March 2024
As in the message below shared with ADC, we are happy to share the attached input to the Rampion 2 Examination Authority in the form of 3 substantive written representations (WRs) prepared by Sussex community organisations. We are also sharing this input with other bodies including WSCC, SDNPA and area MPs who have been very supportive of our concerns and have objected to Rampion 2.
The attached PDF named "1-Overview...". has a one-page bullet point summary of each WR. We hope that you will find these informative and can share this appropriately with Councillor and Officer colleagues at your Council.
Sincerely,
The Secretary
The Littlehampton Society
Subject: Rampion 2 Examination Input from Sussex Community Organisations
Further to previous correspondence on this matter over the past few years, we write to inform you of the submission of three written representations (WRs) to the Rampion 2 Examination Authority (ExA) by local community organisations operating under the umbrella of Protect Coastal Sussex (PCS).
These WRs were submitted on 28th February, 2024, for the ExA Deadline 1. They encapsulate critical local community perspectives supported by evidence on the proposed Rampion 2 development.
We appreciated material in the ADC statutory Local Impact Report and Principal Areas of Disagreement Statement (PADS).
Attached to this correspondence, you will see the full versions of the three substantive representations, each provided in separate PDF files with accompanying summaries:
WR-1: Local Impact Assessment (LIA)
WR-2: Due Diligence on claims about the performance, benefits, and impacts
WR-3: Consideration of Alternatives in the Rampion 2 Examination
Additionally, a concise overview of key aspects for each WR is offered on one page (one for each WR) in Attachment 1.
Drawing from the evidence presented in these representations, we wish to highlight some overriding considerations that we believe merit careful attention:
Apart from the potential breach of the European Convention of Landscapes and the new Levelling up and Regeneration Act (2023) that increased the protection of National Parks by making it an active duty for Rampion 2 to further the statutory functions of the South Downs National Park (according to Natural England as we cite, rather than only take note of them), we see no net biodiversity gains either in the marine or terrestrial settings, rather the opposite.
We refer to various PAD Statements by statutory consultees to support that conclusion.
We also see a significant adverse impact on the south coast tourism sector over time, which we attempt to simply quantify by proxy. And we offer clear evidence that refutes the Applicant's methods and claims there would be no adverse impact on the tourism economy.
We trust that the information and evidence presented in our representations will be considered in the Council's ongoing interactions with the Rampion 2 ExA in the coming months, leading up to August 2024 completion of this Examination.
Respectfully,
The Secretary
Protect Coastal Sussex (PCS)
Member of the Rampion 2 Community Project Liaison Group
On behalf of PCS Co-Chairs:
Chris Lee, Aldwick
Melanie Jones, Middleton on Sea
Lawrence Haas, Littlehampton
Meera Smethurst, Cowfold
1- Overview Attachment - One page summaries of 3 PCS Written Representations to the Rampion 2 ExA
Protect Coastal Sussex WR1 Local Impact Assessment_28 Feb 2024_2
PCS WR3 - Consideration of Alternatives in the Rampion 2 Examination 28 Feb 2024 Circulation