News that forthcoming multi-million-pound sea defence work across the Island will be built to exceptionally high environmental standards has been welcomed by local MP Bob Seely.
The Environment Agency has confirmed its forthcoming projects in partnership with the Isle of Wight Council at Bembridge, Yaverland, Shanklin and Ventnor will be built to incorporate 20% biodiversity net gain.
Net gain means that development must leave biodiversity in a measurably better state than before. The EA is looking to ensure that net gain is 20% – a higher target than is currently set out in the forthcoming draft Environment Bill, which reflects the Island’s biosphere designation and the growing desire of the EA to deliver schemes that enhance the environment as well as performing a coastal defence role.
Mr Seely asked the EA to apply the principles of net gain after an approach from local company Wight Building Materials.
Bob said the confirmation of 20% net gain this week from Environment Minister Rebecca Pow was good news for the environment and the Island’s economy. In her letter, the Minister highlighted the work in this field by Sandown-based Artecology and also praised Wight Building Materials’ ‘pro-active’ approach in raising the net gain issue through the MP.
Mr Seely said:
“This really is fantastic news for the Island on a number of fronts. We will be leading the way in terms of being a beacon for sustainable development and I very much hope that opens the door for local companies.
“We have considerable expertise in this area and just as importantly, we have go-getting businesses that are always looking to innovate and to do the right thing.”
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Steve Burton, General Manager of Wight Building Materials, said:
“This is a really positive announcement by DEFRA and the EA and I would like to thank Bob for taking up the issue on behalf of the Island’s business community. This is an exciting opportunity for all those businesses who act responsibly and in tune with the local environment.”
In her letter, the Minister said:
“Given the Isle of Wight’s UNESCO biosphere status, and the EA’s own ambitions to ‘create a better place’ and become a net zero organisation by 2030, the importance of designing sustainable solutions is at the forefront of planning. This is second only to the EA’s objective of providing cost effective and deliverable coastal erosion and flood risk interventions that protect properties, infrastructure and life.”
Nigel George of Artecology said:
“For us all at Artecology, and parent company Arc Biodiversity & Climate, creating net gain for biodiversity and shaping better places for wildlife and people are the motivation for what we do. The opportunity to collaborate with local ‘eco-aware’ firms to do just that on our own doorstep in the Isle of Wight World Biodiversity Reserve is a very exciting prospect indeed.”
Emily Gordon, Environment Agency Programme Manager, said:
“The Environment Agency is committed to protecting properties, infrastructure and designated habitat whilst providing cost effective coastal erosion and flood risk measures. Our early commitment to a 20% net gain for these schemes will help us improve habitat for both people and wildlife for future generations”.
‘Bad enough that the council are involved in this- let’s just hope that Island Roads aren’t involved at all!
By far the best way of improving life for our young in the future would be to prevent mass building, thus limiting the amount of people filling this Island, most of whom will add to the detriment of any positive effects of any other groups efforts of this ‘tick sheet’ ‘on paper’ improving such.
Akin to a beach angler putting back a fish an inch under size, but then watching a huge factory processing trawler hoover up it and ten thousand others with it, turning them into fish pulp.
Looks good for tick sheet boffins, to show ‘we are doing something’ whilst the ‘real’ harm carries on with little or no objection from our MP, and fully encouraged by our Council who gain greatly financially from masse building projects.
Vote them OUT.
My comment gets negative votes while yours gets quite a few positive ones! – ‘Ain’t folk queer?
Yes very queer
Good news
Bob any chance of fixing all the groynes around shanklin sandown and yaverland?
Can’t even fix under cliff drive what’s the chance of sea defence
Seems similar words were said when they upgraded Ventnor sea front not that many years ago, obviously they did not do a proper job, now has to be done again ? Why can’t they make that company put it right? Always seems the case over here, someone builds a sea defence, or a road, even an ice rink…only to find that in a few years it needs redoing as was not done properly the first time.. Are there no guarantees from these so called companies..? I know many of those companies disappeared after the work…. why not pay after work is completed and checked !!.. Guess that is too simple.. eh ?
The phrase “high environmental standards” probably means that they will cut back on the cement (to save money, but they will call it something else) and just use a big pile of sand instead.
They’ve got to protect the island and stop it getting smaller and erroded away. The home Secretary won’t have anywhere to house the oversea visitors who are due to come here on a one way ticket, be housed and never to return from whence they came!!!!!!!!