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Representation by Ayres Family

Date submitted
28 September 2020
Submitted by
Members of the public/businesses
  1. We are a household of six and have lived at [redacted] The house and barns can be dated to the early 17th Century. We have also acquired surrounding arable farmland and currently own 37 acres in total, spanning the parishes of Farnham and Benhall. 2. We object to a number of matters resulting from EDF’s overall development plans and one specific part of the associated development: the proposed Two Village Bypass (“2VB”). 3. Despite raising our concerns during every stage of consultation, EDF have ignored them or proposed inappropriate or inadequate mitigation. Their project will significantly impact our property, family and tenants and EDF have failed to adequately engage with us. We therefore wish to register as an Interested Party for the Sizewell C DCO application. 4. Our peaceful, unspoilt, rural setting currently benefits from being well away from the closest part of the current A12, a 50mph single carriageway, with our private gardens and outside spaces being to the south of our buildings (and thereby further protected from any road noise). EDF’s red-line development boundary is only a matter of metres from our paddocks, garden and farmhouse. 2VB construction will subject the areas we rely on for our well-being to excessive noise, dust and disturbance, for several years. The proposed working hours, weekend working and working 24-hours-a-day will worsen these effects. 5. The proximity and visual intrusion of the proposed 2VB will continue to blight our property, family and tenants beyond its construction and that of Sizewell C, for which we consider inadequate mitigation has been offered. Of particular concern is the overall increase in traffic (particularly the number of HGVs), noise created by vehicles accelerating away from the new roundabout at Friday Street and the proposed increase to 60mph. Compounding the issue will also be the effect of Scottish Power’s windfarm projects. 6. EDF’s proposals do not adequately take into account fauna which we regularly witness and record adjacent to or crossing the proposed 2VB route – such as deer, badgers, foxes, hares, owls, bats, wild fowl, newts, snakes. Ecological connectivity between the ancient woodlands of Foxburrow and Pond Woods has not been adequately considered, and neither have our two ponds – which rely on natural groundwater levels. 7. We fully support the Parish Council’s alternative ‘East of Foxburrow Wood’ alignment. EDF continue to ignore this improved 2VB route – which offers construction benefits, avoids the destruction of veteran / ancient trees, and minimises those significantly affected by noise, dust and visual intrusion along its route; particularly those near Grade II* Farnham Hall. 8. We benefit from an historic vehicular and pedestrian right of access to Friday Street which will be severed by the 2VB. No mitigation or compensation has been offered. 9. Surface water drainage from our land, plus the treated discharge from our sewage treatment plant, flows downhill towards Friday Street in a ditch that will be severed by the 2VB. We see no evidence that this will be maintained or remain unimpeded in EDF’s proposals. 10. We reserve the right to amend, add to and expand on pour objections during the DCO process.