Investigatory drilling work is continuing on the River Deben ahead of the construction of the East Anglia ONE offshore wind farm.
A jack up drilling barge has been based on the River Deben, south-east of Ramsholt, throughout September to allow the riverbed’s core material to be analysed, such as for the type of bedrock and soil composition.
Drilling will not exceed 30 metres beneath the riverbed.
Further survey work is being carried out at Martlesham Creek and landfall surveys have recently been completed at Bawdsey.
ScottishPower Renewables, behind the windfarm, is now embarking on the second phase of its investigations, which involves digging trenches along parts of the proposed cable route. Suffolk County Council’s archaeological team is being consulted on all aspects of this work.
Charlie Jordan, project director of East Anglia ONE, said: “The work currently being undertaken on the River Deben and at Martlesham Creek is critical as it will determine the placement of the cable taking the electricity generated by East Anglia ONE on to the Bramford substation, where it joins the National Grid.
“In all our survey work, whether offshore, nearshore or archaeological surveys along the cable route, our intention is to always return the environment to its original state and mitigate the impacts of the works we are undertaking.
“We are working with regional and local companies which are providing expertise ranging from aerial surveys of migrating birds, to fishery industry liaison, as well as those involved in our current work on the River Deben.”
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