Representation by Darren Halford
- Date submitted
- 27 September 2020
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
Sizewell C The B1112 was closed for a stretch of 20m for 2 days at Theberton. This meant an additional 10km and 20mins drive diverted along tracks not meant for two-way traffic nor wider vehicles. There are no pavements on these tracks nor on most of the B1122. Now Theberton is to be turned into an island, effectively isolated at the centre of a giant roundabout. Surrounded and imposed upon by noise, light, pollution for YEARS. What on earth excuses such cavalier, wreckless and careless approaches? Money. There’s nothing else in the consultation process and documentation to suggest it’s about anything but profit. My housebound patients have virtually no voice. They and I worry that such diversions make it difficult for me & other healthcare professionals to get to housebound patients. With an aging patient demographic, more patients will need to be seen at home, more will become housebound by traffic, diversions and (most importantly) choice. Home visits take 30mins longer than 10mins appointments at the surgery. I worry that by wasting professional time travelling, I will be forced to add to the environmental surge in deathly omissions. My own health will suffer for it. Who covers the costs in extra fuel, vehicle maintainence, extra professional hours? One can only see so many patients in a day. Who covers the shortfall? Where will EDF find those professional clinicians to put in the extra hours? Where in the consultation has this been addressed so that our patients know they will be as safe tomorrow as they are today? What calculations have been for harm in delayed care provisions? And for reduced life expectancies? If there is nothing to fear why does the EDF publicity machine feel the need to spin?eg. Local jobs where ‘local’ is defined as ‘within a 90minute commute’. Why is this not shown as offset against existing job losses? More spin. ‘Perceived tranquility’ - I include this because it made me laugh out loud. I worry that EDF is marching on, unconditionally & without a coherent SAFE plan, to its destiny of a ridiculously expensive and, more importantly, unnecessary blight on the landscape at a time when all the evidence points away from wiping out part of Suffolk for a perilous eyesore that may never be completed, is likely to break and be redundant before it’s completed and long before its damage to the environment can be offset. Who’s going to clean it all up post failure? This year, EDF were paid to turn Sizewell B output DOWN. Renewables continue to cheapen with a far less dangerous footprint. I worry that in the middle of a pandemic, EDF wants to import up to 6000 workers from everywhere. The virus has arrived. This is a long-term fight. It will take just one CoVid spike to grind parts of the reactor build chain to a stop. Deadlines will be pushed back. What corners will be cut to prevent this happening? Costs will soar. Is this why EDF needs RAB? There will be secondary pressures on local NHS Services. How do we protect everyone? Constant noise, constant traffic noise and pollution, constant light - these take a toll on good health. Where are we supposed to walk, run & cycle safely in fresh air? Environmental viral load will increase. Pollution will be forced upon us. Predicting average levels of contamination over years does not mean safety! The peaks are dangerous and could kill us. Local mortality rates are at risk of increase like never before. Where is the evidence that says we are safe or worth the sacrifice? I am suspicious that counsellors, when presented with such compelling evidence, choose to vote for it UNCONDITIONALLY. Too big. Too harmful. Too wasteful. Wrong time. Too imposing for too long. We all have a right to a healthy and peaceful life. EDF expect us to surrender this along with our very longevity in the name of energy provision. I am not throwing myself on any swords whilst there are other less harmful methods which, for selfish greed and political gains, appear to be marginalised beyond consideration. I wholly endorse ‘Stop Sizewell C’s Relevant Representation. I am not anti-nuclear. I am pro sense. In my professional clinical role, I must do what I can to prevent deterioration, promote recovery and preserve life. We are sworn to it. Please don’t make this impossible.