Representation by Catherine Ash
- Date submitted
- 29 September 2020
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I have significant concerns about the EDF proposal to build Sizewell C. I am not opposed to nuclear power as a strand of UK provision but the project is flawed and potentially catastrophic for Suffolk. There are many unresolved issues for the local and wider community which EDF continues not to heed; unproven and unfounded assertions are made about project benefits, innovative technology, financial costs and payback time; there are now well-founded studies about adverse impacts - economic, infrastructure, habitat loss and community amenity. Most importantly for me there are serious concerns about the failure to resolve the legacy issue of having no plan for safe disposal of the countless tons of nuclear waste stored on a coastal site prone to significant erosion. Infrastructure– feels like we’re talking to cottonwool! Despite significant engagement in earlier discussion proposals the infrastructure plans remain poorly developed. EDF is not listening. • The ‘2 village bypass’ is inadequate: the proposed inappropriate route is more problematic. • The influx of road traffic carrying site materials, workers etc is not realistically assessed by EDF; workers will use what they choose and Theberton, Eastbridge would be severely impacted. • Many more communities would suffer long term impacts of pollution – construction noise, related atmospheric pollution – dust and light - and road traffic. The Economic impacts – and a false dicotomy We visited Suffolk for 30 years prior to settling here permanently. Two of our children live in Suffolk and their employment prospects rely on the local economy. It is mistaken and crass (in Daily Mail fashion) to promote a false divide implying that the reservations and opposition to Sizewell C is an “Us (locals) and Them (‘London Luvvies’).” It is clear that both locals and incomers are bound together by the shared conviction that Sizewell C is too big, too vague in its future specifications and cost and too massively destructive of the local economy and habitat. In short: • most professional workers will be drafted in to Suffolk; • New jobs for locals will be largely domestic servicing of project workers for a long, but time-bounded period • local tourist attractions will lose their appeal through the construction phase – and like the unique habitats which would be disturbed during construction - they may not recover. • other, non-nuclear, renewable options are developing fast – smaller, more compact nuclear generators are on the horizon. • Some of the Sizewell C proposed technology is still unproven; • original costings and timescales – even before considering the present international political ramifications– are massively adrift from the original cost benefit. The environment and Amenity concerns Many experts confirm that during and post construction massive loss and trauma will be caused to a unique, biodiverse habitat. What is the point of creating SSSIs / AONBs if these can be overridden, even with such an unproven and flawed plan, by IROPI? Climate change will do enough without us compounding the issues to come.