Conservation Society said he was concerned at the impact dredging could have on species, and potential harm to the substrate they live on.

But the port argues the area has been dredged before and would be capable of recovering.

“Goodwin Sands is a dynamic, highly mobile system and therefore the marine communities impacted by dredging at this location would be expected to recover well following disturbance,” says a report on the proposed scope of an environmental impact assessment of the dredging, commissioned by the port.

Conservationists said they were not opposed to the expansion of the port but the sand and gravel should be obtained from a less sensitive site.

For its part, the port argues taking the material from Goodwin Sands is a good local option and obtaining materials from further afield would result in higher CO2 emissions and NOx pollution, as well as road congestion.

A spokesman for the port said: “The Port of Dover is currently considering options, including Goodwin Sands, for sourcing aggregate for the approved Dover Western Docks Revival development, which includes a cargo and distribution centre, transformed waterfront, job opportunities for local people and greater space within the Eastern Docks for ferry traffic.

“We are actively engaging with a wide range of conservation organisations and authorities prior to any decision being made. Goodwin Sands has been identified as a good source of aggregate by the Crown Estate. We are in the process of undertaking a thorough environmental impact assessment and have been consulting with consultees to ensure their concerns are fully taken into account.”

The proposed dredging would take place over an 11.6 sq km area on the south part of the sands, in two phases, the first starting in August this year and ending in November 2017, and the second from March 2022 to August 2022.

Goodwin Sands is a notoriously dangerous stretch of coastal waters, with thousands of shipwrecks thought to lie there. In the great storm of 1703, 90 vessels were believed to have sunk, including a notable warship, the Stirling Castle.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jan/19/dredging-proposed-kent-marine-conservation-zone-risk

Campaign Update

Campaign Update

Oct 16, 2016

 

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Dear Goodwin Sands SOS Supporter

Progress but no victory yet!

You may have read the recent Mail Online article that gave the false impression that the campaign to stop dredging of the Goodwin Sands has succeeded.  This email is to clarify that, though we have made progress in recent months, the battle has not yet been won.

 

Where do we stand now?

Thanks to this campaign, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has asked Dover Harbour Board (DHB) to provide detailed information regarding the locations of all military air crash sites in the dredging zone, plus the fate of the crews. This involves excavating six potential crash sites identified in the dredging zone, plus a further eight on the boundary. This would be an expensive and complex operation for DHB, so they appear to be ignoring the MOD’s request.

Thanks to this campaign, a range of serious concerns were raised by national conservation and heritage groups. As a result of a request for further information from the government’s Marine Management Organisation (MMO), DHB has responded to these concerns. We consider their response insufficient, verging on cavalier. There is now a further public consultation period until November 16th to consider DHB’s responses.  They can be read here.

 

What is the next step for our campaign?

On expert advice from Marinet www.marinet.org.uk this campaign is now focussing on protecting the war graves located in the sands, as well as environmental and wildlife concerns. Below, we have condensed essential information relating to the new consultation period and DHB’s latest position. Please use this to inform your further emails/letters of objection to the MMO.

It is vital that we write again to the MMO. We must now strongly object to the dredging proposal in light of:

  • DHB’s unsound response to the MMO’s serious concerns
  • DHB’s disregard for the MOD’s war grave excavation request

When emailing the MMO, you MUST quote the reference number as before:

Email: Marine.consents@marinemanagement.org.uk

Reference: MLA/2016/00227

 

What next for the petition?

As well as writing to the MMO, we must keep sharing and signing the petition.  We now have 10,800 signatures. Can we get this to 15,000? We believe we can.

Our MP, the Rt Hon Charlie Elphicke is arranging for us to present the petition ourselves to Number 10, Downing Street.  This is an incredible publicity opportunity and makes an impressive signature count all the more important!

If you live nearby, we are holding a Campaign Update Meeting on Saturday 22nd Oct at 4pm in Deal. Here is a link to the meeting on Facebook. Please do join us if you can.

Finally, thank you so much for your ongoing support and encouragement – together we can STOP THE DREDGE of the Goodwin Sands!

Joanna Thompson (on behalf of the Save our Sands Campaign)

Update Meeting

Update Meeting

Oct 14, 2016

Crowd

Saturday, 22 October, 4-6pm: there is an URGENT update meeting for the Goodwin Sands SOS campaign.

We are now in a second period of public consultation, ending 16 November. At our meeting on Saturday, we will decide how to best use this time and ways you can be DIRECTLY INVOLVED.

Despite the Mail on Sunday’s article, we have NOT won yet. We are still fighting to stop profit-driven Dover Harbour Board disregarding our heritage, marine life, coastline and war graves.

Sign the Petition

Sign the Petition


Recent Posts

  • Goodwin Sands Conservation Trust website
  • VE75
  • East Kent seafront resident’s concerns for coastal erosion and future dredging plans
  • Messages from Dover & Deal prospective parliamentary candidates
  • Goodwin Sands Judicial Review has been dismissed

Recent Comments

  • Mauro Feltrin on Messages from Dover & Deal prospective parliamentary candidates
  • Mary Bassendine on Judicial Review Granted for Dredging Decision
  • jules palliser on Judicial Review Granted for Dredging Decision
  • Joanna Thomson on Possible WWII bomber discovered on the Goodwin Sands
  • Pauline Terry on Sir Tim Smit KBE speaks out against the rapacious mining of the Goodwin Sands

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