Dorset Coast at risk from Oil Tankers

Up to ten oil tankers are currently sitting off the Dorset coast.

Annette Brooke MP has written to Hilary Benn MP, Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to inform him of the fact that and ask if action can be taken.

According to local reports in the press and by the Dorset Wildlife Trust they contain an ‘estimated 1 million tonnes’ of oil and are said to be moored their waiting for the international price of crude to increase.

The oil tankers are moored near Lyme Bay on the Dorset-Devon boarder.

Annette said, “My concern is for the safety of what is a unique area of coastline with numerous rare and endangered species and the significant implications that an environmental disaster would have on them, not to mention the economic cost to the region.”

Annette believes that questions must be asked about the soundness of the decision to use a world heritage site as a storage area for such vessels.