Marine aggregates/English Channel consultation

摘要

Applications for a Government View on Marine Dredging Licences for Areas 474 EEC North & 475 EEC South, and Area 473 Greenwich Light East were considered by East Sussex CC in June. It supported the principle of the applications by South Coast Shipping Co Ltd and Hanson Aggregates Marine Ltd subject to safeguards to protect local fisheries, marine fauna and flora, and coastline, sea defences, and archaeological features. There was, however, concern over the potential impact to benthic communities and local fisheries, and the Council wished to see an assessment of the cumulative impacts of existing and proposed licence applications in the East England Channel. The Hastings Shingle Bank is currently the only licensed dredging area off the East Sussex coast. The County Council planning position is generally that in principle it strongly supports the extraction of marine sand and gravel in appropriate locations, provided no adverse impacts are identified.