Representation by Naomi Goff
- Date submitted
- 30 September 2020
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I wish to raise the following objections about Sizewell C: 1. Environment • Impossible to compensate the damage to landscape and ecology because of the location, design and scale of the construction which severs AONB • Will cause irreparable harm to RSPB Minsmere, a flagship destination of international importance and significance. • Impacts on Marsh Harriers (amongst other species) threaten integrity of Special Protection Area • Flood risk due to loss of flood storage from development site • Unknown effect on Minsmere Sluice • Uncertainty re drainage and supply of 3 million litres of potable water for the construction period and beyond. • Abstraction of water compounds risks to the environment and to protected species. • Risks to groundwater levels, surrounding habitats and ecology • Pollution from light, noise and traffic. Dust management for spoil heaps and stockpiles inadequate and impact of proposed borrow pits and landfill not fully addressed. • Won’t offset CO2 from construction for at least 6 years. 2. Site Selection • On a coast already at high risk from sea level rises and flooding due to coastal erosion which will be aggravated by climate change, and site itself will potentially have an adverse impact on coastal processes • Have an adverse impact on adjacent internationally designated sites of ecological importance and sites of amenity, cultural heritage and landscape value • EDF design to enable to become an ‘island’ but this ‘island’ will contain 5 nuclear reactors and stored waste. • 8 other uncoordinated energy projects planned for the locality 3. Marine and Coastal processes • The HCDF (for which no complete design is available) and beach landing facility will have ecological and flood risk impacts on coastal processes and marine ecology • Erosion and recession rates episodic and unpredictable 4. Socio-economic impacts • Unacceptable impacts on local communities - severance, traffic, significant increases in noise, light pollution and disruption. • 6,000 workers arriving to live in the area, 2,400 in a Worker campus in an unsuitable location • Tourism may lose up to £40m a year and 400 jobs as EDF surveys suggest 29% of visitors could be deterred. • Pressure on local housing (especially private-rental sector). • EDF expects local people to fill 90% of lower-skilled, lower-paid roles in “Site Support” • Negative impacts on local businesses from traffic and losing staff • Pressure on already over stretched health, social and emergency services, impacts on vulnerable people. 5. Transport • Road based transport plan unsustainable; enormous adverse impact on local communities and visitor economy. HGV numbers are as high as those under “Road-Led” proposals rejected by all statutory consultees in consultations • Delay in the construction of new road infrastructure means residents in a wider area would endure years of increased traffic • New roads would sever communities, damage rural footpath system and divide farmland • Rat-running and disruption not adequately considered. • Alternative relief road routes with legacy value not adequately assessed by EDF I wish to endorse the Relevant Representation submitted by Stop Sizewell C, RSPB and Suffolk Wildlife Trust and I wish to state that I consider the Sizewell C application to be totally unsuitable for a digital examination process.