MSPs Flooded with New Calls to Oppose Damaging Offshore Windfarm

Marine conservation charity, the Scottish Seabird Centre, are again calling for MSPs to oppose plans for huge offshore windfarm, Berwick Bank, which is predicted to kill thousands of seabirds every year. This week, 129 hand-written postcards – one for each MSP – were delivered to Scottish Parliament.

In the week that parliament returns from recess, these cards - following over 20,000 individual emails that have been sent to MSPs from supporters of the Charity’s ‘Cancel Berwick Bank’ campaign – serve as a further reminder of the importance of opposing the development

The postcards show sand art created on the East Lothian coast that aims to illustrate the potential impacts of Berwick Bank on seabirds.

Fanny Royanez, Policy and Campaigns Officer at the Scottish Seabird Centre, said:

“These postcards and the sand art they display will be a powerful reminder to MSPs, as they come back from their summer recess, of the public opposition to Berwick Bank. We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported this campaign so far, and made their concerns clear to their MSPs.

“While Berwick Bank has been consented, that consent remains conditional on an acceptable seabird compensation plan being approved by Ministers. There is deep public unease about this development, and it’s vital that MSPs make this clear to Ministers now.”

The Scottish Seabird Centre, alongside conservation Charities across Scotland, have repeatedly called on Scottish Government to halt the development, which is predicted to kill more than 4000 seabirds every year.

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Notes

The Scottish Seabird Centre’s ‘Cancel Berwick Bank’ campaign is still ongoing and has gained huge support with thousands of people writing to their MSPs asking them to oppose the development: https://www.seabird.org/cancel-berwick-bank-offshore-windfarm

Further background on the threats posed by Berwick Bank offshore windfarm to seabirds: https://www.seabird.org/conservation/berwick-bank-offshore-windfarm

The Scottish Seabird Centre’s objection to the Phasing Variation Application by Berwick Bank Wind Farm: https://www.seabird.org/uploads/store/mediaupload/3197/file/SSC%20letter%20-%20objection%20to%20Berwick%20Bank%20variation%20application.pdf

ENDS

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About the Scottish Seabird Centre The Scottish Seabird Centre is an award-winning marine conservation and education charity based in the coastal town of North Berwick, overlooking the Bass Rock gannet colony. They’ve been connecting people with this incredible seabird colony and the amazing wildlife that Scotland’s sea’s support for over 25 years. Their mission is to save seabirds and restore Scotland’s seas through conservation projects, learning programmes and unforgettable wildlife experiences. The Charity has led a range of high-profile conservation and education projects including the SOS Puffin initiative in the Firth of Forth.

Follow the Scottish Seabird Centre on Facebook/ScottishSeabirdCentre and Instagram/@seabirdcentre For more information on the Scottish Seabird Centre visit: https://www.seabird.org/about-us