Two Isle of Wight Council members are teaming up to launch a campaign group opposing ExxonMobil’s Solent CO2 Pipeline.
Councillors Nick Stuart and Claire Critchinson have said the group will be established with a small committee on September 11 after the next Isle of Wight parish council meetings.
Following the launch, the representatives for Brighstone, Calbourne and Shalfleet and Chale, Niton and Shorwell will host a mid-September public meeting.
The first gathering will make plans and organise for a wider public meeting for when the campaign hopes to get underway.
Cllr Stuart has urged anyone who can help with the campaign or offer any expertise to get in touch via email.
The leader of the Isle of Wight Liberal Democrats and former engineer and science teacher said yesterday he remains “entirely unconvinced” of carbon capture and storage technology which ExxonMobil’s pipeline is seeking to implement.
He accused ExxonMobil of potentially “smashing the Solent” and the Isle of Wight’s landscape.
In reference to ExxonMobil’s ongoing series of public consulatations on proposed pipeline corridor routes he said:
“The polite professional people gave the best answers they could but lack of detail, refusal to provide any information on the CO2 sources or quantities or on alternatives and the clear threat of legal action if they weren’t given access for surveying and the intention to use compulsory purchase powers made it clear they see landowners and other Isle of Wight residents as an inconvenience to be sweet talked or steamrollered.”
Cllr Critichison described the consultation session she attended in Niton on Saturday as “very obstructive”.
The former council chair said she had wanted to approach the pipeline project with an “open mind” but came away from the Niton meeting with a “very negative impression” of ExxonMobil’s behaviour.
She claimed a company representative at the session said ExxonMobil were deciding on the “least worst route” which she added implied “all the options are negative”.
Cllr Critichison said:
“Safety plans were vague, landowner permissions were tricky but they have options and National Trust have assisted them in the past – read into that what you will.
“I wanted further details on the decision making process for the three routes and the financial information about losses to industry in the Solent compared to tourism and farming on the Island but that is not available or hasn’t actually occurred it seems.
“The representative also stated that this technology is intended as a temporary way to deal with the emissions whilst other non fossil fuel options are being developed and installed.
“I felt the example given of if everyone had an electric car at this moment the power wouldn’t be available was very weak.
“That to me is an excuse to continue to produce oil based fuel and not push for change.”
ExxonMobil have been approached for comment.
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