Concerns raised over planned Solent pipeline

Further public consultations are planned over the planned corridors

Landowners have raised concerns about the potential impact of a planned carbon dioxide pipeline.

Exxon Mobil is seeking approval for the Solent CO2 Pipeline Project, which would see a 60cm-wide pipe running from its Fawley oil refinery near Southampton to a CO2 storage site under the English Channel.

The company is holding a series of public consultation meetings, and more than 200 people attended the first two this week.

One farmer said the installation would be "very disruptive" to their beef farm near Gurnard on the Isle of Wight.

The pipeline is planned to start from Fawley, according to current plans

Three possible routes have been identified for the pipeline. All initially would leave Fawley and go around Blackfield village.

Two would then cross the Solent and land near Gurnard before moving north to south or north to the east, before going under the sea south of the island.

One other option would be to run the pipeline under the New Forest, sending it under the sea near Milford on Sea.

Currently, 500m-wide corridors have been identified, but after this consultation a smaller 50m route will be put forward.

The company said the pipeline would be essential to meet the government's aim of net zero.

Michael Foley said the project could have clear environmental benefits

Michael Foley, from Exxon Mobil, said: "O2 capture technology helps the industrial sector reduce emissions. Its planned capacity to remove carbon dioxide is the equivalent of taking five million cars off the road."

Among those attending the consultation meetings was Mike Rainey from Solent Protection Society, a charity which looks to protect the ecology of the Solent region.

"Anything which needs to be dug below the whole of the island is of concern, because we get our water from the chalk aquifers underneath the ground," he said.

"This will go through many areas of outstanding natural beauty and touch the Solent coastline, which is largely unspoilt, so I am very keen to hear what protection the natural environment would have."

Alice Chambers says she is concerned about the potential impact of the work

Robert Booth went to ask about how it might affect his livery stable on Whitehouse Lane.

He said his business would struggle to function if the area became a building site, saying: "You can't be teaching someone on a horse with a bulldozer or lorry going along beside them in the field."

Alice Chambers, from Gurnard, asked about compensation as the grazing land on her beef farm would likely be affected if the island routes were chosen.

In a statement, Exxon Mobil said: "We are legally required to consult everyone with an Interest in land affected by the proposed development.

"Once a preferred corridor is selected, we will write to all landowners within the corridor to establish contact details and include an initial questionnaire about known land interests.

"Once we have an initial working route, we will undertake further enquiries to identify any additional interests in land."

The consultation meetings continue next week and are due to be held at:

• Macdonald Elmers Court Hotel & Resort, Lymington, Hampshire, 16 August

• Shalfleet Village Hall, Newport, Isle of Wight, 22 August

• Phoenix Knights Centre, Cowes, Isle of Wight, 23 August and 3 September

• Niton Village Hall, Ventnor, Isle of Wight, 24 August

• The Bridge Community Centre, Milford on Sea, Hampshire, 30 August

• Calshot Activity Centre, Calshot, Hampshire, 4 September

• Jubilee Hall, Fawley, Hampshire, 5 September