§ Lord Mason of Barnsleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What representations have been made to the Crown Estates Commissioners about a prospecting licence to dredge the bays at Filey and Bridlington in North Yorkshire; and
Whether any organisations have raised objections to the issue of licences to dredge Filey and Bridlington bays in North Yorkshire.
§ The Minister of State, Department of Transport (Lord Brabazon of Tara)There are no prospecting84WA licences in force or applications for prospecting licences currently with the Crown Estate Commissioners for the areas of Filey and Bridlington bays in North Yorkshire. An application was made by ARC Marine Ltd. in 1990 but it was subsequently withdrawn.
The following organisations objected to the proposed issue of a prospecting licence to ARC Marine Ltd.: Bridlington Piers and Harbour Commissioners; Yorkshire and Anglia Fish Producers' Organisation Ltd.; East Yorkshire Borough Council on behalf of themselves and of the Flamborough Headland Heritage Coast Project; Yorkshire Wildlife Trust; Filey Town Council; Scarborough Borough Council; the Council for the Protection of Rural England; Reighton and Speeton Parish Church; and Filey Friends of the Earth. The representations included concern about: the impact of dredging on fishing and marine wildlife; the potential for coastal erosion and stability problems in a Heritage Coast area; the detrimental environmental effect on the sea-bed in general and Smithic Sands in particular; the lack of a full scale environmental assessment; and the effect on tourism.