Representation by Oliver Perkin
- Date submitted
- 25 September 2020
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
Dear Sir/Madam I am strongly opposed to this development. I wish to raise the following issues of concern about Sizewell C. 1. Site Selection I believe it is the wrong project in the wrong place entirely, The site is at risk from climate change, sea level rise and flooding. I am concerned about the potential impact on coastal processes There will undeniably be adverse impact on adjacent internationally designated sites of ecological importance and sites of amenity, cultural heritage and landscape value. This site could become an island containing 5 nuclear reactors and stored waste. I believe there are eight other uncoordinated energy projects planned for the locality which need explaining and further scrutiny. 2. Community, Economic and social impacts There will be unacceptable impacts on local communities - severance, traffic, significant increases in noise, light pollution and disruption. 6,000 workers will come and live in the area, 2,400 in a Worker campus in a location that I oppose. The Visitor economy will suffer heavily: Tourism may lose up to £40m a year and 400 jobs. EDF surveys already suggest 29% of visitors could be deterred. There will be huge pressure on local housing especially in private-rental sector. EDF expects local people to fill 90% of lower-skilled, lower-paid roles in “Site Support”, so these are not necessarily high standard jobs for local people. There will be negative impacts - from traffic and losing staff - on local businesses. In addition there will be pressure on already short and underfunded health, social and emergency services, as well as serious impacts on vulnerable people. 3. Transport The road based transport plan is not sustainable and would have enormous and adverse impacts on local communities and the visitor economy. HGV numbers are as high as those under “Road-Led” proposals rejected by all statutory consultees in consultations. The suggested delay in the construction of new road infrastructure means villages would endure 2-3 years of increased traffic. New roads would sever communities, damage the rural footpath system and divide farmland. Rat-running and disruption have not been adequately considered. Also, alternative relief road routes with legacy value have not been adequately assessed by EDF. 4. Environment and Landscape There are huge considerations concerning potential flooding. The effect on the Minsmere Sluice is unclear and could be damaging. Development would result in pollution from light, noise and traffic. Dust management for spoil heaps and stockpiles have been inadequately assessed. The impact of the proposed borrow pits and landfill have not been fully addressed. There will be irreparable environmental harm to Minsmere - a flagship destination of international importance and significance. Part of this impacts on species such as Marsh Harriers, threatening the integrity of Special Protection Area. The plans are uncertain re drainage and supply of 3 million litres of potable water for the construction period and beyond. The abstraction of water compounds risks to the environment and to protected species. There are major risks to groundwater levels and surrounding habitats and ecology. There is a flood risk due to the loss of flood storage from the development site. This scheme would have a catastrophic impact on the landscape character because of locality, design and scale; this construction severs the AONB! It is impossible to compensate for the prospective landscape and ecological damage. The site won’t offset CO2 from construction for at least 6 years. 5. Marine and Coastal processes There are ecological and flood risk impacts on coastal processes from hard coastal defence features- HCDF. No complete design of HCDF is available! The rates of erosion and recession are episodic and unpredictable. There are serious impacts of the Beach Landing Facility on coastal processes. There will be serious impacts on marine ecology. 6. Application Wording of Explanatory Memorandum and Planning Statement. I wish to endorse the Relevant Representation submitted by Stop Sizewell C. And I fully endorse the Relevant Representations of the Suffolk Wildlife Trust and the RSPB. I wish to state that I consider the Sizewell C application to be totally unsuitable for a digital examination process. PLEASE STOP THIS DEVELOPMENT FROM DESTROYING OUR COUNTRYSIDE IN THE NAME OF PROGRESS. IT IS NOT SUSTAINABLE, AFFORDABLE OR SENSIBLE. Your sincerely Mr O Perkin