Centre Port boss makes the case for £2 billion Wash scheme - and why he thinks it will boost south Lincolnshire
The man behind a £2 billion project to create a hydro electric dam across The Wash says it will create an economic boost for our area.
Centre Port wants to build a flood barrier with deep sea port - and a road to link Lincolnshire and Norfolk- along with the capability of generating enough renewable energy to power 600,000 homes using tidal power.
Chief Executive James Sutcliffe told the Spalding Guardian that the scheme would have an economic benefit by creating more than a thousand new jobs - along with protecting the fenlands against the impact of climate change.
He said: “It should have a beneficial effect to the economies on both sides of The Wash in terms of the possibilities for new factories and jobs and businesses.
“By having a deep sea container terminal connected to the rest of the world will significantly increase the potential for trade and business in this region. In additional renewable energy that can be piped through to Norfolk and Lincolnshire.”
Mr Sutcliffe, who helped to privatise Boston Port and has worked on similar projects in Poland, said that the UK needs additional container terminal space given that most freight is only currently docked in the south of the country.
The firm says the container terminal would be able to cater for large sea going vessels and could process between 1.5million and 4 million containers a year.
Mr Sutcliffe said that the plan would not affect the operation of Boston, King’s Lynn and Wisbech Ports but would be ‘positive’.
He said that containers, once unloaded, could be transported to the ports via electric powered barges or via the dual carriageway planned over the barrage.
Mr Sutcliffe said: “Part of the thinking is the location as the port would be 50% closer to the East and West Midlands.
“There would be savings in haulage costs and international trade will be come and go through the port. We are also seriously thinking about a road rail connection to northern European ports.”
The project also includes a lock for fishing boats and sailing vessels to get into the open sea.
Also part of the plans is a dual carriageway which would link Wainfleet to Hunstanton in a 20 minute journey.
Tidal turbines would harness the incoming and outgoing tides twice day to provide energy for 600,000 homes.
The project also aims to include a flood defence with a 11 mile barrage, which the company says would protect not only Lincolnshire and Norfolk but also Cambridgeshire.
Mr Sutcliffe said: “It is enormously important for the Fens.
“The impact of glacial and ice sheet melting is that the sea levels will rise in a seriously short space of time.
“Something has to be done to protect the Fens.”
Mr Sutcliffe said the project would take an estimated three years to build but would have to go through an extensive application process.
He said: “It is a relief to be able to put the project out there and get people’s reaction which have been positive so far.”
Centrica, parent company of British Gas, has invested into the ‘seed’ round allowing Centre Port to engage environmental and technical consultancies to begin work on a Feasibility Study.
Centrica would also provide a guaranteed price for the renewable energy produced by the project.
Greg McKenna, Managing Director of Centrica Business Solutions, said: “We’re excited to help Centre Port explore their ambitious plans for The Wash. The project represents one of the largest tidal power schemes anywhere in the world and provide a reliable source of green energy to the UK. The first step is to understand the role such a scheme would play in an area of the country particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change.”
Politicians fear plan will harm ecology of The Wash
Fears have been raised about the impact of the plan on the ecology of The Wash by politicians.
Deputy leader of South Holland District Council Nick Worth has expressed concerns about the project’s impact on the wildlife along with getting it passed through the legislative stage as The Wash is a site of special scientific interest.
But he wants to learn more about the deep sea port, which he sees as a separate issue.
Coun Worth said: “It is not that I’m against it but I struggle to see how it will happen because they have to get it through a massive amount of international legislation and I don’t see that happening.”
Coun Colin Davie, executive member for the environment at Lincolnshire County Council, has given a muted response to the plans.
He said: “As with any project of this scale, there are numerous challenges that a Wash barrage would have to overcome before it can come to fruition – not least how it will preserve the unique ecology of the Wash.
“At this early stage, we are awaiting further details from Centre Port about how they plan to overcome these challenges, and how this project might affect our communities and businesses on the Lincolnshire coast.”
Reaction from business leaders and wildlife campaigners
Business leaders have supported the £2billion port plans but wildlife leaders have expressed fears about the proposal.
Simon Beardsley, Chief Executive, Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce, feels the ‘world first project’ would have benefits for the local economy and develop skills.
He said: “A huge showcase project for the UK, the Centre-Port project has the potential to provide many benefits locally to South Holland and the businesses that operate from the area.
“Job opportunities for local people, business growth opportunities across supply chain, warehousing, logistics, as well as international logistics, development of our young people through apprenticeship opportunities, leading to a retention of skills in the local area.
“It will also have a positive environmental impact as those businesses in the area who are currently having to travel to other ports across the UK, there will be one on their doorstep, reducing the level of Co2 into the environment.
“This is a world-first project, which could provide all the benefits to boost our local economy, support business growth and develop skills and talent locally and we look forward to seeing how this project will develop.”
Tammy Smalley, Head of Conservation for Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, has dealt with several estuary barriers/barrage proposals in her career, and also many renewable energy generation developments, on and offshore.
She said:“The impact of the proposal as it stands at present would have significant implications for wildlife and people in and around The Wash.
“The current basic concept is missing a lot of detail and illustrates a basic lack of understanding how sediment moves around the coast of Eastern England and down the five rivers that feed into The Wash.
“This will have implications not only for the developer costs, but the public purse too, on land and at sea.”
Nick Bruce-White, director of RSPB England, said: “The Wash is one of the most complex coastal habitats for its hydrology and stunning range of wildlife. Spending millions of pounds on assessments and surveys is a waste of time and money that could be better spent on more workable, established solutions to generate green energy, such as wind and solar power.
“Based on the current evidence that demonstrates the destruction this would bring to The Wash, we consider this project a non-starter.”
The Welland and Deepings Internal Drainage Board says it has no objection to the plans.
An NFU East Midlands spokesperson said: “We will not hold a position on this proposal until we have reviewed the plans in detail.”