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In a letter dated 14 September, the Government's Marine and Fisheries Agency (MFA) has given the go ahead for the proposal by Wells Harbour Commissioners to dredge some stretches of the outer channel to one metre depth in order to increase the time boats can safely access Wells Harbour. The permission, under the Marine Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2007 (22), also allows for the construction of pontoons and a jetty at Buxton's Bight. This will be used by small and medium sized boats servicing the Sheringham Shoal wind-farm, and possibly other wind-farms, being built off North Norfolk.

To obtain the 'consent' Wells Harbour Commissioners submitted a detailed 266-page 'Environmental Statement' (ES) on the proposed methods of working and measures to avoid environmental damage, which was open for public consultation for 42 days this summer. The MFA reviewed this, along with comments received from more than twenty individuals and organisations including Natural England, the North Norfolk Coast Partnership and English Heritage, and concluded that "the project would not adversely affect the nature conservation or landscape quality of the local area". The MFA sets out over 40 conditions to be met in the operation of the barge and digger used to create the deeper channel and in setting up the pontoons. The creation of the deepened channel and the construction will take place between October and April, ending before the sensitive period when the rare birds known as Little Terns, whose colony lies to the East, start seeking nest sites.

Chairman of Wells Harbour Commissioners, Dr Charles Ebrill, said: "The detailed studies, and the number of conditions we must abide by, emphasise the care taken with this scheme and the sensitive and beautiful environment of Wells Harbour with its many designations. I am delighted we have received official confirmation that our plans should have no adverse effect, as they are a vital first step in a project that we hope will maintain Wells as a working port and bring jobs and help sustain the community for many years to come."

Mr Robert Smith, Harbour Master added: "This is not like the previous dredging that some residents may remember, when many tonnes of sand and gravel were dug and taken away. This is a precision operation using satellite-guided GPS technology accurate down to five centimetres, and material is just being moved aside, not taken away. Possible environmental issues will be carefully monitored in conjunction with Natural England. The next step for us is the training and familiarisation of the crew for the barge and digger we have commissioned. That should take place within weeks, and it creates two new jobs".

The Environmental Impact Assessment Consent Decision and letter to WHC from the MFA can be downloaded below. The full Environmental Statement and associated research studies are available on the MFA website

Potential impacts considered by the MFA included: sediment and water quality; marine ecology; birds; landscape; noise; socio-economics and tourism, and recreation

The application, associated maps and the Environmental Statement were sent by MFA to: the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), Eastern Sea Fisheries Joint Committee (ESFJC), the Crown Estate (CE), English Heritage (EH), the Environment Agency (EA), the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), Natural England (NE), Norfolk County Council (NCC), North Norfolk District Council (NNDC), the Royal Yachting Society (RYA), and Trinity House (TH). In addition, WHC and the wind farm developer Scira which is co-financing the initial works, held a public meeting for local residents and others at Wells during the summer.

The applications and the Environmental Statement were advertised to the public for two successive weeks in local newspapers requesting all comments were sent to The Agency within 42 days from the date of each notice.

41 conditions stipulated in the Consent include those covering issues such as: when to dredge (to minimise the extent of spread of sand etc. in the water, and avoiding sensitive times for larval release and spat of shellfish, in May-June); notifying Norfolk County Council Curator of any archaeological discoveries; use of best environmental practice to keep any wet concrete out of the marine environment; mapping the eel grass beds; ceasing work during hard weather affecting birds in winter; monitoring of mussel beds by a method to be agreed with local fishermen; application of navigation lighting in line
with COLREGs (Collision at Sea Regulations); keeping the berm of shifted material to a maximum of one metre height, to avoid interruption of yachting; and use of yellow marker buoys to clearly demarcate safe swimming areas.

The MFA noted that NNDC's Economic Development Team commented the project would be "a major benefit to the remote rural district with great potential for jobs and small businesses", while the North Norfolk Coast Partnership (AONB) saw the site as "optimum" and accepted that mitigation measures had been applied as far as possible, for example over lighting of the pontoons.

Wells Harbour Commissioners will be publishing a summary of the plans for the future of the project, its financing and management, and periodic progress updates on the project.
    MFA website

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