The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) announced that the third public consultation period for the Goodwins dredging licence application will run from 17th August to midnight on 28th September 2017.

We have been reading the information supplied by Dover Harbour Board (DHB) and have condensed it into a leaflet which we hope will make it much easier for you to respond to the MMO – you can read it here: Points of Objection to the MMO

There are also more details relating to the consultation here: Public Consultation Page

It is really important that you respond to the MMO if you can.  We need to leave them in absolutely no doubt about the strength of public opposition to this dreadful plan.  Please make your response personal and in your own words and it must include some of the points outlined above or the MMO won’t take it seriously.  And please remember to quote the reference MLA/2016/00227.

We have now passed the 15,000 mark for the total number of signatures collected (on paper and online) which is quite a milestone!  Please do continue to share this email with anyone who still may not have heard of the campaign and thank you once again for your continued support.
So please get writing!

We need to raise funds to be able to employ specialist consultants and selective legal advice leading up to the unprecedented third public consultation period, due to start in August 2017.

We have therefore started a JustGiving page to collect donations to the campaign.

Any funds raised that are not needed will be donated to charity.

Dear Goodwin Sands SOS Supporter,

Below is a link to a White Paper written by Pete Holt, Director of 3HConsulting Ltd and the SHIPS project, who is based in Plymouth.  We hope you will find it interesting reading.  This four page report highlights many of the problems associated with geophysical surveys, using evidence from London Gateway (Thames Estuary), Rame Head at Plymouth and the Goodwin Sands.  We instructed our lawyers, Richard Buxton Ltd, to send it to the MMO, Dover Harbour Board, MoD (JCCC) and Historic England.

The Suitability of Pre-Disturbance Geophysical Surveys for Underwater Cultural Heritage in England

Peter Holt is probably the only man in the country to appreciate both the intricacies of magnetometer surveys and our maritime heritage.  The fact that he is prepared to publicly state his opinion clearly demonstrates his conviction over the issue.

If you have a view about any of Peter’s comments we would be delighted if you would please find the time to write to Chris Pater, Head of Marine Planning at Historic England chris.pater@historicengland.org.uk We need to keep up the pressure on them!

Please remember that the petition is still active; we are inching our way towards the 14,000 mark (including our paper signatories) so do share it wide and far, leave no stone unturned. We would love to see it hit 15,000 by the summer!

https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/goodwin-sands-sos-stop-the-dredge

Thank you as always for your continued support.

Regards,

Joanna Thomson and Fiona Punter