Brighton Marina has proposed disposing of dredged material at Newhaven from next year, instead of the site at Rottingdean they previously used.
Premier Marinas says it intends on applying for a licence to dispose of sand and silt at the same site used by Newhaven Harbour, which it hopes to use from spring next year.
This is the site identified by Sussex Wildlife Trust, which successfully applied to have the marina’s ten-year licence to dump at Rottingdean quashed by the high court earlier this year.
Premier submitted a fresh application to use the Rottingdean site in March, but this is still under consideration by the government’s Marine Management Organisation (MMO).
It says finding a new site is important not only for berth holders and marina users, but for the almost 150 businesses, including commercial fishing, dive charters, sail training and marine-tour operators, bars, restaurants and leisure companies, which depend on the marina.
It estimates they employ 1,200 people between them, and estimates the marina adds £130 million to the local economy each year.
The licence was quashed in May this year after Sussex Wildlife Trust argued the MMO had not considered how the environmental impact of disposing of one million tonnes of sediment from the harbour entrance off Rottingdean could be minimised.
Premier says its remaining options are limited, as dredged material cannot be disposed “up-stream” to the west as this could increase natural sedimentation within the marina.
John Cervenka, chief operating officer at Premier Marinas, said: “Maintaining safe navigational access to Brighton Marina is not optional. It is a legal requirement and fundamental to the operation of the marina and to the berth holders, businesses and other users who rely on it.
“Brighton Marina is also a major centre of economic activity. Hundreds of people rely on the businesses based here, from marine operators and commercial vessels to hospitality, leisure and retail. Finding a dependable long-term dredging solution therefore matters to the whole community and the city of Brighton.
“We’ve been doing a significant amount of work behind the scenes to find that solution. Newhaven is an established marine disposal site and was identified as a potential alternative early in the discussions around Rottingdean.
“We’re now doing the detailed assessments needed to understand properly what using that site would mean, both environmentally and operationally for our dredging delivery partners, before we submit a licence application.
“People who use Brighton Marina every day have valuable first-hand experience of why reliable navigable access matters. We also believe those who rely on the marina in other ways should be allowed to express their views too.
“It’s important everyone understands the facts behind the proposals as there has been a lot of misinformation about previous activities in the past.
“Having access to the relevant information and being able to contribute their own views through the formal consultation process is important.”
Haha! Good idea let’s block up our nearest competition in the shape of Newhaven harbour. Mind you if they were dumping it in a certain orifice of a nearby resident, we would all welcome it! lol