Representation by Aldringham-cum-Thorpe Parish Council (Aldringham-cum-Thorpe Parish Council)
- Date submitted
- 30 September 2020
- Submitted by
- Parish councils
Aldringham-cum-Thorpe Parish Council We, as one of the adjoining Councils, would like to register as an interested party in the next phase of the Sizewell C planning process. We feel that opportunities have been lost in EDF’s proposals that were governed by their own economic interests rather than leaving a beneficial mark on the area in the future rather than a short term gain during the construction phase. The area that we, and the proposed development, occupy in this part of the Suffolk Heritage coast is one of great ecological sensitivity and includes the AONB itself and the Sizewell Marshes SSSI and we feel that up to this date EDF have yet to demonstrate a willingness to treat this with sufficient delicacy. The site itself with its permanent and temporary constructions utilizes almost entirely AONB land and EDF do not seek alternative areas where alternatives might provide a more lasting benefit on less valuable land and environments. It is hard to imagine that construction on this scale will not cause lasting damage to the natural landscape of the likes of RSPB Minsmere and the Suffolk Sandlings with the effects of massive water abstraction and noise, dust, vibration and light pollution. This is not to mention the nature of the proposed sea defences and their interaction with the coastal process which at this moment is threatening the northern edge of Thorpeness. We are deeply concerned over the effects of the influx of the large workforce and its impact on the area’s infrastructure and services in health, schools, shops and housing. Accommodation would be at an absolute premium and despite the works’ campuses there would be great demand for more permanent housing that would eat up holiday lets and hotel space to the detriment of our biggest local industry- tourism. The choice of the large accommodation block is questionable. Smaller units placed outside the AONB, perhaps the old Leiston airfield site could have greater future use as accommodation for EDF’s workers during outages, while such units could be used as a focus for a science park or for affordable housing. It is pleasing to see that EDF has come some way towards a mixed transport strategy of road, rail and sea. The inclusion of a temporary jetty structure for the larger deliveries and of aggregate is encouraging as is the upgrading of the rail link through Leiston. There will be problems with co-ordination of this particular item as is relies heavily on Network Rail and it is worrying that a hurried start will lead to reliance on road deliveries that our local villages are dreading. The location of the Sizewell Link road junction, we feel, is too far North for traffic from the south and not providing the necessary relief to the existing road network. As a conclusion, if this development is to go ahead, which is questionable, more thought should be given to a sustainable future of the construction works rather than what looks to be short term savings to EDF.