By Isle of Wight Observer
The Isle of Wight Biosphere Steering Committee has raised a number of critical questions regarding the proposed Solent CO2 pipeline.
The committee has sent the inquiries to the Solent Pipeline Consultation team and Richard Quigley, MP for Isle of Wight West, requesting a public response and a meeting with ExxonMobil who are proposing the project.
Key questions revolve around the impact on the Isle of Wight’s UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status, future production plans at Fawley, and the potential for additional pipelines. The committee is also seeking clarification on why certain pipeline routes were excluded, the environmental assessments conducted, future monitoring regimes and decommissioning plans.
Further concerns include how the project will interact with the Isle of Wight’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy, the scale of biodiversity net gain, and what restrictions will be placed on accessing the finished pipeline corridor. The committee is particularly worried about the Island’s high hedgerow density, which is crucial for protected species like dormice and bats.
The IW Biosphere Steering Committee is urging local residents and organisations to engage with the consultation process to ensure that all environmental and community impacts are thoroughly examined and addressed.
There are three potential routes for the pipeline, which will transport CO2 from ExxonMobil’s Fawley facility to a permanent storage location in the English Channel. Two of them cross the Isle of Wight, described as the ‘favoured’ options. Marine only pipeline route options have already been discounted.
There are public information events at the Wilberforce Hall in Brighstone on August 21 – 12noon – 8pm, Shalfleet Village Hall on August 22 – 10.30am – 5pm, Phoenix Knights Centre in Cowes- August 23 and September 3 – both 10.30am t0 6.30pm, and in Niton Village Hall on August 24 – 10-30 to 6.30pm.
You can find out what Exxon Mobil say about the proposals via iw.observer/solent-pipeline. The final decision will be made by the government, not the IW Council, as this is designated as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project.
The consultation closes at 6pm on September 12. You can respond using the QR code or by email to info@solentco2pipeline.co.uk.
Mal Butler