The SEA Explained (Strategic Environmental Assessment Report)
The Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Environmental Report identifies the likely significant environmental impacts of plans and policies and ensures that decision-making is informed by relevant environmental information.
It provides an opportunity for the public to consider this information and use it to inform their views on the draft plan or policy.
The SEA Environmental Report lists the key effects of N4 as:
Loss and/or damage of bryozoans and hydroids on tide-swept circalittoral mixed sediment
Potential mortality/injury, displacement or barrier effects (marine mammals and birds)
Effects on population and human health arising from noise, vibration, light and shadow flicker effects
Effects on navigational safety associated with shipping and recreational vessels
Effects on soil and water quality receptors as a result of changes in the hydrodynamic and sediment regime (i.e. physical processes)
Effects on historic environment features and their settings
Effects on landscape and coastal character and also on visual receptors
N4 is the only Option Area in Scotland which would affect population and human health through noise, vibration, light and shadow flicker effects, the only Option Area to effect soil and water quality through changes in the hydrodynamic and sediment regime, and one of only two that would affect historic environment features and their settings.
Under ‘mitigation available’ for the moderate to major adverse effects on landscape and visual character, the SEA states: ‘it may be possible for the significance of the effect to be reduced through local engagement and the community’s acceptance of development within N4.’
If you do not accept the adverse effects of N4, write to your MP, MSPs and Councillors to let them know.
Details of the environmental impacts of N4 can be found on pages 318-332 of the report.