Representation by Susan Robinson
- Date submitted
- 26 September 2020
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I live in London but have enjoyed holidays in Suffolk and have been struck by the magic of the wild landscape which is home to so many species (many of them endangered) at Minsmere, and which has been immortalised on Springwatch. I am appalled at the thought of two nuclear reactors being installed so close to Minsmere, with the accompanying noise, pollution and degradation of the area that that will inevitably involve. The RSPB, who represent 1,000,000 people, have said that such a development would be “catastrophic” for Minsmere and its wild life. Otters, dragonflies, migrating birds and a myriad other creatures depend for food on the mudflats, where the stability of water levels and salinity of the marshes are managed to favour the flourishing of shrimps and other acquatic life, which support the ecosystem. The RSPB have raised multiple concerns with EDF, which EDF have consistently ignored. Minsmere is an international flagship reserve which was pioneered in the 1940s; it is unthinkable that it should be ruined through EDF’s cavalier treatment. They have published no predictions as to how water levels will be affected by their proposal to drive a causeway between Minsmere marshes and Sizewell - which will raise water levels at Sizewell and deplete them on the marshes, nor the proposal to extract huge quantities of water to make the concrete for such a huge building project. More water will be pumped out to dry a trench that will be 30 metres deep, around an area the size of a football pitch. Moreover, EDF plan to run a road right through the AONB between Sizewell Marshes and Minsmere. This whole proposal will make the area infinitely less attractive to holidaymakers. I have stayed in the peaceful hamlet of Eastbridge, where noise levels are predicted to rise 600 fold; residents are expecting a massive dust pollution from the spoil heaps 30 metres high that are planned, and on many of the beaches and footpaths that we have walked. Travel to the area will become a nightmare, with 750 HGVs travelling along the B1122 by day, as well as along the A12, along with cars, vans (700) and buses (700). The congestion this will entail will put people like me off visiting the area. Most shockingly, EDF have no plans to ensure the safety of the nuclear reactors long term. With coastal erosion, the two nuclear reactors will eventually sit on an island, and EDF’s only strategy for nuclear waste disposal is a hole in the ground! Amazingly, EDF have not published a strategy for ensuring the safety of the site for the 140 years that the reactors are expected to be in use. In all, I urge you to reject this insane proposal. I support Stop Sizewell C’s campaign against it. Finally, the issues involved are far too complex for a digital investigation: please give it the proper consideration it needs.