Dear CLG member,
I hope you had a great Christmas and I would like to take this opportunity wish you all the best for the year ahead.
We have previously introduced the Outer Dowsing Offshore Wind project to you at the first round of community liaison group meetings and I would like to take this opportunity to update you on the work undertaken to date.
During the period 1 – 29 November 2022 we undertook our Phase 1 Consultation with those communities directly affected by the proposed development. This included a series of Public Information Events and the establishment of four Community Liaison Groups, which all met for the first time in November and December 2022.
Specifically, this consultation included in its scope our initial proposals for a cable corridor that would allow the wind farm to bring power cables onto land in an area south of Anderby Creek and an option to connect to the National Grid in the area of Weston Marsh, north of Spalding. Following this, we have been made aware of various engineering and environmental considerations potentially affecting this proposed cable corridor. As a result of this feedback the project has decided to assess an additional alternative route in parallel with the original proposed cable corridor. Once fully assessed the project will make a route selection based upon the full information available and will continue with a single proposed route option.
This alternative corridor lies generally to the west of the original route – predominantly to the west of the A52 between Wainfleet All Saints and Butterwick. Details of both routes now being considered are contained in the attached newsletter and on the project website - https://www.outerdowsing.com/document-library/
Please note that the change described only affects the selection of a route option for a (southern) cable corridor to Weston Marsh. Until such time as the project’s connection point to the National Grid is confirmed we will also continue to consider a (northern) cable corridor to a proposed new National Grid substation east of Alford.
The introduction of the additional, alternative route represents a substantive change to the proposed project scope. Therefore we now plan to publish a revised Outer Dowsing Offshore Wind Statement of Community Consultation (SoCC) and to extend our Phase 1 Consultation process to allow for input and feedback on the alternative route.
During February 2023 we will hold a new series of Public Information Events for affected communities, setting out the additional proposals. At the same time we will be holding our second round of Community Liaison Groups (CLGs). We would welcome your continued help in bringing these new developments and the related events to the attention of your councillors and the wider community. The programme for the proposed Public Information Events is as follows:
· Wainfleet Coronation Hall – 21 February 2023
· Old Leake Community Centre – 24 February 2023
In addition, we will be holding the next community liaison group meeting w/c 20 February – further details to follow.
As ever, we would be pleased to address any queries you or your residents may have in relation to Outer Dowsing Offshore Wind.
Best wishes,
Andy.
Andrew Acum
Managing Director
Mercury Group Ltd.
