Representation by Paul Chandler
- Date submitted
- 27 September 2020
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I am very concerned about the volume of road traffic this project will generate. I have particular concerns over the use of Sizewell Gap Road prior to the establishment of the new access road to the main C development site. Sizewell Gap Road is the only road into and out of Sizewell Hamlet and surrounding properties, and the two existing nuclear installations. This is of particular importance as the primary means of access for emergency vehicles. EdF state a construction time of 2 years approx. for the access road, but offer no indication how contractors and staff and their equipment will gain access to the main construction site prior to the new access road completion. This is particularly relevant as ScottishPower Renewables plan construction of offshore windfarm cabling ductwork in this area, using Sizewell Gap Road as their main access routes with some several hundred HGV, LGV and passenger vehicle movements per day at the same time. There is also refuelling outages every 18 months at Sizewell B which generated a significant volume of daily traffic for 6 – 8 weeks as 5000 contractors descend on the area. All of these projects will overlap EdF still prefer a road-led strategy and have discounted a sea led strategy for all but the very largest items of plant. More could be explored re: discharging aggregate and other materials further offshore onto smaller vessels and ferrying materials to the planned smaller shore discharge point. I am also deeply concerned over the loss of Coronation Wood, submitted as a local planning application, and not part of this DCO. This is an enabling project for this DCO relocating Sizewell B buildings to Coronation Wood from land earmarked for the C station. Coronation Wood is a well established mixed wood that has been used as noise and visual mitigation by the CEGB (Sizewell A), British Energy (Sizewell B) and latterly by EdF (Sizewell B Dry Fuel Store). British Energy / EdF had ownership of and responsibility for the upkeep and health of this wood, yet their reasoning for removing this area of woodland now is it is poor condition and needs to be felled for safety reasons. What is obvious is the wood was convenient to use as mitigation when it suited, but now the C site is found to be too small, and some buildings have to be relocated to make way, the mis-management of British Energy / EdF to properly caretake this asset offers the excuse of destruction of a 100 year old wood on health and safety grounds. Whilst many hundreds of trees are indicated be planted as compensation is insufficient. Many birds, bats and mammal species live in this wood and will be displaced. Also, any trees planted will take many years to become properly established and provide any effective species habitat and protection for local residents from noise and visual blight. There are also a number of concerns relating to the detrimental effect on tourism.