Representation by Hacheston Parish Council (Hacheston Parish Council)
- Date submitted
- 26 September 2020
- Submitted by
- Parish councils
SIZEWELL C: Application for Development Consent Order Relevant Representation: Hacheston Parish Council (HPC) 1. Introduction Hacheston is a small village 14 miles from the site of Sizewell C. The Southern Park and Ride facility, (SP&R) will be sited within the parish on elevated ground close to the A12. Whilst HPC accepts that park and ride facilities reduce the number of workforce vehicles on local roads, we are opposed to the proposed location. The visual impact of the site and the noise and air pollution will have an adverse impact on the lives of local residents and light pollution is likely to have a serious detrimental impact on the dark skies of the surrounding area. The combined impact of over one thousand vehicles 7 days a week on local roads plus a large increase in HGVs on the A12 will seriously affect the daily lives of Hacheston residents for 12 to 15 years. 2 Southern Park and Ride 2.1 Location The Southern Park and Ride should be situated further south on the A12 at Martlesham where an under-used P&R exists. On the basis that 1 bus can replace up to 50 private cars, this location could remove hundreds of cars from the busiest section of the A12 around Woodbridge. 2.2 Visual and Environmental Impact The proposed site for the SP&R is inappropriate. It is a rural setting, a special landscape between 2 protected river valleys. The SP&R will be an industrial development of 26.4 hectares of parking, service buildings and dense lighting. The site is elevated and it will be visible from many local properties in the area. We believe that the ecological and environmental mitigation measures proposed are inadequate, for example the bunding around the site has been reduced from that proposed at Stage 4. 2.3 Light Pollution The facility will operate 20 hours in 24 and at night, with lighting columns 6 metres high on site and 10 metres high on the access roads, light spill and loom will considerably detract from the valued dark skies of the area. 2.4 Noise Levels Despite the conclusions reached in the DCO application, HPC does not accept that noise will have negligible impact on the neighbourhood during the construction of the SP&R. 2.5 SP&R Traffic The operation of the SP&R site will generate 1,784 vehicle movements in the day in addition to 900 at night. Workforce traffic in the village will have a serious impact on the lives of Hacheston residents. 3 Traffic Impact 3.1 Re-routing Up to 1000 HGVs a day carrying materials to the construction site will cause serious congestion on the A12. Drivers seeking alternative routes will re-route along unsuitable narrow lanes in the district and will be tempted to speed along the B1116 through the village. 3.2 Fiveways Roundabout Fiveways roundabout links the B1078 and B1116 with the A12 and Hacheston residents use it for most of their journeys. All the SP&R traffic including buses and the light goods vehicle associated with the postal consolidation facility will use the roundabout. The junctions and slip roads onto the A12 are inadequate and provision for walkers and cyclists non existent. Without comprehensive mitigation measures the roundabout will be the site of dangerous congestion and delay. 3.3 Traffic in Wickham Market Traffic using the B1078 to access the SP&R will cause serious congestion in Wickham Market and no realistic mitigation measures have been proposed. With its shops and medical centre the village is an important service centre for Hacheston residents. 4 Other areas of concern 4.1 Quality of life HPC is concerned that SZC power station will irreversibly damage the coastline and landscape and have profound impacts on the wildlife, beauty and tranquility of East Suffolk which residents cherish. 4.2 Sustainability HPC has consistently advocated the use of sea and rail for the transport of heavy construction materials and we are not convinced that the transport strategy has been exhaustively researched or is accurately presented in the DCO application. A larger proportion of construction materials can be carried by rail and improvements to the East Suffolk line will remain a valuable legacy for the community for years to come.