Stephen Kirkwood, an East Yorkshire wheat producer, has filed a complaint against Able Marine Energy Park (AMEP) to the European Commission.
The development of AMEP, which will be built to accommodate the deployment of large components for offshore wind farms in the North Sea and beyond, requires a site that will compensate for the loss of estuary land. For this purpose, 100ha of Mr. Kirkwood’s land could be flooded to create a new habitat for bird population, specifically black-tailed godwits. He said that he would lose about 1,000t of yearly wheat production because of the project.
Furthermore, Mr. Kirkwood pointed out that AbleUK’s plan to start the construction of the project and compensation sites simultaneously would endanger the population of black-tailed godwits, because they would be left without a habitat in the construction phase, which would take several years.
“Whether this is the best overall solution is indeed a moot point but we have to abide by Natural England’s interpretation of the EU Directive and Natural England are the government’s appointed body responsible for ensuring the protection of the natural environment,” Farmers Weekly quotes AbleUK’s development director Neil Etherington as saying.
Since Mr. Kirkwood is a tenant on the land that belongs to the Crown Estate, the authority responded by saying that he would be provided with financial compensation should the AMEP project proceed with development.
Offshore WIND Staff; Image: Able