Representation by June Hutchison
- Date submitted
- 30 September 2020
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
I list below my areas of concern about Sizewell C. 1. Technology • I consider that the technology under consideration could be outdated by the time that Sizewell C is built, or nuclear output may no longer be required because of the recent rapid increase in renewable energy. • The carbon footprint of Sizewell C’s construction will have an adverse impact on carbon targets; it cannot positively contribute to UK’s carbon neutral timetable until 2040 at the earliest; 2. Partners • It is of concern that EDF is owned by the French state and is in significant debt so will be expected to recoup its losses from British consumers and tax-payers. • The recent controversy over the 5G contract highlights the security risks posed by the involvement of China General Nuclear in this critical, but lethal, infrastructure. 3. Site Selection • It seems extraordinary to build a highly sensitive nuclear plant on a site which is at risk from accelerating sea level rise and flooding. 4. Community impacts • The impact on Suffolk communities from traffic, noise and light pollution is immense. • An influx of 6000 workers from outside the area will be huge, with pressure on private-sector rental accommodation and health, social and emergency services.. 5. Tourism and Economy impact • The Suffolk Coast Destination Management Organisation says Sizewell C and Scottish Power Renewables plans could cost the visitor economy between £24-£40million a year and 400 jobs. EDF’s own surveys suggest 29% of visitors could be deterred. If the peace is disrupted for 12 years and traffic on the A12 is intolerable, it will quickly lose its attraction for tourists. • There are eight other uncoordinated energy projects planned for this area, and the cumulative impact of those has not been assessed. • Small businesses were struggling before Covid and are on a knife-edge currently – if they lose valuable tourism custom, they may well not survive. • Locally based employment insufficiently scoped. • Snape Maltings and other significant cultural sites will be adversely affected if ticket buyers are not prepared to travel on congested roads. 6. Transport • The road-based transport plan has an enormous and adverse impact on local communities with massive numbers of HGVs. • The sleep deprivation caused to track-side residents by 5 freight train movements per night – 1 every hour and 24 minutes between 11 pm to 6 am for 10 years plus overruns - has barely been considered. No detail has been provided about whether there will be other nuisance caused e.g. klaxons, idling of engines, damage to foundations from vibration. No mitigation measures have been outlined. 7. Environment and Landscape • At Minsmere and more generally it will be impossible to compensate for landscape and ecological damage • Abstraction of water compounds risks to the environment and to protected species 8. Marine and Coastal processes • Ecological and flood risk impacts on coastal processes from hard coastal defence feature. • Impacts on marine ecology 9. I wish to endorse the Relevant Representations submitted by Stop Sizewell C, the RSPB and Suffolk Wildlife Trust. 10. I consider the Sizewell C application to be totally unsuitable for a digital examination process.