Representation by Janet Fendley
- Date submitted
- 18 September 2020
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I wish to register the following concerns about the proposed Sizewell C development: I am opposed to the development on mainly environmental grounds. Daily I hear concerns linked to our environment in the newspapers, T.V. and radio. Examples include: The Red list for Britain finds a quarter of mammals at risk of extinction soon (Guardian 30/07/2020 written by Damian Carrington; Data reveals alarming collapse in wildlife populations (Guardian 10/09/20 Patrick Greenfield); Wild belt land needed to help nature recover across England says trust (Guardian 17/09/20 Sandra Laville) where the RSPB highlights that the government has failed to reach 17 out of 20 UN biodiversity targets agreed 20 years ago; the Chair of Natural England speaking on the Today programme on Radio 4 on 16/09/20 …(we are) the most nature depleted country in the world. The disappearing habitats have lost many species. [Redacted] said ten years ago we need to invest in nature. The radical habitat loss and the lack of public amenity seriously affect well-being. Britain has a really serious and worsening problem with anxiety-and this data is from before C-19 pandemic. The site identified for Sizewell C is surrounded by Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and will require a fundamental change in the character of the area. It will mean acquiring and destroying existing areas within the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). We need to look after our AONBs, as Britain only has a few such sites, not destroy them. Any amount of mitigation will not replace the wealth of biodiversity that currently can be found there. Daily Marsh Harriers fly over the water meadows neighbouring my property, the Bittern is heard “booming” from the reed beds in the Spring: just two examples of birds that would be affected by the devastation caused by the construction. The fresh water demand for Sizewell C will take 3 million litres per day in this area of very low rainfall. The sea water intake system will have a devastating effect on fish stocks as it sucks in tonnes of fish hourly, let alone the impact of the closing of footpaths and bridleways used daily by both local people and visitors alike. I attempted to read EDF’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). The reference to Terrestrial Ecology and Ornithology is compliant with regulation 14 of EIA regulations 2017 is very vague and generalised with no mention or SSSI or AONB. Also, there is a potential for a breach of legislation regarding IEF (Important Ecological Features), what does that mean? A thermal plume (in the sea) of 2oC is mentioned in the documents-what impact will that have on the life in the sea? How will the noise affect the porpoises and dolphins? I am concerned about the increase in traffic; how will we be able to safely exit our track where we live to access Lovers Lane for example? How will the noise, pollution including light, impact on wildlife and human residents? The cumulative impacts are enormous.