THE campaign against a plan for a desalination plant in St Austell Bay has stepped up a gear.

The Desalination Information Group (DIG) which is opposed to South West Water’s proposed plant has issued a rallying cry.

The call to action follows the news that the water company has applied for a licence to conduct initial surveys off Par Docks.

South West Water decided on pursuing the desalination idea after the heatwaves and water restrictions in recent years.

DIG argues that the expensive plant is not required, saying Cornwall is one of the wettest counties in the country and that South West Water should improve its record on water leakage.

DIG, which has been holding information days to get its message across to the public, fears such a plant would cause environmental damage.

The group says the plant poses a threat to environmentally sensitive seagrass, the maerl, and the endangered and protected seahorses that make St Austell Bay their home.

South West Water has applied for a licence from the government’s Marine Management Organisation (MMO).

In the light of this development, DIG has put out a message to supporters saying: “We need to stop South West Water test drilling in St Austell Bay. Stopping the investigations could stop the whole project.”

DIG is calling on the MMO to extend the consultation period on the application to the maximum time permitted.

It is seeking such an extension because it wants more time to develop its formal objection to the plans with the help of environmental lawyers.

The group has urged supporters to back its bid for an extension by emailing the MMO, making reference to the South West Water application - MLA/2024/00129 GI Works.

A DIG spokesperson said: “The plans are for 18 different test drill sites between 20 and 30 metres deep. South West Water has consistently failed to include maerl data in its maps showing the proposed route for the marine pipelines.

“The site co-ordinates submitted in the application show a line straight through the maerl.

“The methods outlined for sampling also indicate they plan to damage seagrass at one of the borehole sites.”