Representation by Andrew Blois
- Date submitted
- 30 September 2020
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
We are writing as farmers and local business owners close to the Sizewell construction site. One of our businesses is an award winning five star Camping and Caravan park, Haw Wood Farm. We are particularly concerned that by EDF’s own estimates there could be a 30% drop in tourism over the build period. This will result in a projected net loss of revenue of over £1,000,000 and possible loss of 40% of our workforce. We are only one small business and employer in the area so cannot believe that the proposed job losses will be offset by the project, and in 10yrs time, when Suffolk’s tourism reputation is still in tatters what will happen to the staff then? Suffolk’s agricultural produce is renowned throughout the country and we are proud to be one of those producers. However the increased traffic from the project will likely significantly impact on agricultural operations. In addition much of the magnet of jobs to Sizewell will be to the detriment of agriculture, rendering some crops and operations uneconomic. This planned destruction of the two largest areas of the economy of East Suffolk will be nothing short of catastrophic for the long term prosperity of the area. In short we can see no positives for our business and staff and can see no benefit for Suffolk in general. Even once completed there will be no benefit to Suffolk, we already generate more electricity per capita than most areas in the UK but in rural Suffolk sufficient electrical supply to meet the Clean, Green Electric dream that Sizewell C is supposed to supply is unaffordable. We do not feel that this outdated technology offers the best solution for the UK energy needs