News

Below is the response adopted by the Parish Council on the 9th September. This has been submitted to the consultation.

Boldre Parish Council’s Response to CO₂ Pipeline Proposal Consultation

Boldre Parish Council have major concerns about the Carbon Capture and Storage scheme proposed for the Solent Area.

The context for the overall project is a plan to expand the use of fossil fuels in order to produce ‘Blue Hydrogen’ and to increase output of oil based fuels. The CCS scheme envisaged will not reduce atmospheric CO₂ but merely provide cover for expanded activity at Exxon. As such it would  divert resources from more beneficial activity.

We are worried that there has been so little exploration of the site for CO₂  storage - in particular the capacity, security, accessibility and potential harm arising from the activity in a precious marine environment.

With regard to the transport of CO₂  across the southern part of the New Forest, in particular the Boldre area, BPC has significant objections:

• The area has a range of special and protected features, within the National Park. The construction work would have devastating effects on the local environment and ecology. Some of these impacts, for example, on ‘Ancient Woodland’ cannot be measured. Experience of other constructions in the area indicate that efforts to ‘make good’ cannot avoid the permanent scarring that results.
• The anticipated three seasons of construction, with associated disruption and traffic, are likely to have a major impact on the experience of visitors to the area. The local economy would be hit hard.
• Pipeline safety would be a prime concern. The proposal is for a large, high pressure pipeline with associated pigging and monitoring stations. The pipeline consultants DNV have recognised that ‘arresting pipeline fractures in transporting CO₂ has proven to be more challenging than transporting natural gas’. For a relatively new industry the number of pipeline CO₂ escapes in the USA in the last decade is disturbing. The UK HSE has not classed CO₂ as toxic, but it is reviewing the position. There is significant evidence that concentrations of CO₂ are indeed toxic in their effects, especially for the vulnerable. The uncertainties involved and the work on ‘CO₂ Plume Dispersal’ has led many authorities elsewhere, including the USA, to require significant separation between pipelines and populated buildings. These ‘setbacks’ would be between 1km and 1.5km at least and would also require significant investment in emergency planning resources. The route proposed through Boldre passes close to schools, churches, community centres, hospitality venues and housing. It cannot meet the sort of separation that safe operation requires.

For our local community’s health and welfare we can only oppose this particular route.

So: Preference 3 for the Mainland Route.

Adopted and agreed unanimously at Boldre Parish Council Meeting on 9 September 2024