“Looking back as we approach the end of this year, the period since my appointment in July has turned out to be pivotal in the evolution of the Theddlethorpe GDF Community Partnership and its relationship with the developer NWS.
“After a couple of months taking stock and putting things in place, I believe the Partnership can now move forward with focus and clear purpose.
“We have a detailed programme of enquiry with NWS on the most significant aspects of planning, constructing, and operating a GDF. This is important. I anticipate that the GDF siting process and the Community Partnership are moving into a new phase, and I believe we are ready for this. The Partnership is requiring NWS to provide clarity on questions that have been floating for some time without clear answers.
“Our programme of meetings over the next nine months includes time for deeper discussion of important technical and policy topics. We will be doing this with NWS subject specialists and independent experts so we can better understand the risks of hosting a GDF as well as the mitigations and opportunities as the process evolves.
“We are better equipped now to ask questions and advocate on behalf of local people and encourage the developer to be open and candid. And, as we learn more, share what we learn on matters that affect the area now and potentially in the future.
“We have had difficult conversations with concerned residents in Theddlethorpe who have been most impacted by the focus on the former gas terminal. We have had inspiring conversations with others who face different challenges living and working in the Search Area and want more information about what is at stake and what hosting a GDF would mean in practice.
“We have listened and will continue to listen to all communities including the many people that have little visible presence or voice in the discussion. The GDF siting process is complex and long-term, and opinion is mixed between those who are against, for and undecided. There is more to do to as the siting process continues to develop, and clearer information becomes available.
“In the two years to end of June this year the Community Partnership has awarded £2m of Community Investment Funding (CIF) for projects that support community wellbeing, economic benefit, or the natural environment. The purpose of the CIF is like other developer planning obligations which is to mitigate the impact of development on the community. In this case it is public funding that will be available for as long the area remains in the process, and where the money goes is determined by local people, not the developer. The £2m to date has gone either to organisations in the Search Area or to projects that directly benefit people and communities in the Search Area.
“I want to thank the members of the Community Partnership and its support team for their hard work and resilience this year. We have had many challenges and have made progress – lots done, lots to do! All the community members volunteer their time, and they have put in a lot of time and effort. I am proud of what we have achieved and look forward to the next phase in 2025.