Joshua AskewBBC News, South East
BBCLegal action has been launched to stop dredged sediment from being dumped in a protected marine area in East Sussex.
Sussex Wildlife Trust said it was challenging a decision by the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) to allow Brighton Marina to dispose of alleged “harmful” material in the Beachy Head West Marine Conservation Zone.
The charity called the protected area – running parallel to the coast from Brighton to Eastbourne – a “nationally important wildlife hotspot”.
An MMO spokesperson said the licence was reviewed “comprehensively” and granted with conditions based on scientific evidence.
“As legal proceedings are ongoing it is not appropriate to comment further at this time,” they added.
‘Local voices must be heard’
Sussex Wildlife Trust said dumped sediment was “impacting the sensitive chalk reef and harming its wildlife”.
“Bold action is the only way to continue to fight for this protected area,” said Henri Brocklebank, director of conservation at the trust.
“Inaction will see the continued dumping of 100,000 tonnes of dredged sediment in our marine conservation zone every year for the next 10 years – this is not acceptable.”
Campaigners have previously complained that dredged sediment fills nearby rock pools with a “black, thick, slimy, petrochemically smelling sludge”, which is toxic to people and the environment.
Premier Marinas, which owns Brighton Marina, has said dredging, which involves removing natural silts that settle in the marina basin, is needed to ensure safe navigation for boats.
Dredged material is “regularly sampled to confirm it is not harmful to the environment,” it added.
Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven MP Chris Ward said he supported the legal challenge.
“It should never have come to this,” he said. “Our marine environment is too precious to be treated as an afterthought.
“Local voices must be heard and respected.”
The Beachy Head West Marine Conservation Zone contains some of the best examples of chalk habitat in the South East region, according to a government report.
It said the site supported specialised communities of animals, seaweeds and the rare short-snouted seahorse.
