Battery energy firm Pacific Green has taken action after Thanet environmentalist Nik Mitchell highlighted litter being thrown from the company’s Richborough energy site into a neighbouring nature area.
Nik, who runs the Get Wild social media page, shared video of piles of litter in the Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) running adjacent to the firm’s energy park on the Minister Marshes side of the Stour.
A Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is a designation for areas valuable for wildlife and flora and fauna.
Pacific Green is responsible for the 99.9-megawatt Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at Richborough Energy Park which was given consent in 2020, with a second phase in 2021.
Nik recorded piles of litter containing everything from old gloves to takeaway wrappers and cans and plastic cups dumped at the site, saying the only way it could have got there was by being thrown over the fence from the battery site.
Branding it ‘outrageous’ he said: “This is what concerns us about having developments in or next to SSSI sites,
“It already suffers from light pollution from their site and they are damaging trees with their digger buckets.”
In the video Nik said he expected Pacific Green to see it and wondered if the firm would get the site cleared up.
The Isle of Thanet News also sent a link of the video to Pacific Green to ask whether action would be taken to clean the site and the firm was contacted by George Cooper, of Save Minster Marshes, and Green councillor Becky Wing.
George said he received a phone call and was told Pacific Green was “mortified” and an emergency meeting had been held.
Pacific Green confirmed the site was cleared. A spokesperson added: “We’re sorry this happened and grateful it was brought to our attention.
“The site perimeter has been cleared of litter thoroughly and we will ensure these standards are maintained going forwards.”
Bloody right they should clear the mess and check the area in the future, anyone else would have been taken to court and find ,but yet again companies get away with it
Thank you for highlighting this, it’s disgusting their staff have a lack of understand of basic practice.
they are doing as they like , and they will do the same with minster marshes when they destroy that for ever
Speaks volumes that the paper had to send the video rather than the person that made it. Nik loves pointing out stuff that’s not right but doesn’t seem to do much to get people to address that’s wrong.
Tends to happen with those who are more interested in exploiting a “scene” for clout on social media, than actually making positive changes.
Well done Nik for catching them redhanded!
Drop litter in the street & you will get a fine. These type of swine just get away with it because they are pals with politicians.
“Drop litter in the street & you will get a fine.”
Given TDC dropped those civ enforcement officers after they were photographed multiple times breaching their own rules and the legal fact you don’t have to give your details to them at all and can just walk away from them, well…
Well done to Nik and well done to Pacific Green for acting so quickly. I hope their staff have been read the riot act.