Kent Wildlife Trust has launched a campaign calling on the National Grid to “Rethink Sea Link” and avoid the proposed route which causes the most environmental impact.

Conservationists are concerned the current route for a proposed electricity cable that links Kent and Suffolk will cause disturbance to wildlife at the internationally important National Nature Reserve Pegwell Bay and surrounding nature sites.

Whilst Kent Wildlife Trust supports renewable energy solutions, the trust is worried that the plans are harmful to wildlife and will potentially involve trenching areas of Pegwell Bay, a wildlife-rich habitat with multiple protections. 

National Grid acknowledges that the proposed route for Sea Link has numerous environmental constraints that will directly impact marine and terrestrial designated sites for nature conservation and that these impacts can be mitigated through careful design and trenchless techniques. 

Kent Wildlife Trusts Planning and Policy Officer, Emma Waller said: “We are hugely disappointed to see that nature is yet again not valued and are asking the National Grid to review the strategic alternative routes and their impacts on the environment to choose the least damaging route. In short, we want the National Grid to “Rethink Sea Link.” 

“We have already experienced the impacts of trenching at Pegwell Bay, when in 2018, the National Grid, in partnership with Belgian Elia Group, installed the Nemo Link electricity cable. Like Sea Link, trenchless techniques were the preferred method of installation, however, commitments were reneged, and open-cut trenching techniques were used, resulting in irreparable damage to the salt marsh and marine habitats. We are concerned that the mistakes of the past will be repeated.”

Sandwich and Pegwell Bay is a haven for wildlife, designated as internationally important and protected by UK law. The site is home to Kent’s largest population of seals and the Sea Link plans have only involved a ‘desktop mammal survey’ and ecologists remain concerned that the development will impact the seal colonies living along the shore. 

The cable is planned through the protected area of Margate Long Sands Special Area of Conservation (SAC) which supports Annex I habitats which are protected under European Law and the development has the potential to cause irreversible habitat loss to Goodwin Sands which is in a Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) and supports diverse epifauna such as Sabellaria Reefs, a priority habitat and blue mussel beds. The sandbanks are also important spawning and nursery grounds for species such as thornback rays. 

The golden plover, turnstone, and red-throated diver have all been recorded at Pegwell Bay and the surrounding sites and are at risk of being displaced through disturbance. The golden plover and turnstone are designated features for Thanet Coast and Sandwich Bay Special Protection Area (SPA)  

The proposed route for overhead cables and converter and substation will directly impact Sandwich Bay and Hacklinge Marshes SSSI, Ash Level and South Richborough Pasture Local Wildlife Site (LWS) and Woods and Grassland Minster Marshes LWS.  

The development would also result in the loss of 13.6ha from within Minster Marshes, an area with priority habitats and functionally linked land which plays a vital role in supporting the species for which Thanet Coast and Sandwich Bay SPA has been designated. Significant numbers of golden plover have been recorded using the field where the new converter and substation are proposed.  

Emma Waller continued: “If nature lovers are concerned about this threat to wildlife, they have until the 18^th of December to comment on the consultation and highlight their objections. People can also find out more by visiting our website and signing up to learn more about our campaigns.”

The consultation can be accessed via the National Grid’s website.

Kent Wildlife Trust’s response can be viewed here.

Kent Wildlife Trust’s response outlines: 

• We support steps taken to develop renewable energy solutions, but it must not be at the cost of wildlife. 
• We are not convinced that the proposed route can be adequately mitigated for and therefore urge National Grid to review alternative routes. 
• We want National Grid to recognise the damage caused by Nemo Link and provide a detailed assessment to ensure improvements are made. 
• Our concern at the use of desktop surveys as a replacement to fuller and more detailed ecological surveys. 
• The failure to carry out reptile, bat, water vole, otter, beaver, badger, invertebrate, and river aquatic surveys before the plans are submitted for a Development Consent Order (DCO). 
• The loss of connectivity for wildlife through the development of 13.6 hectares of wildlife-rich land.